Page 90 of Wild Bliss

“I’m glad,” Wyatt said, his mouth a flat line but his eyeseating her up. “I want you and Sawyer to be happy. Sabrina, what I said…”

She wasn’t going to make him say it again. She didn’t wantto hear or think about those nasty words he’d spoken in fear. “Was a lie to tryto get me to walk away from you. I’m quite emotionally aware, and you are notvery good at lying. The next time you say you don’t want me, don’t stare at melike I’m a steak you want to eat. Don’t bother at all because even if you saythe most hateful things to me, I won’t leave you. Not when you’re in trouble.”

His shoulders sagged, and it was easy to see the weight he’dbeen carrying. “You have to.”

She didn’t, but she wouldn’t waste her breath telling him.They’d gotten off the topic. “How did you move the target from me to Sawyer? Isthis why he tried to tell his brother the two of you are dating?”

Sawyer’s lips kicked up. “He’s still betting his brotherwill believe it. We’re lovers, Wyatt and I. You’re our cover, the girlfriend wepretend to date so no one ever learns about our illicit love affair.”

It had been foolish then, and the idea hadn’t grown moreappealing. “No one is going to believe it.”

“Make fun of it all you like,” Wyatt argued, “but it willwork. You don’t know my brother.”

“It won’t work,” Sawyer shot back.

“Only because you’re not doing what needs to be done.” Wyattstared at him as though he could work his will through his eyes.

Sawyer’s hands came up. “Hey, I told everyone in town howhot you are for me.”

“Asshole,” Wyatt said with a sigh.

She wasn’t sure how Wyatt had thought it was going to work.

Sawyer sobered. “I told everyone what the plan was. I evendiscussed it at the meeting. The sheriff wanted us to know they’ll doeverything they can to protect all of us. They’ll say what we want them to say,but I don’t know if Wayne will believe it. And honestly, it doesn’t matter.”

“He won’t play fair.” Wyatt wasn’t giving up.

She wasn’t either. “My sister won’t play fair. Not when itcomes to me. I think the sheriff knows how to handle things. Wyatt, you have tounderstand. We’re in more danger if you leave us than we are if you stay.”

He squared off with her. “That’s bullshit.”

“She’s right.” Sawyer set his beer down and put a hand onBella’s head. The poor baby could feel the emotions amping up, and she didn’tlike it. She calmed a bit when Sawyer petted her. “Have you thought thisthrough? You walk away, go off the grid. Hide. You think your brother will lookfor you?”

“He will,” Wyatt insisted.

“But according to you, he doesn’t play fair.” Sabrina knewexactly where Sawyer was going. “Why look for you when it would be so easy tokidnap me or Sawyer in order to draw you out?”

Sawyer winked her way. “Way easier. So in this veryreasonable and likely scenario, they would dial you up and offer a trade. Youfor us. Except you’re off the grid and in hiding, so you can’t take the call. Iwonder how long he keeps us alive in that case. Hopefully long enough for youto see the story on the news. But more likely you won’t know until one day youcome back because you won’t be able to stop yourself. You’ll come back becauseyou were happy here. You’ll stand in the shadows, hoping to get a glimpse ofher, and maybe she’ll be with me, holding hands as we take our five kids out todinner.”

“Five?” Sabrina was intimidated at the thought. Five? Fivewas a big number.

Sawyer’s smirk told her everything she needed to know. “I’lltry to hold it to five. My line is good at baby making, as you’re about todiscover. But back to my point, you won’t find us because we’ll have been deadall this time. Because you weren’t around to save us.”

They needed to talk about the baby-making stuff, but she hadto be impressed with Sawyer’s logic. “When your brother realizes it didn’twork, he’ll have to get rid of the evidence. Also, there’s no way he goes afterSawyer first when I’m a far easier target and he knows you care about me. Itdoesn’t matter if he thinks we’re sleeping together or if I’m a platonicfriend. It wouldn’t matter if you broke up with me on live television and hesaw it. He would know you would protect me. No matter what.”

“Then I’ll kill Wayne before he can do it,” Wyatt vowed.“I’m not going to run away, Sawyer. I’m going to stalk my brother. I’m going tofigure out what he knows, what he’s doing, and then I’ll take him out andanyone who stands in my way.”

The thought made Sabrina sick. “You’ll get killed is whatyou’ll do.”

Sawyer had gone grim. “Even if you manage to kill Wayne, theHorde won’t stop until they’ve avenged him. We both knew this could happen. Weknew the minute you left he could walk back in at any time. He got what hewanted. He got the accounts. There’s zero reason for him to fuck with you now.Unless there’s something you’re not telling us.”

Wyatt stilled, and Sabrina knew Sawyer was right.

There was something neither of them knew. What else hadWyatt been put through? What horrors had he been forced to endure?

“The scars weren’t the only payment, were they, Wyatt?”Sawyer asked, the question curling around the room, threatening them all. “Yourbrother needed more. He needed to make sure you kept your mouth shut.”

“Yes. There was more than getting rid of the tat.” Wyatt’sexpression had gone a careful blank.

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