Page 123 of The Rancher's Secret Relationship

She started squirming in her seat. "W-What was I supposed to think?"

"Anything but that?"

"Youstabbedhim in the neck!"

"With atranquilizer."

"How was I supposed to know that?" she asked helplessly.

"Because I'm not a psychopath?"

"I never thought you were—-"

"So what then? Or are you just used to dating men who either abduct or stab your dog—-"

Elizabeth let out a gasp. "You know Ineverdated Migs—-"

Her voice noticeably faltered upon saying the other man's name and his grip tightened around the steering wheel.

"You really like saying his name, don't you?"

"I just forgot to call him Culo," she protested. "And...and aren't you the same? You've been...you've b-beenjudgingme this whole time, too. Do you really think I'm the type of girl who'd date my roommate's boyfriend?"

No.

She wasnotthe type to do so, and he had known that from the start.

Just like he also knew that the reason he was suddenly picking fights with her was because the reality of being apart from her had finally started sinking in.

And grown-up man that he was—-

He just didn't know how to fuckle handle it.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

His grip tightened around the wheel until his knuckles started to turn white.

Let her go.

If she really matters

Just fucking let her go.

"When we get to the airport," Flint heard himself say, "you take the first flight out. Doesn't matter where. I'll help you with Sunlight's paperwork. I just need the two of you out of his reach—-"

Elizabeth looked at him in confusion. "But I promised to help you—-"

"I'll take care of him without your help."

"But...didn't you also tell me that's what you've been trying and failing to do for years?"

"That's my problem," he bit out even as his stomach churned at the thought of never seeing her again. "So mind your fucking business."

Tears filled her eyes, but he told himself this, too, was necessary.

"I just—-"

"Just leave, dammit," Flint snarled out. He hated seeing the tears roll down her cheeks, hated himself for still wanting her even when he knew it was wrong. "If you care about keeping Sunlight alive, you'll do as I fucking say."

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