Page 209 of Burn the Wild

I’m not wasting any more time. No question, I’m ready for this life with Reese.

A scratching at the front door has me hustling over.

“Hey, you little bastard,” I say when I open it.

Mouse meows, winding her way through my legs. I crouch down, running a hand over her silky fur. A new pink collar, complete with a GPS tracker hangs around her neck.

“Can’t escape now, can you?” I tell her, scratching under her chin.

With that, I look out over the ranch. A lilac sunset paints the sky. The brisk October air tells me that winter’s close. The ranch is quiet, but not for long.

Engines cut. Doors open. Someone shouts.

I needle my brow. A day of peace, I’d like just one goddamn day of peace.

More trucks. Charlie, Wyatt, Stede.

“What now?” I mutter.

I don’t want to be more than a foot or two away from Reese, but it looks like I don’t have a choice.

Groaning, I stand and move my boots down the stairs and across the ranch to the lodge parking lot where my family has gathered. “Could y’all shut the fuck up? Reese is sleeping upstairs and if you wake…”

I trail off.Fuck.

Dakota’s crying. She wears a purple apron, streaked with flour. In her right hand, a clenched piece of paper. Davis tries to turn her toward him, but she shakes her head and moves away.

“Let me see it, Cupcake.”

Worry lines his expression, but in a different way than I’ve come to expect from my twin.

I meet Davis’s gaze. “What’s goin’ on? Y’all okay?”

Charlie, Ruby, and Wyatt hurry forward.

Dakota blows out a deep breath mixed with a sob. “Fallon left.”

A gasp from Ruby.

I drag a hand over my face. “You’re serious?”

Dakota’s lip quivers. “Her cottage is all packed up. Her horses are gone. This was in the bakery.” Sniffling, she holds out the letter to me. I take it, blinking a few times as I read.

A hand grips my bicep. “What’s wrong?”

I twist, tucking Reese under my arm. “Fallon’s gone. She ran.”

Charlie and I look toward Wyatt. Our little brother looks like someone punched him in the face.

“Oh no,” Reese breathes. “It’s my fault.”

I shake my head. “Birdie, no.”

Tears fill her eyes as she looks up at me. “I told her—”

“I told her to go.”

All eyes fly to Stede.

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