Page 180 of Burn the Wild

“I have leverage Reese, remember that.” Teeth bared, he says, “Muirwood. Your suicide attempt.”

Someone sucks in a breath. Who, I can’t tell.

I blink back tears, embarrassed. But I shouldn’t be. A hand lands on my shoulder. Ruby. Another one. Fallon. My eyes sting at the kindness, the understanding. It means so much. It means everything.

“You can’t make me go back.” My voice wobbles.

“I could put that tidbit about you in the papers. It would make a pretty story.” He smiles, thinking he has me.

But he doesn’t.

Be brave, Reese. Be brave.Only it’s not my mother’s voice anymore.

It’s mine.

“So tell it then,” I say, calling his bluff. “Tell my story, Gavin. And I’ll tell yours.” I stand tall. “You don’t get a goddamn thing anymore. Not one more piece of me. Or my money. You won’t see a single dime.”

Gavin takes a step toward me.

Instantly, the brothers stand shoulder-to-shoulder, blocking me and Ford. Tears sting my eyes. These big angry cowboys willing to go to battle for me.

“You’re going to regret this, Reese. I told you once, you don’t leave me.”

At his words, fear lodges itself in my throat. I turn my face into Ford’s chest.

His voice is a powerful rumble as he says, “Breathe in her direction again,and I end you, you hear me?”

Gavin laughs, a manic sound that sends a chill up my spine. “Be careful, Reese. I will finish what you started.”

“Stay off my ranch,” Charlie orders, stepping forward. “You come back, we ain’t talking.”

After a last glance at me, Gavin turns on his heel and heads toward the road.

“You okay?” Ford asks, framing my face in his hands. “Birdie?”

“No,” I say, trembling. “I’m not.

The gravity of what I’ve just done hits quick.

I told Gavin everything.

My hands fist in Ford’s shirt. “We have to call Bosko and get my money,” I growl. “Now.”

Islam into the Bullshit Box to find Davis combing through security footage from three days ago. The storm outside is nothing compared to the one in my head.

Davis arches a brow, his expression amused. “Hello to you, too.”

“Fuck you.” Beside me, Keena lifts her head and whines.

Charlie leans back in his chair and sighs. “I think I liked you better when you hated love.”

“Fuck you, too.” I flex my fist. My heart hammers a crazy, feral beat in my chest. Punching Gavin wasn’t enough. I need him to be hit by a fucking bus.

Davis shakes his head, then asks, “Reese all set?”

I blow out a breath and drop into a chair. “Got her money yesterday.”

Charlie grins. “Rich woman.”

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