Page 97 of Burn the Wild

He snorts. “Your life. Let me tell you aboutyour life. Your parents didn’t want you. They abandoned you, and now you’re pushing me away. The one person who’s been there for you. I’ve loved you like a father.”

For the first time in forever, anger sparks inside of me. I don’t trust Gavin.

Maybe I never have.

Memories crash into my head.

Gavin putting that pen in my hand.Let me help you, Reese.

Gavin tying my wrists to the saddle.Let me help you, Reese.

He didn’t help me at all, did he? He hurt me.

He purses his lips. “Do you honestly expect me to let you go after I created you? After everything I’ve given you?”

A chill rolls through my spine.

“I’m done here, Gavin.” I stand, but he’s on my heels.

He clasps my elbow and pulls me close. “Don’t make me get Muirwood involved. I will if you keep throwing these petty fucking tantrums.”

The blood drains from my face. I stand so still my entire body is a heartbeat.

“That night you tried to take your own life, who stayed with you?” He leans in, a growl in his voice. “Who got you better?”

“You did.” Tears well in my eyes. “You.”

“That’s right. So you think real fucking good about whether you want to bite the hand that feeds you.” I flinch when he reaches out to stroke my hair. “Who will take care of you, my shiny little shooting star?” he asks in a softer tone. “Who will want you? Who will help you? What will you do? Because remember, you failed at that, too.”

A tear slips down my cheek. I squeeze my eyes shut.

“There a problem here?” Boots thud and I open my eyes to see Ford at my side.

Gavin drops his hand.

“No,” I whisper. I turn into Ford, trying to wipe my face covertly, but his eyes narrow. Damn him. The man doesn’t miss a thing.

Gavin runs a hand down his tie. “Who’s this? The help?”

A dark shadow crosses Ford’s face, and he aims a glare so icy at Gavin that a chill runs down my spine. “Ford Montgomery,” he says.

“I’m here to take Reese home.”

Ford crosses his arms. “That wasn’t the deal I heard was arranged.”

“She spent the summer.”

“Summer lasts until the end of August around here,” Ford says easily, but the muscle jerking in his cheek tells me he’s angry. “Not sure how you do it in the city, but that ain’t it, son.”

Gavin’s nostrils flare at the barb.

I smother a smile.

“Reese.” Gavin’s face reddens, a telltale sign he’s at his boiling point. “We need to speak. In private.”

Bosko’s words drop into my head like a whisper of help.Whatever you do, don’t go back with him. Lie. Put him off to buy yourself time.

“We’ve said all we needed to.” I take a deep breath and lift my chin. “If I go back, I want you to open up my accounts. I want to see everything. Contracts, lawyers, accounts.”

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