Page 57 of Some Cowboys Fight for Love

She huffed, folding her arms. “I didn’t ask.”

“I don’t care.” This time his tone was cold. It was her familiarity with his darker side that made her skin crawl. She needed to get away from him. But how could she? He’d basically threatened to drag Daniel through the mud no matter what unless she agreed to marry him.

And that wasn’t the worst of it.

Cayden had already created a failsafe. If Daniel’s demise wasn’t enough, Cayden was going to go after the Palmers and the Keagans as well. Any information he could get on them and their businesses would aid him in his treacherous plans.

Everyone she cared about would be ruined if Cayden had anything to say about it.

She’d been defeated.

He grabbed at her left hand and shoved the ring onto her finger. The force of it caused a sharp pain and a tear on her skin. She stared down at the gaudy ring and frowned. Not only was the ring something she would never wear, but he’d definitely done something to make her finger hurt. It would likely swell too much for her to take the piece of offensive jewelry off.

Cayden only grinned.

Aria wrenched her hand away from him, and he pouted.

“Now, sweetness, is that any way to treat your fiancé?”

She wouldn’t be surprised if she ended up losing the contents of her stomach right then and there in the middle of the ballroom. She hated him. She hated everything he’d done to her and the way he made her feel. It was only a matter of time before she became the shell of herself that she’d been when she left Georgia.

Cayden gripped her chin in his hand and pressed a kiss to her cheek in spite of her protests. Then he stared down at her like she was something he owned.

Maybe he was right.

“We’re going out tomorrow as planned. I’d like to get some pictures so I can post them to our social media. We need to make the announcement official.”

“Why?” she demanded. “Isn’t it enough that I broke up with him? Why can’t you leave me alone? Wouldn’t you prefer to find someone who loves you back?”

He reached for her hand, drawing her closer as he lowered his voice. “Love? You are so naïve. Love doesn’t exist. Marriage is a contract between two people. I spent far too much time training you to be exactly what I wanted you to be to start over.”

She attempted to pull away from him again, but his grip only tightened, and she grimaced from the contact. “I’m hardly the same woman you knew a year ago.”

Cayden’s voice took on a husky, almost growling quality that might have given her goosebumps if it had come from a man she trusted. “I’m not worried. One wrong move and everyone you care about will be hurt.”

That was it. Checkmate. He knew her too well to believe that she was capable of letting those she loved be harmed because of her. He banked on her kindness and loyalty. Still, she couldn’t succumb to his will entirely. “I won’t leave Copper Creek. If you want me, you’re going to figure out a way to stay here.”

His eyes narrowed. He looked her up and down, then shrugged. “Eventually you’ll see my way.”

She shook her head. “Never.”

Sophia wrinkledher nose as she held onto Aria’s hand. “I thought you hated the guy.” She and Mateo had arrived two days later, and the second they were here, Daniel had left. Everything worked out with her father. He’d been denied parole. At least her mother and sister would be okay.

Aria tugged her hand back and placed it in her lap. “Well, I guess I didn’t hate him as much as I thought.” She felt numb. These were the words she’d said to her sister as well when Cayden had insisted on her calling her family.

“You’re such a liar,” Sophia muttered under her breath, but Aria still heard it.

She was alone. Or at least she had to make sure she was in order to keep everyone else out of the mess that surrounded her.

“Are you sure?” Sophia pressed again, staring hard at Aria.

Forcing one of her famous smiles—one that Daniel had always seen right through—Aria nodded. She tried to make her voice sound as sweet and awestruck as possible. “He’s going to take care of me. What more could I ask for?”

Sophia didn’t look convinced. “Umm… love?”

Aria didn’t deserve love. Not for the way she’d cut Daniel out of her life. He’d tried calling a few times. She’d heard him stop by at least once as well—but she’d pretended to be taking a nap. The man was still trying even though she’d done everything to push him away.

Tears stung at the back of her eyes.

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