Page 6 of Property of Rio

“Gah, I hate throwing up,” I mutter as I swipe my hand across my mouth. Once I’m sure I won’t puke any more, I take a small sip of my dwindling water, swish it around my mouth like it’s mouthwash, then spit it out so I can get rid of the nasty taste left behind.

I know I’m feverish at this point since I keep going hot then cold. Hopefully, Starlight has made it back to the ranch by now and alerted them that something is amiss. She’s been such a faithful companion to me for all these years, and if she did manage to make it so that a rescue party is on the way, she’s definitely earned her favorite snack, apples.

“Maybe a whole bushel of them,” I whisper, tears silently tracking down my face. “If Rafe can’t find me, this could be it. But at least I fought like the devil himself was after me and didn’t let them do whatever the fuck it is they planned on doing to me.”

Okay, so sometimes I’m a bit on the dramatic side. I don’t like feeling sick, and with the various aches and pains coursingthrough me, I’m worse than normal. Still, Rafe has no idea how I really feel about him. In the name of friendship, I kept that to myself, so I didn’t ruin the closeness we have.

Sure, he knows he’s my best friend, and that’s something I’d never deny. But somewhere around the time I turned seventeen, I became interested in him as a prospective boyfriend and one day, possibly my lover. I never let on, though, because I was so worried he’d laugh and walk away, then forget I was part of his life. To me, it was better to have some of him than none. In other words, I’d rather have him as my friend than not have him at all.

I mean, why would he want me, a tomboy? He’s got beautiful women hanging around the clubhouse who are willing to do anything for the brothers and especially him. Patch chasers, I’ve heard them called. With him being the president of the club, he’s high on their list, which I find somewhat disgusting.

My nose wrinkles thinking about them. I know what their place is in the club, of course. They’re like the buckle bunnies on the rodeo circuit. Down for anything and everything in the hopes it’ll get them the man.

“I almost got to you, Rafe,” I mumble, as my vision grows spotty once again. “Please don’t be disappointed in me. I tried my best.”

A wet nose along with a soft whinny pulls me out of the abyss and I open my good eye to see Starlight standing and hovering over me. In the distance, I hear the whining of an engine and goosebumps break out on my arms as fear threatens to overtake me. If Gage and the Devils have found me, I need to be ready tofight again no matter how weak and shaky I am. I won’t let them take me alive!

I snicker because I may not be able to land too many punches in my present condition, but all my crime shows I love to watch and listen to are big on getting DNA from the perpetrators. Judging from the skin that’s already underneath my nails, which has me wrinkling my nose in disgust, if nothing else, the powers that be will be able to figure out one of the perpetrators.

“Who is that, girl?” I softly whisper to Starlight as I mentally gauge how severe my injuries are. “Did you get home? Did you find Rafe?”

I scoot further into the underbrush so I can use the shadows surrounding them for coverage as the noise gets closer then shuts off.

When I hear Rafe’s voice bellowing, “Issy! Issy! Where are you?” I burst into noisy sobs.

He’s been my hero since I was eight and he killed the rattlesnake that was coiled to strike and bite me. Ever since then, he’s made sure I’m protected, especially if he can’t be with me.

That has to say something,my mind whispers.

Yeah, that I’m his best friend is all. I’d scoff, but it hurts to breathe which is why I’m so lightheaded. I’ve been breathing shallowly to avoid the pierce of agony in my lungs.

Before I can respond, the brush starts rustling and I see his handsome face peering down at me. “Oh, Jesus, fuck, Issy,” he whispers, reaching in to gently snatch me out from the greenery.

I try to hold in my sobbing cries of pain, but it’s impossible at this point since I feel like one giant, aching bruise.

“BamBam, get over here and help me,” Rafe commands.

“You should see the other guy,” I whisper through my raw throat.

“Fuck me,” BamBam says, falling to the ground next to Rafe. “Girl, you just took ten years off my life.”

“Good thing you’re not a cat, then,” I tease, even though every word feels as though shards of glass are scraping down my esophagus.

Rafe hands me over to BamBam before he stands to his feet then as carefully as possible, he scoops me up and walks me over to the Ranger. He clicks his tongue against his teeth and Starlight saunters over with BamBam hastily getting into the driver’s side.

“We’ve got you, babe,” Rafe whispers, kissing my forehead.

“I knew you’d find me,” I mumble before passing out once again as the Ranger jostles over the rough terrain.

“I’m sorry, Rafe, I tried hard to fight back,”I mumble.

“Shh, Issy, you did good, honey,” Rafe replies.

“Why did Gage do that?”I ask.

“What did Gage do, Issy?”

“He came to help me with Starlight and brought me a bottle of water.”

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