Page 26 of Property of Rio

I feel better with Rip’s words. I’ve been so conditioned over the years to handle as much on my own as possible, that I kind of felt like I let myself down.

“What about when y’all got stuck up in the tree that one day?” I suddenly ask as giggles erupt from my throat. “Y’all were so damn funny!”

“Yeah, if I never said so, thanks, cuz, for catching me,” Rafe says, smacking Rip in the shoulder.

“Fucker. I had a cast from my fingers to my shoulder. In fucking summer!” Rip mock yells. “I still have arthritic pain when there’s a shift in weather. The worst part was how hot it was that year.The itching from the sweat trickling into my cast drove me absolutely insane.”

“Riding back on the horses wasn’t easy either,” I muse. “You and Gage had to get Rip up on the horse, remember?” I ask Rafe.

“Fucker was heavy even then,” Rafe jests.

“What the fuck is this? Pick on Rip day or something?” Rip asks.

“Shit, we always got into shit whenever we were all together. The only difference was who was the one out of the four of us who ended up with stitches, bruises, or casts,” Rafe replies.

I know we all got a little too much sun, but it was nice being with Rafe and Riptide and sharing stories about Gage. I’m pretty sure that once the brothers get over their anger, their more virtuous memories of their time with Gage will surface. Right now, they’re still full of rage, so what the three of us did today wouldn’t have gone over well at the clubhouse since most still view him as a traitor to the Kings. Hopefully, by the time we get Gage’s ashes back from Rip, we can have a memorial for him at the clubhouse. If feathers aren’t still ruffled that is. He might not have been a patched member, but he was close to everyone and did a lot for the club before he got tangled up with the Devils.

As we brush down the horses, Luis comes out of the tack room and says, “Their stalls are cleaned and mucked, and their feed as well as their water troughs are full.”

“Thanks, Luis,” I say with gratitude for his forethought. He always anticipates what the boys and girls will need before we get back to the barn with them. “They got a little workout today.”

Rip snorts back a laugh while Rafe smirks at me. “Yeah, not really since Mr. Worried Britches wouldn’t let Issy go beyond a light trot,” Rip tells Luis. “Still, theydidget some exercise outside of their enclosure, so there’s that.”

“I know y’all are probably gonna party since it’s Rip’s last night before he goes home, but I’m in dire need of a soak in the tub,” I say, having finished with Starlight. I even gave her a few apples because she’s a good girl who took her time with me and followed my every lead of her reins. Walking over to Stargazer’s stall, I pet her muzzle then hand her an apple. “I’ll get you out in the corral tomorrow, girl, okay?” She whinnies as though she understands me then nuzzles my neck, making me giggle.

“I’ll walk you up,” Rafe states, briskly moving to my side. Once Stargazer is finished and moves back to her trough, he takes my hand in his, laces our fingers, then walks to the barn door. “You coming, old man?” he asks Rip.

“You’re older than me, fucker,” Rip retorts as he makes his way to us.

“By a week, however, you’re acting like you’re ninety right now,” Rafe jeers.

“Because it’s been a while since I was on the back of a fucking horse, okay?” Rip growls.

I notice he’s walking a bit gingerly and barely hold back my giggles. I remember how I was all those years ago when I first started riding, and even though he grew up doing it too, he spends his time on a bike these days, not a four-legged animal.

“Hit the bar, man, and I’ll be down in a few,” Rafe instructs.

FIFTEEN

Rafe

“You don’t have to do this for me,” she says to me as I add Epsom salts and some of her lavender essential oil to the bathwater. “I’m more than capable, and I know the brothers are waiting on you to get the party started.”

I huff out a laugh while shaking my head. “Those jokers are more than capable of starting their drinking and partying without me. I wanted to spend a few minutes alone with you, babe, and see how you’re doing after today.”

“I mean, I’m fine, I guess. Still a bit sore, of course, but it gets better every day. Why?” she asks.

“I was referring to all the talk about Gage. How does that make you feel? I know things didn’t exactly end well between the two of you, and you weren’t able to talk to him.”

Her shoulders drop as she faceplants into my chest. Automatically, my arms go around her as I pull her close. Fresh air, sunshine, and Issy’s unique floral scent envelop me as Ibreathe in deeply. There’s a hint of sweat, but it’s imbued with her, so it doesn’t bother me.

“I wish I could’ve because I think we would’ve gotten past it, don’t you?” she questions. “I mean, you saying that he told you him getting between the bullet and you was for atonement, kind of breaks my heart. I know he probably felt that way, but in reality, he just made a very bad decision.”

My body freezes because what Gage did was way more than a bad decision on his part as far as I’m concerned. Yet, my kind-hearted woman, who is fierce in so many other areas of her life, is willing to look for a silver lining with this particular situation. I’m unwilling to do that yet. Maybe not ever, because I was too close for comfort to losing her for good.

“Get your soak in, Issy,” I gruffly murmur. Leaning in, I kiss her, then mentally berate myself since she’s not in a position to go further. My dick doesn’t care about her blatant discomfort, but I sure the fuck do. I’m her man, it’s my job to see to her welfare, even when she doesn’t give it a single thought.

“Get your party on, Rafe,” she teases. “I’ll probably curl up and fall asleep to some crime show while reading.”

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