Page 91 of Dark Horse

“Then make me understand. Tell me. If you can trust yourbrothers and Hudson—you can trust me.” I hold my ground even though I know I’m risking a bigger fight.

He drops his hold on me and leans back, straightening his spine for a moment before his shoulders slump. I see him give in. He scrubs a hand through his hair, mussing it as he looks into the distance before he turns back to me, a dire look on his face.

“It’s the fucking governor and the sheriff behind the bombings—my uncle tried to kill us. A person who knows every dirty fucking secret this family has going back generations and a man who has the power to make all of this, all of us, disappear with a few quick strokes of his pen. A long prison term or death by cop. That’s what I’m up against. It’s a death sentence either way. There isn’t a way out. You stay and get caught up in it somehow, it’s a death sentence for you too. I can’t live with that.”

We sit in silence, staring at each other as I soak the information in. I see now why he didn’t tell me. Just knowing that little bit is probably a liability. One he doesn’t take lightly as he tilts his head down, and I can see the agony wavering behind the deep pools of blue.

He looks defeated, the cracks from all the weight of this on his shoulders starting to show through the facade of confidence. I know inside he’s desperate for some way to control the situation and put everything back to rights, make sure no one sees the house of cards start to teeter on the table. I just want him to know he’s not alone.

“You’re sure it’s your uncle?” This family’s loyalty was unshakeable.

“Yes. Levi found the evidence and looked through the security footage. We were able to figure out which employees were handling deliveries that day, and Levi took one aside. He explained everything. He didn’t even realize he was being used.Completely distraught about it. He was a longtime employee and thought he was doing a favor for my uncle. He knew him back in the day, and my uncle told him it was a surprise for us to have that champagne. No idea there were bombs inside.” He grimaces. “One hell of a fucking surprise to try to kill what’s left of your family.”

“That’s fucked.” We could have all been dead on Hazel’s wedding day. I feel my stomach tumble with the information. Another realization hits me hard. “And that’s why the explosion happened at Seven Sins. How you know already that it wasn’t a gas leak. You sent the champagne over as a gift.” The pieces fall together finally. Grant knew the champagne for the wedding was a favorite of mine too, and as a sweet gesture, he’d sent a few cases over as a gift earlier this week. We’d stored them in the cellar for safekeeping when they arrived without opening them.

“Yeah.” The hard facade threatens to fall. “This is what I meant when I said I’m a danger to you even when I don’t mean to be, even when I shouldn’t be. An innocent fucking thing like that could have gotten you killed because someone wantsmedead. You see now?”

“You can’t help that someone you trusted—your family, for god’s sake—tried to do this to you. You went on the same instinct anyone would have. There’s no way you could have known or stopped that, Grant. You can’t take that guilt on your shoulders. I don’t blame you.” I try to help him see that some things are out of his control, the same way they are for all of us, but I can tell from the set of his shoulders that he’s not buying what I’m saying. He’s already laying the bricks of the wall back down, one by one.

“Whether you blame me or not, it’s my fault. It’s just the facts of the matter.” He shakes his head, turning to look out the window and blinking rapidly to stop the tears. “And myinstincts are shot to shit. Too fucking distracted to make the right decisions.” The last bit sounds like he’s repeating something someone told him, and if I find out who, I might cut them myself.

“This will get better; it just feels like it won’t right now. I know. I feel the same way about Seven Sins.”

“I’m sorry. Fuck. Here I am rambling on about my shit, and I don’t even stop to tell you how sorry I am about that. I’m so fucked up right now, Dakota. I’m sorry.”

“You don’t have to apologize. I know you’ve got a lot on your plate.” I pat his hand again, wishing it was magic that could cure his worries. “I’m here if you need me. Your siblings are here. You don’t have to do this alone.”

He nods and stays silent for a moment before he speaks again.

“I thought having Ramsey back… Seeing Aspen. Fuck even Hazel coming back into the fold. I thought it would feel the way it used to, but nothing’s the same. The peace never fucking lasts. Just feels like I’m constantly scrambling to try to stop time and keep everyone safe for long enough to enjoy a week, a day, an hour.” His tone is laced with regret and worry.

“You take a lot of that weight on your shoulders, and you’ve got to learn to share it with the rest of us who want to help. You can’t control everything, Grant.”

He presses his lips together and makes a soft grunt of acknowledgment just as the front door opens. I hear voices in the hall, Hazel and Ramsey, along with Levi and Aspen, and someone younger. Aspen comes around the corner to find us sitting at the kitchen table.

“Sorry if we’re interrupting. Levi’s getting ready to take Fallon and me to the airport, and I wanted to say one last goodbye,” Aspen interrupts.

“Where’s Fallon?” Grant’s concern skyrockets when hedoesn’t immediately see his niece. All those frayed edges Aspen warned me about are coming undone.

“She’s going with Hazel out to the barn. She wanted to say bye to the horses.”

Grant smiles in return and stands to hug his sister. “All right. Tell her I hope her college trips go well, and if she wants a horse for her eighteenth all she has to do is ask.”

“I’ll be sure to tell her that.” Aspen hugs him a little tighter before she says, “We’ll have to think about the horse.” She laughs and smiles at him, clearly trying to lift his spirts, but her smile fades to worry. “I’ll miss you.”

“I’m sorry you’re leaving like this,” Grant apologizes, and I can hear the pain in his voice.

“I’m sorry it’s come to this. You know I’d stay if it wasn’t for Fallon.” Aspen’s face falls as she looks over her oldest brother. I imagine she sees the same cracks I can.

“I wouldn’t let you. I want you all as far away from here as you can get.” Grant shakes his head as he lets go of her.

“I told her the same,” Levi interjects.

“It was good to see you again, Dakota.” Aspen holds her arms out, and I stand quickly to hug her.

“You too,” I agree, giving her a quick squeeze.

“Let me walk you out to the car so I can say goodbye to Fallon,” Grant offers, and Aspen nods her agreement.

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