Page 87 of Untamed

She opens her mouth to speak, but before she can, I’m ripped away from her. Honestly, I’m shocked I even got this close. Lincoln must have been frozen in place—which to be honest, I was counting on—because there’s no other way, I’d have had time for my declaration.

And as strong hands drag me back, my only thought is this.

She’s worth it.

“Enough,” Lincoln barks, holding me in a tight grip and pulling me down the stands.

“Dad,” Mila shouts, racing after us. Nova and the rest of them follow and I can feel the heat of every person in this arena’s stare, but I don’t give a fuck. Sunshine knows how I feel and that’s all that matters.

When we reach the bottom, Lincoln shoves me away from him. It’s only when I spot the sheriff approaching us that I realize it’s why I’ve been let go. The whole place is silent, and I swear you could hear a pin drop.

“Everything okay here?” His question is for me.

I nod, “Fine.”

He eyes me like he doesn’t believe me but accepts my answer anyway and walks away. Lincoln glowers, his expression hard as he jerks his head. “Parking lot. Now.”

“Daddy,” Mila whispers, but he doesn’t look at her.

“Don’t say a word, Mila,” he growls, turning on his heel and striding toward the parking lot. It’s not hard to figure out he wants privacy. One quick glance around reveals everyone staring at us with a mix of shock and curiosity. As I scan the crowds, my eyes lock on Annabeth. A sick smirk curls her lips as she watches the scene unfold. It’s clear she thinks she’s won something. What that is, I’m not sure. The hardest part is over and as I reach down and thread my fingers with Mila’s, I know I’m never letting her go. Lincoln will have to pry her from my cold dead hands before I let her go.

“Why did you do that?” she whispers as we follow her father.

Maverick and Brandon are a couple of steps ahead of us, and I don’t miss the look her brother sends my way.

“Because I wanted you to know how I felt.”

“’Bout time you put my girl first, cowboy,” Nova murmurs from beside Mila. My jaw tightens even though I know she’s right.

“You’ve ruined everything. He’s not going to let this slide.” Mila’s voice is filled with worry, and I want to kiss it away.

I shrug. “Don’t care. You’re all that matters.”

“But you said–”

I cut her off. “I know what I said, and it was wrong. I will die before I let that fucker blackmail you.”

She pulls at my hand. “But Dad’s going to fire you, Colter. You will lose everything.”

I stop, pulling her to face me. I release her hand and cup her cheeks. “You haven’t been paying attention, Sunshine. I might have lost the rodeo, but I won the woman.”

“Let my daughter go and get the fuck over here,” Lincoln growls, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Mila pulls out of my hold, her eyes wide as she looks at her father. She swallows, and I wish I could take away her anxiety.

I step up to join the circle of Lincoln, Maverick and Brandon. Skylar hovers behind our boss, her gaze flickering between us.

“Someone better start talking now,” Lincoln barks.

Someone snorts and I know without looking it’s that son of a bitch. My head whips to him, eyes narrowing.

“You gonna tell Lincoln what’s going on or shall I enlighten him?” Brandon taunts.

My heart pounds in my chest. When Mila told me the asshole was blackmailing her, my vision had turned red, body vibrated with anger. I had only one choice. Mila was my choice. Fuck everything else, nothing else matters.

For so long, I focused on getting my career back, so scared of losing the opportunity that Lincoln had given me, that I unintentionally made Mila a second choice. But nothing or no one is above her. It took me a while to realize it, but I got there in the end. I’ll give up everything to have Mila in my arms.

Straightening, I turn my gaze on Lincoln. He stares at me for a long moment. He knows what’s happened, but as if he can’t believe it, he wants me to confirm it. His jaw clenches, fists ball, and he shoves his hands in his jeans pockets as if physically holding himself back from throttling someone.

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