Page 16 of My Ruthless Mountain Man

I heard rumors of something he was involved in, but no one I knew had hard facts. All I know was that it happened a little over a year after our fight, and no charges were brought. Maybe theNavy gave him the choice to leave honorably. “You think it would have been different if I’d been there?”

He leans back against the post, eyes hard. “Guess we’ll never know.”

Before I can respond, the door swings open. Kendall stomps out, hands on her hips, and glares at her brother. She’s put her hair up in the messy bun I love and is wearing my flannel again. A fact her brother zeroes in on.

“Ryan Knowles, where the hell have you been?”

“Not fucking my ex-best friend,” he spits. “Guess I left that to you.”

Her mouth drops open, and she takes a step back, as stunned as if he slapped her.

That’s it. I’m done. No one talks to her that way, especially the family that’s supposed to love her. I slam my fist into Ryan’s mouth and another into his gut.

He doubles over, spewing curses.

“Stone, don’t!” Kendall says, grabbing my arm. “Don’t hurt him.”

“So he can keep hurtingyou? I don’t think so, honey.”

“You make me sick,” Ryan growls. Then he turns on his sister. “And you betrayed me. You want to play house with Colter? Fine. But don’t come running to me when he tosses you aside for what he wants next. It’s what he does to others.”

Her lip trembles. She lifts her chin a notch. “What about what you do to people, Ryan? I wouldn’t be here if you didn’t owe so much money to a mobster. He threatened and terrified me, and instead of facing him and protecting me, you disappeared and left me vulnerable.”

“I doubt he’d have hurt you. It’s me he wants.” By his tone, I’m not sure he believes his own words.

“And if he couldn’t find you, how do you think he planned to draw you out?” I argue.

Ryan looks uncertain but quickly hides it beneath a sneer. “If he plans to use Kendall now, it’ll be a waste of time.”

She sucks in a gasp.

“Get out before I bury you,” I snarl. I’m one second away from ripping his fucking head off and shoving it down his neck.

Ryan looks at Kendall. “Despite everything, you’re still my baby sister. Come with me. We’ll get the hell out of here and go far away from Petrova.” He glances at me. “And everyone else who wants to hurt us.”

Kendall crosses her arms over her waist, shoulders hunching. She shakes her head. “No. I’m staying here. Stone will protect me.”

He scoffs again and jumps off the porch. “It’s your funeral,” he calls as he marches back to his car. His tires squeal as they dig into the mud, then they catch and he speeds off, going much too fast for the pouring rain and muddy mountain conditions.

I’m at Kendall’s side in an instant, catching her when she sags against me. Lifting her into my arms, I carry my precious woman inside.

CHAPTER SEVEN

STONE

Kendall is strong.She spent the last hour pacing my living room. At first, she couldn’t believe her brother showed up, spewed such nasty things, and asked her to come with him. Then she raged at his audacity and self-centeredness, only to try to explain it away as a result of his deep hurt.

I make another cup of tea for her and set it on the coffee table, then pull her down onto the couch beside me and into my arms. For a moment, she stiffens, then snuggles into my side. “He’s wrong, Kendall. I’d lay down my life for you. I’m not going to push you away in favor of something or someone else.”

She’s silent for a long time. “I want more than your protection, Stone.”

“You have it.” The words come easily because I mean the promise behind them. She wants tomorrow with me? She has it. Forever? I’ll put a ring on her finger tomorrow to tell the world she’s mine. It’s that simple.

She relaxes against me, snuggling her head under my chin. “What happens now?”

“It will be dark in a couple of hours and the rain should let up soon. I don’t like waiting for something to happen, but there’snot much more we can do tonight.” I blow out a frustrated breath.

Ryan made his intent clear. He’s going to run. Even if Ilya were to get his hands on Kendall—and he’d lose them if he tried—Ryan’s so angry with us right now, any attempt to use her as leverage would probably fail. If that happened, Ilya would only have one use for her. She’d be his plaything until he grew bored and got rid of her.

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