Page 49 of Cinnamon Cider Whiskey
“But he cheated on you. That makes no sense.”
“It doesn’t have to,” she said. “Sadly, I know how his brain works. And the more I think about it, the more these two worlds are colliding. If he can’t have me, he will make sure you can’t either.”
“All the more reason for you not to go meet him at the front gate.”
“You’re not listening to me,” she said. “In his wacky mind, if I go to him, it means I’ve caved. He’s won. He can take me and we can go back to our previous life. But if I don’t. You won. He lost and that will enrage him. He’ll do whatever it takes to take you and this ranch down or end your life and anyone he believes stood in his way.”
Austin had to agree she made sense, but he still didn’t believe meeting Pete at the gate was the right move. “Brad has two men posing as cowboys right over there.” He pointed. “Let me shower, and then I’ll call Belmont and see what he says about this text. For now, I want you inside.”
“All right. But promise me you’ll tell him my thoughts.”
“You can be part of the conversation.” He leaned in and kissed her cheek. “Come on. You should eat something.” Austin tugged at her hand. The next few hours would prove to be the hardest, but after today, he prayed that Pete would be out of their lives.
Cinnamon tossed her backpack over her shoulder and inched toward the main gate. She couldn’t believe that Belmont agreed that her plan was the stronger of the two.
Austin had lost his shit, cussing and pacing in the kitchen. He almost didn’t let her leave the house. But in the end, this wasn’t about what he wanted. It was time to end Pete and his wickedly horrible games.
Quickly, she glanced at her watch.
She was six minutes early. Pete would appreciate that. He hated it when anyone was late. She climbed up on the big boulder outside the gate and waited.
Minutes ticked and not a single car drove by.
It was now five minutes past seven. Her pulse beat in the center of her throat, making it impossible to swallow.
A Range Rover eased to a stop and the passenger side window rolled down.
“Get in,” Pete demanded.
“No. Not until you answer a few questions,” she managed with a shaky voice.
He laughed. “Not happening.”
“I’m going with you, so humor me.” She didn’t budge from the perch on her rock.
“I have no intention of sitting here arguing with you. Now get in or I’ll get out and force you into this car.”
“You owe me,” she said.
“That’s rich. You’re the one who has put me in a difficult position with these games.” He slipped from the driver’s side and stepped around the vehicle's hood, waving a weapon.
Shit. She knew he owned more than one gun and should have known he’d flex his muscles with them, but she hadn’t expected he’d do so the second he saw her. “If you want me to go, I want to know what happened to Gage.”
“Are you serious right now? Why would I know anything about that man?”
She folded her arms. “Where’s Gage? What did you do to him?”
“Nothing.” He opened the door. “I’m waiting.”
“I want honest answers, and then I will get in and we never have to discuss it again.” She sucked in a deep breath. “You do this for me, I’ll drop all the charges.”
“You’re going to do that anyway.”
“He was my friend, Pete. He was a kind man who didn’t do anything to you.” That should push his buttons.
“Not true,” Pete said. “He always hated me. He didn’t like me dating his daughter. He wouldn’t let me take her to prom.Hell, I couldn’t even pick her up for a proper date. There wasn’t anythingkindabout him.”
“Did you hurt him?”
