Page 49 of Wait in the Truck
Rhett mutters something under his breath, gripping the oh-shit handle like it’ll save him. “Jesus Christ, Kade.”
I don’t answer. I don’t need to. Sage’s text is burning a hole in my skull.
She was too formal, and at the same time, too fucking casual. Something is wrong, and if I had to bet money on it, it has to do with fucking Samuel. Why else would she mention his name?
I never liked that fucking sleazeball. Something about him didn’t sit right with me from the moment I met him as a child, and that alone makes my fingers flex around the steering wheel like I’m picturing it wrapped around hisgoddamn throat. My foot presses harder on the pedal.Faster. Gotta get to Sage.
The truck hits a divot in the dirt road, jolting hard enough to snap me out of my thoughts. Rhett lets out a sharp breath. “Slow the fuck down before you roll us into a ditch.”
I do the opposite. Because I know Sage. And I know Samuel. That rotten bastard has always been just short of needing an exorcism. He’s the kind of man who gives off the same vibe as a vicious animal. The kind that’s been left out in the sun too long, brain boiled to mush, watching every move from the corner of the yard with that dead-eyed stare. The kind who’s just waiting for an opportunity to sink their teeth into something that can’t fight back.
The second the truck grinds to a halt in front of the house, I throw the door open and step out, my boots hitting the dirt hard. I’m already scanning the porch where Sage is sitting on one of the old rocking chairs. I search her face, looking for any sign that she’s hurt. And thankfully, she looks in one piece. Then, she stands, arms wrapped tight around her middle, her stance squared. She looks composed, but I see it. The cracks. The way she’s holding herself together like she’s been stapled back in place.
I don’t hesitate. I take the steps two at a time until I am in front of her, arms gripping her shoulders as I survey her from head to toe. “Sage.” Her name leaves my mouth in alow growl, the kind of sound that precedes bloodshed. “Are you okay, baby?”
She lifts her chin an inch higher, her gaze flicking to me, then over my shoulder at Rhett as he joins us on the porch. “Yeah, I’m good. Now that you’re here.”
Rhett says something, but I barely hear him because my pulse is hammering so loud it drowns everything else out. I feel idiotic for asking if she was okay—because she’s not, I can feel it. Something is very wrong.
“What the fuck happened?” I know—I fucking know—that whatever she says next is going to make me want to rip something apart. And I hope to hell that something is Samuel because all I need is an excuse.
Sage draws in an unsteady breath, eyes shifting to Rhett. She hesitates just for a second but long enough for me to notice. “Not out here.” She turns on her heel and opens the door. “Come inside.”
Rhett and I exchange a glance before following her in. The second I step into the house, her scent surrounds me. That clean, sun-warmed aroma I’ve buried myself in every night for the last week. But tonight, it’s laced with something else. Unease.
Sage moves to the kitchen and gestures toward the table. “Sit.”
I don’t like this. Not one bit. My body is thrumming, wired and ready to kill, but I take a seat anyway. Rhett does too, arms folded, watching her closely.
She leans against the counter, arms crossed. “Samuel was here.”
I already knew that much but hearing it out loud sends a fresh rush of heat under my skin. My knuckles crack as I clench my fists. I bite my lip, holding my composure, not wanting to interrupt her.
Rhett exhales slowly. “What’d he want?”
“He was asking about my dad. I’m guessing he’s tried to reach him without any success.”
A slow, sick smile curls at the edges of my lips.Yeah, I’ve heard the cell service in hell isn’t all that great.I feel my pulse thumping in my neck, the kind of slow, seething anger that turns my vision sharp and bright. “And what’d you tell him?”
Her mouth presses into a thin line. “That I hadn’t heard from him. That he was probably still at the cattle sale.”
I tilt my head slightly, letting her words settle. Smart. She didn’t feed him anything useful. But the fact that he’s already sniffing around means he’s got suspicions. And I don’t fucking like that.
Before I can say anything else, Sage exhales and drops another bomb. “There’s something else.”
“Did he hurt you?” I can’t stop the thought from forming into a possessive bark.
She swallows hard and shakes her head, her fingers tightening around her arms. “No, not me.” Her gaze flicks toRhett, almost hesitant. “Do you remember that day in the barn when I was out of sorts?”
Rhett frowns, arms still crossed. “Yeah? Did he say something to upset you that day?”
Sage grips the table so tight her knuckles go white. Then she looks right at Rhett. “Not exactly. I believe he’s been the one watching me from the shadows. Now, more than ever. But there’s more.” She hesitates, burying her fingers in her hairline. “Fuck. I’m just gonna spit it out.” She sucks in a breath, then the words rush out on her exhale. “He’s been stealing money from the ranch… and I caught him fucking one of the cows… and he threatened me to keep my mouth shut.”
Silence. Earthquaking fucking silence.
I blink. Then blink again.There is no way I heard that right, is there?
“You’re telling me that sick bastard—” Rhett’s chair scrapes violently against the floor as he shoots to his feet. His jaw is clenched so hard, I hear his teeth grind.
