Page 60 of Moon Blind Hearts
I grimace. “I don’t know yet.”
She nods. “Let me know. I’ll send Naomi out there tomorrow if I can’t get there. There’s a whole town behind you. The thirteen stick together.”
“We will. Thank you,” I say, before hopping into the backseat with Jules.
Oak makes record time back to Udder Nonsense Farm and honestly, as we drive through the gate and the cattle guards, I realize we don’t exactly have the most secure set up. There’s no need out here usually, but clearly, we’ve lapsed on that, especially with all the trouble that seems to find Steele lately. I’ll need to address it right away.
Only once we’re back at the farm do we gather her out of the truck and cart her inside the big house. Oak sets her on the couch, but she doesn’t move, her eyes focused on the wall. I can hear her shallow breathing and know that she’s going to devolve quickly if we don’t do something.
I take a seat in front of her and take her hands. “Jules?” Her head turns toward me so I assume she’s looking at me. “What’s going on?”
The dam collapses and I smell her tears before I hear them. I wrap her in my arms, holding onto her as she starts to talk.
“My name is Juliet Ward,” she chokes out. “I’ve been on the run for four years. That man at the carnival is the man my father arranged a marriage for me with. He isn’t a good man. He has ties to something called the 27 Foundation and . . . oh god.” Her voice cuts off. “He’s found me,” she whispers. “He’s found me.”
Foreboding hangs heavy in the air. I know who the Wards are, but I never connected that Juliet was one of those Wards. It seemed a common enough last name, I didn’t immediately think she’d be related to them, let alone the fucking heir. Senator Ward recently announced his run for president the next go around. He’s powerful, and if she’s running from him . . . This is bad. This is really bad. “Jules,” I murmur, squeezing her hand. “What will he do when he finds you?”
It’s Oak that sees her expression. I can’t see but I can feel it.
It’s worse than I thought.
“Christ,” Oak whispers.
Chapter 33
Jules
I expect them to push me away, maybe get mad that I never told them who I really am. Instead, the moment I tell them everything, it’s the opposite. They’re being nothing but sweet and protective.
“We’re gonna need better security,” Sawyer says. “Keep the gates closed.”
“On it,” Cash declares, radioing to one of the hands to take care of it.
“Do they know about Genie?” Oak asks, watching me carefully.
My heart throbs painfully in my chest. After Sawyer gave a breakdown to the other two about who the Wards are, Oak has been watching me carefully. I’m so close to losing my shit, I can’t breathe properly. But the way they’re holding my hand makes me feel a little better.
“No,” I respond. “I had her with a midwife, and I never registered her. If I do, they’ll come after me, after her. I’ve done everything under the table so far. I figured I’ll take the chance and then take care of things when she’s older and he stops hunting us. Maybe when Augustus grows tired of insisting I’m his fiancé.”
“That guy has a very punchable face,” Cash growls.
“I agree,” I nod. “He’s a terrible person.” I sigh heavily and push a hand through my hair. “Anyways, now you know why we have to leave?—”
“Leave?” Oak repeats, frowning. “Who said anything about leavin’?”
“He’s going to tell my father and they’re going to come,” I argue. “It isn’t safe.”
“Let ‘em come. You belong to us and we to you, darlin’. They can’t take you,” Oak replies, his arms crossed over his chest to let me know he means business. “We protect our own out here, and you can’t run forever.”
My face twists. “I don’t know if you missed how powerful my family is, Oak. Or if you even know who the 27 Foundation is?—”
“Actually, we know exactly who the Foundation is,” Cash points out. “They’re the ones that attacked the city a few months ago.”
“What?” I gasp. “You didn’t say that!”
“We aren’t supposed to talk about it much,” he shrugs. “Lawyers and stuff. But yeah. They’re a bunch of overzealous assholes with too much money.”
I shake my head. “I should still leave. Augustus’ ties combined with my father’s pull, things could get really bad. And if they find out about Genie?—”
