Page 61 of Moon Blind Hearts
“We can protect you if you let us,” Oak insists. “Let us help.”
I hesitate, realizing that I’m not going to change their mind. It’s easier for everyone for us to just leave, but they’re not understanding just how dangerous this all is.
So I agree with a soft nod of my head. And when they pull me into a hug, I start to work on the best way to leave the first chance I get.
They’ll wake up and we’ll be gone.
I try not to think about how they’ll feel when they discover it.
My heart starts to break before I ever end the hug.
Chapter 34
Cash
“The Wards are like the Rockefellers,” Sawyer explains as Oak and I sit around him. “Big money. Old money. Money that pulls strings the likes we’ve never seen.”
I shake my head. “I suspected she had a secret, but not something this huge.”
Oak has his arms crossed over his chest as he stands silent. He hasn’t said much, not since we came in here and Jules went back to her cabin. She’d been relatively calm despite the situation by the time she left. Oak, though? He feels like he’s five seconds away from exploding.
Sawyer shakes his head. “Look, her running from the Ward family and being able to remain hidden for this long is insane. Her father is a senator and her twin brother is literally next in line for multiple Fortune 500 companies. Add in the threat of the 27 Foundation after Decatur showed us what they’re capable of, and it’s literally a miracle she’s stayed hidden and that they don’t know about Genie. If they end up coming here, I don’t know how we’re going to be able to take on both.”
“Well, we have some experience with the Foundation,” I point out. “And per Decatur’s deal, they technically can’t come back into Steele unless she leaves. And she ain’t left yet.”
“Clearly that deal doesn’t extend to the fiancé,” Sawyer counters. “Augustus Harrington.”
I lean forward. “Did you find anything out on that asshole?”
“As much as I did on Jules. Augustus Harrington is the current heir to the Harrington empire. He’s already CEO of their company, Harrington Enterprises, which is nothing more than an umbrella corporation over what looks like dozens of smaller companies. He has two siblings, two younger brothers, and his father is currently fighting an aggressive lung cancer. Mother deceased. The entire family is rumored to be threaded deep with the 27 Foundation, but of course, we know we won’t find official proof. By his patterns and resources alone, and his words when he showed up here, I don’t doubt he has that sort of power at his back.”
I take a deep breath and let it out slowly through my nose. “And the dad? What can we possibly do about him?”
“A senator with the backing for a potential presidency? One who is projected to win as a Christian family man?” Sawyer asks, turning his face toward me. “There isn’t much honestly. We certainly don’t have enough money to pay him off or lobby for anything and I imagine he has security at his disposal we could only dream of. Our best bet would be letting the other ranchers know and locking down the farm until we can figure things out. But once they know she’s here, well . . . we have to assume all hell will break loose.” Sawyer frowns. “We need to make sure all of our paperwork is in order.” He pauses. “And that we’re prepared for all The Velvet Rodeo stuff to be fully public.”
I shake my head. “This is a fucking mess.”
But, if there’s someone I’d go through this mess for, it’s that bright purple-yellow haired woman and her little girl in my cabin. Never did I think this is the sort of thing we’d be dealing with when she insisted on leaving, but here we are, desperately trying to figure things out, trying to find a feasible way to protect her. She’s been on the run for years. I hope we haven’t fucked that all up by telling her to stay here so we can protect her.
“We need better security,” I say, running a hand through my hair. “By tomorrow.”
Sawyer nods. “I’ll call Wiley over at Steele Mountain. They’ve dealt with these sorts of things before.”
“Should we call the sheriff?” I ask, watching Sawyer carefully.
Sheriff John is a good man, an honest one, and he was front and center for the face off in town a few months ago. If anyone would understand, it would be him, but . . . what can a Sheriff do against a senator? Senator Ward would literally be a superior.
“Not yet,” Oak finally speaks. “We lock things down, make sure it’s safe. Then we fill him in.” He meets my eyes. “I don’t know if there’s anything he can actually do, but it’s best he knows what’s going down.”
“Understood,” Sawyer says.
I sigh, knowing it’s going to be a long night. “I’ll call White Stag Pastures and see if they can help.”
I suppose it’s time to see if the Green River Basin will show up for a few dairy farmers when they need their help the most.
Chapter 35
Jules
