Page 63 of Regressive

He doesn’t stop, in fact, I’m pretty sure he widens his stride. He may be bigger than I am, but I’m fit, and I jog to catch up. When I finally fall into step, I realize that, like me, in the light of day, he looks rough.

“Listen, we shouldn’t have kept the information about the women’s meeting from you.”

His eyes cut my way. “No, you shouldn’t have.”

“We don’t have the ability to rebel against Anex the way you do. He’s our leader—”

“Jesus.” He stops, running his hand through his hair. “I’m tired of the excuses. He told you do to something. To lie to me, and all three of you fell into line. I get it,” he says, “your loyalty is to him, not me.”

“It’s not that—”

But it is and we both know it. Anex has us by the balls. Our livelihoods, our shelter, food, clothing,everythingis controlled by that man. Rex stares at me. “That’s not the problem, Levi.”

“Then what is?”

“You knew, and you didn’t keep her safe.”

That one lands—harder than a punch—because he’s right.

“I’m sorry.”

His jaw sets. “I’m not the one you should apologize to.” He sets off again, striding up the hill, the big white house looming on the hill.

I follow, keeping up with his long legs. “It’ll just get worse if you confront him.”

“I’m not going to Anex,” he says, still walking.

“Then what are you doing?”

He spins, stopping a few feet up the hill from me. “To get money. Supplies. A vehicle. I’ve got it all stashed for the right time.”

“You’re running?”

It wouldn’t be the first time he’s threatened it.

“I’m not running,” he says, voice tight, “I’m getting her the fuck out of here. For good.”

Imogene. He wants to save her.

I’mat a loss for words, but he’s not finished. “My father’s business is out of control. He’s stepping into dangerous territory, and I don’t want to be here when it implodes. I also don’t want him to have any reason to use my mate as leverage. That branding was about ownership. Control. He put it there because, like the cows down at the barn, he views her as his property.His.Not mine.” His eyes hold mine. “Notours.”

“Where will you take her?” I ask. “Because he’ll find you. He’ll send his men out to bring her back.”

Rex’s expression changes, to something wary and worn. His arms cross over his chest and, even though he’s my friend, I understand it’s meant to be intimidating. “If I tell you, can I trust you not to take this back to my father?”

It’s a fair question. Of all of us, my loyalty to Anex is the strongest, but things have shifted since Imogene came into our lives. Rex is right. His father branded her for a reason. A visible, painful reminder of who she belongs to.

The pieces of my conversation with him at the Center fall into place. He told me that tonight was a big deal. He’s changing her job, taking over her Corrections.

God, Rex needs to get her out of herenow.

“I won’t tell him anything, I promise.”

The look he gives me is skeptical.

I dig my nails into the wood of the fence. “You’re right. I haven’t been protecting her. Not the way I should. I will not risk hurting her even more by telling your father any of this.” I lift my chin. “I stood up to him tonight. He asked me to do something and I said no.”

Rex’s eyebrows raise. “How did that go?”

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