Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 68058 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68058 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
TJ reached up and cupped my cheek. “You did the right thing. I’ve never been anywhere near as close to Arturo as you are to Rogue or Grant, but he’s family, and he’s innocent. I will not let Franco hurt him or any member of my family, not even my father.”
“Good for you.”
“Rogue is too trusting. He wouldn’t have defended himself against your father until it was too late.”
I tilted my head, studying him. “How do you know him so well?”
“I’ve learned to size people up quickly. It’s important in my line of work.”
“And it makes torture more effective?”
He scowled at me. “I prefer to make a clean kill from a distance. I’m the threat you don’t know is coming.”
“So you’ve never—”
“I’ve tortured a number of men. All of them have deserved it, and yes, the more you know about them, the more likely you are to get what you need.”
“I learned that in the marines. I don’t like it, but it’s true. You’re right. Rogue wouldn’t have realized quickly enough how much trouble he was in. His worst injuries in the rodeo have come when he trusted the bull to ultimately be reasonable.”
TJ frowned. “That doesn’t sound wise.”
“They are behaving reasonably for angry bulls. That doesn’t mean they will care one bit about harming a rider. Don’t assume Rogue’s not dangerous, though. He might not want to blame an animal for its instinctive behavior, but if someone harms me or Grant, he’s more savage than either one of us.”
TJ nodded. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“We’ll find a way to save Arturo and make Franco pay. I promise. My brothers and I will do whatever is necessary to help you.”
“You shouldn’t have to be involved.”
“I want to be involved. I… I’m involved with you, and this affects you, so…” That was as close as I could come to saying what I really wanted to say to him. Love wasn’t a word I’d ever used with someone outside my family. I wasn’t sure I was ready now, even though I knew what I felt.
“Rhys… you… you matter to me.”
I nodded. “You matter to me too.”
He pulled me into a kiss that left us both breathless. When I’d recovered enough to speak, I said, “We should probably go tell Rogue and Grant what’s happening.”
He blew out a long breath. “We should, but what I want to do is stay right here with you. I don’t want to face any of this.”
“I know, but I’ll be right there with you every step of the way.”
“You will? Really?”
I’d never seen him look so uncertain. “I may be stubborn, but even I can’t pretend there isn’t a bond between us. You chose me when you needed comfort from someone.”
“I needed you, not just somebody.”
That made my heart speed up again. “Yeah?”
“Rhys, you’re mine, and I don’t want to let you go.”
I sighed. “I don’t know how to do this.”
“Neither do I.”
“Are we going to tell Grant now?”
TJ raised a brow. “Do you think he doesn’t already know?”
I’d tried not to think about it. “I don’t know, but I’m done hiding.”
He smiled. “I’ve been waiting for you to say that.”
As soon as we were dressed, we hurried to the ATVs and rode them back to the shed where they were stored. I held TJ’s hand firmly in mine as we walked toward the ranch house.
27
TJ
Rhys texted Rogue and Grant before we left the shed. When we reached the house, they were waiting for us in a conference room in the basement. Grant looked at our joined hands pointedly.
“We’re together,” Rhys said. “Get over it.”
Grant snorted. “You think I didn’t know that?”
Rogue rolled his eyes, and Grant turned his attention to me. “If you hurt my brother, you will be sorry. I don’t care what kind of big-time assassin you are, or who your family is, or—”
I raised my hands in surrender. “I have no intention of hurting him, but for the record, if it came to it, I could kick your ass.”
“You want to find out now?”
Rogue snorted. “Could y’all stop with the posturing. Rhys is happy with him.”
Grant studied Rhys for a moment. “Is that true?”
“It is. Though I’d be happier if we’d already eliminated this fucking cousin of his.”
“We’ll take care of it,” Grant said, and I knew he’d accepted me being with Rhys for the time being. “I assume this isn’t the vital information you needed to share.”
I shook my head. “My cousin has abducted my youngest brother.”
After filling Grant in on what I knew, I called X, and we brought him into the conversation. He gave us more details on what he knew and insisted we still needed to sit tight until his contacts found out more, but now that I wasn’t tangled up with Rhys, it was all I could do to sit still. I needed to act.