Chapter 24 Calder #2
“Not here.” I jerk my head toward my truck. “Follow me to the north pasture. I need to check fences, anyway.”
Twenty minutes later, we’re parked at the edge of the property, out of sight of the main house, the fence line stretching ahead of us like a border between worlds. The land drops away to the valley below, Bishop property sprawling as far as the eye can see.
Levi leans against his Jeep, face uncharacteristically serious. “You know what Friday means, right? What Roman’s really asking you to do?”
“I know.” My voice comes out harder than I intended.
“And you’re going to go through with it? Make Saint do that in front of everyone?” Levi shakes his head, disgust evident. “I knew you were ruthless, but I didn’t think you were cruel.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Don’t I? I’ve seen how you look at her when you think no one’s watching. Like she’s something precious, not just property. And now you’re going to throw her to the wolves to please Roman?”
“I’m trying to keep her alive.” The words come out more honest than I intended, sharp with frustration. “You think I want this? You think this is what I planned?”
“I think you need to figure out what matters more to you—Roman’s approval or Saint’s well-being.” Levi’s eyes are hard, accusing. “Are you willing to sacrifice her for him? Why? He’s never done anything for you except use you as his attack dog.”
“Why do you care, brother? You’ve been on me about her since the night of the rodeo. Is there something I should be worried about?” I pitch my voice low, let him see how much I’d love a fight right now.
“I care because you’re fucking turning into him!”
The accusation hits too close to home, prods at wounds that have never fully healed. I move into his space, backing him against the Jeep. “I protect this family. That includes from itself.”
“By destroying the one good thing that’s happened to you?
By letting Roman turn another woman into our mother?
” He doesn’t back down, doesn’t flinch, even with me crowding him.
“I thought you were different. Thought you wanted to break the cycle, not perpetuate it. I like Saint. I don’t want to see her reduced to a fucking shell.
If I were lucky enough to have a woman like her, I’d kill anyone who got in my way to keep her safe. Keep her happy.”
I step back, the anger draining away, leaving only the cold reality of our situation. “You don’t understand what’s at stake.”
“Then explain it to me.”
I almost do. Almost tell him everything, the FBI, the plan, only half formed in my mind. But I can’t risk it. Can’t put that burden on him. Can’t make him complicit.
“I can’t.”
“Can’t or won’t?” He throws up his hands. “Fine. Keep your secrets. But Wayne’s going to be a problem. He’s already been in town, and if whispers get to Emma or that hellcat Allie, then we’re fucked.”
“I know. Fuck.” I turn and pace away so I don’t punch the fence post just to let off some of this frustration.
“Yeah, well, what Roman doesn’t know is that Wayne’s been skimming from the protection money. Taking a cut before it gets to Sawyer for the books. He’s trying to create a distraction so no one looks too close at his side hustle.”
That gets my attention. “You sure about that?”
“Caught him myself last week at the Garrison place. Tom paid his monthly envelope, but Wayne pocketed a hundred before adding it to the collection.” Levi’s eyes are serious. “He’s a problem, Calder. A loose end, and even worse, he’s stealing from us.”
I should have handled him when we dealt with Martin, but there wasn’t time. Now it’s coming back to bite me.
“I’ll take care of it.” I glance at the fence line, the work that still needs doing. “What about the herd here? They ready to move?”
Levi accepts the change of subject, falling into the familiar rhythm of ranch business. “Yeah, grass is getting sparse up there. I was thinking we would move them to the east field tomorrow. Should be enough hands if we start at dawn.”
We talk logistics for another few minutes, the easy back and forth of work that’s been in our blood for generations. But underneath the mundane details of cattle and grazing rotations, I can feel Levi’s question lingering between us, unanswered.
Are you willing to sacrifice Saint for him? Why?
I don’t have an answer he’d accept. Don’t have one I fully accept myself. All I know is that the full moon is coming, and with it, a ceremony that will either save us or destroy us both.
As Levi climbs back into his Jeep, he pauses, one foot on the running board. “Just so you know, I don’t get it. I don’t understand how after what Roman did to Saint, after the branding, you can still follow his rules like they’re gospel. She deserves better from you.”
He drives off before I can respond, dust kicking up behind his tires, leaving me alone with the weight of his words and the tightness in my chest that feels like something breaking.
He’s right. Saint deserves better. Deserves someone who isn’t caught between worlds, trying to dismantle an empire from the inside while pretending to uphold it. Someone who didn’t drag her into this hell in the first place.
But she’s stuck with me. And I’m going to make damn sure we both survive what’s coming, even if it costs me the last shreds of my soul.
I spend the next hour mending the fence line, the physical work silencing the noise in my head.
By the time I head back to the house, to Saint, I’ve come to a decision.
The full moon ceremony will happen. Has to happen for my half-baked FBI plan to work.
But what comes after will be on my terms, not Roman’s.
I just hope Saint can forgive me for what I’m about to put her through. For what I’ve already done. And for what I still need to do to free us both.