Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
Maddox
Sweat trickles down my spine as I lean my weight into the post driver, my arms vibrating with every strike. There are a million other things I should be doing, but fixing this fence affords me a break from all the heavy shit weighing on me.
Between figuring out how I’m going to tell my sister that I’m buying her out and obsessing over Amelia, I’m mentally drained.
I’ve tried to approach Della a few times, but every time I do, she shuts me down. I don’t put up much of a fight on that front because I still haven’t received an official offer from Lucifer. For all I know, the Fallen Demons took their vote and decided they want no part of the ranch.
If that’s the case, I’m fucked.
Then there’s Amelia.
Timing has never been our thing, but after the last few days, I can’t let it stand in the way either.
Life is too short, and now that I’ve had her, I don’t want to go another day without her.
Convincing her that I’m not the same guy I was thirteen years ago, will not be easy, especially with my life currently being a fucking shitstorm.
Things get hard.
Life gets messy.
I walked away from her once. I convinced myself it was the right thing to do. That she’d be better off.
I sent her into the arms of another man and broke both our fucking hearts.
But real men don’t run. They don’t give another man an opportunity to fail the woman they love. They figure their shit out, and they show up.
I might not have all the answers when it comes to Amelia, but I know how to show up. I do it every day. For the ranch and the people who work for me.
I can do it for her.
With that thought in the forefront of my mind, I drive the last post into the ground.
Dust sticks to my boots and hands. It even finds its way to the back of my throat.
I grab the wire and begin to string it when I hear the distinct rumble of an engine.
I straighten slowly, squinting toward the dirt road that cuts through the property line when Shadow’s bike comes into view.
He doesn’t slow as he hits the long stretch toward the barn.
He just leans into it, letting the bike eat the ground until he slides to a stop twenty yards from me.
Dust rolls past him in a thick wave as the engine cuts, and he removes his helmet.
I rest my aching arms against the fence as he dismounts and starts for me.
“You’re scaring the herd rolling in like that,” I call out.
He glances at the cattle. “I don’t know about that. They don’t look too spooked to me. If anything, they look bored.”
Leave it to him to say something like that. The guy doesn’t know the first thing about ranch life. I can’t imagine any of the members of his club know too much either. Going into business with them might make things more challenging.
I straighten to my full height and wipe my hands down the front of my shirt.
He walks over to me, testing the tension on the wire I just strung. “Need a hand?”
I laugh and straighten to my full height. “You lookin’ to get your hands dirty?”
“My hands get dirty every day, brother.”
Yeah, I bet they do. It’s just a different kind of filth that covers them.
Clearing my throat, I grab my hammer. “What brings you by?”
“A couple of things,” he says as he turns and leans against one of the posts. “For starters, you can tell me what’s going on between you and Amelia.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Yeah, that line ain’t going to work anymore, brother. Not after you sent my prospect home last night so you could take her home yourself.”
I doubt Amelia told her cousin that I was the guy who found her stranded on the side of the road, and instead of taking her home like a gentleman, I fucked her in my truck.
And I highly doubt she told him I went back for seconds yesterday.
That I would’ve gone for thirds if I thought she’d let me into her apartment when I dropped her off last night.
He’s fishing, but I ain’t taking the bait.
“I went to fix the mechanical bull Wyatt broke and noticed her car wasn’t there. Wasn’t sure if she had a ride home, so I figured I’d swing by and see if she did.”
“At two in the morning?”
“I couldn’t sleep. It’s a good thing too, considering your prospect wasn’t there when she walked out of the bar.”
“Sure, and I believe you.”
I shake my head. “I really don’t care if you believe me or not.” I nod toward the fence. “I’ve got work to do, so if you came here to bust my balls and gossip like a bitch, you should really hop back on your bike and get gone.”
He laughs. “Calm down, killer. I’m here to relay the club’s offer.”
“You could’ve started with that,” I growl.
He hums thoughtfully. “I could’ve but where’s the fun in that?”
I wipe my dirty hands down the front of my shirt. “Well, don’t leave me hanging, man. What are they offering?”
His eyes dart around the land before tipping his chin toward the dirt path that leads straight to the barn. “Let’s walk and talk.”
I don’t like the sound of that, but I abandon the fence and follow his lead.
“The club has some conditions, but if you agree to them, we’re all in. We’ll buy Della out and move forward.”
Relief swarms me, but it’s fleeting.
“What kind of conditions are we talking about?”
“Well, you already know one of them. The ranch is going to take the Fallen Demons name and become Fallen Meadows. This will announce the merger and provide protection to the land. We will work on sixty-forty split, with sixty percent of all revenue going to you and forty to the club.”
“And how do I pay the club back?”
“We want a provision that allows any club member to build a home on the land that is not occupied by the business end of it. Each home would sit on two acres. If you do the math, that alone pays back the debt.”
That is a big ask. This land was never meant for outsiders.
The men who work it day after day and keep it functioning have never asked for a piece of it, and now I’m expected to just dole out acres to a group of men who haven’t even stepped foot on it.
It feels wrong. But before I can express any of my concerns to Shadow, Tyler rushes out of the barn and shouts my name.
“It’s Della,” he calls breathlessly. “She took Rex for a ride and got bit by a fucking rattler. She radioed in, said she’s by the lookout.”
“Fuck,” I grunt. “Are the keys in the Polaris?”
“Should be,” Tyler says. “You want me to go?”
I shake my head. “I’ve got her.” I turn to Shadow. “I’m gonna need help. You mind?”
“Whatever you need.”
We hop into the ATV, and I order Tyler to call an ambulance before I slam my foot on the gas and drive us out to the lookout. Spotting Rex, I hit the brakes, but before the ATV can come to a complete stop, Shadow jumps out.
By the time I get to the horse and secure the reins, Shadow already has Della in his arms. It’s telling, and not in a good way, because my first worry should’ve been my sister and not her fucking horse.
To ease my conscience, I tell myself Rex doesn’t take kindly to strangers, and I run with the lie.
I let Shadow take Della back to the house in the ATV, and I ride Rex.
When we get back to the barn, the ambulance is already waiting.
I bring Rex to the stables and when I return, Della is already loaded into the ambulance.
I should jump in there before the doors close. I should take her hand and assure her she’s going to be okay. I should be the brother I was raised to be.
Instead, I stay completely still and watch as the ambulance rolls down the road. Della could die. The venom could fucking kill her, and if that happens, she’ll die thinking I fucking hate her.
“Don’t know what’s going on with you and your sister, but when I told her she needed to stay awake, she said it didn’t matter,” Shadow says, interrupting my thoughts.
I let those words sink in, regret rolling through my veins.
She thinks she doesn’t matter, and that’s on me.
Turning my head, I meet Shadow’s gaze. “I tried to talk to her when she got home last night, but she wasn’t having it.”
I don’t know why those are the words that come out of my mouth. It wouldn’t have made much of a difference if we had spoken. We probably would’ve fought, and she’d still be sitting in the back of the ambulance thinking she’s nothing but a burden.
“Maybe you should wait until she gets back here before you two do any talking,” he suggests.
“Yeah,” I sigh. “That might be good. Think you can go and look after her for me? I don’t want her to be up there by herself. And I doubt she wants me up there in her business.”
“Yeah,” he says.. “I’ll just need to head to the clubhouse and grab my truck beforehand. Just in case she gets discharged. Don’t think it’s wise to put her on the back of my bike.”
“I’d tell you to take Della’s car, but I have no idea where her keys are.” I glance over at my truck. “Take mine. The keys are under the mat.”
“Maybe her keys are in her car?”
I shake my head. “She keeps that thing locked tight.”
“That’s the way it should be. No woman should leave her shit open for anyone to get into.” He pauses for a beat. “I’ll follow and be there for her. Give you updates.”
“Thanks, man, I appreciate it,” I rasp.
I’m just finishing up for the day when Shadow pulls in front of the main house. He steps out of my truck and tosses me the keys.
“How is she?” I ask, shoving the keys into my pocket.
He stares at me quietly for a moment, then blows out a ragged breath. “I don’t know where you get off calling that woman mousey, but she’s still fucking mouthy.” I quirk a brow but don’t say anything. “They’re keeping her for observation. She’ll probably be discharged tomorrow at some point.”
“Okay, but she’s fine, right? I shouldn’t worry.”
He clucks his tongue against the roof of his mouth. “She’s going to make it, but you should probably worry about how the hell you’re going to handle her when she comes home.”
I release a heavy sigh.
That’s easier said than done.