23. Chapter 23 - Rosalyn
The SUV is certainly more lavish than his truck, but it also doesn’t feel like him. I’m not complaining about the seat warmers under the leather covering, not when it’s flirting with zero degrees outside.
Cade’s knuckles turn white from gripping the steering wheel so tightly when he makes the turn into the parking lot of the bar.
“I’ll leave it running so you stay warm.” He pauses to let out a long breath, then pushes his Stetson lower over his eyes. “Be right back,” he grunts, then swings his door wide with a rush of cold air.
I slide down, wrapping my coat tighter under my nose to watch him.
He barely makes it across the parking lot before he’s stopped by a young, lanky guy wearing a baseball hat coming outside.
After a very brief exchange, he strides towards me quickly and hops in.
He looks like he’s seen a ghost. Who was the other man?
“Is everything okay?” A piece of me wants to reach out to comfort him. Maybe get rid of the furrow that’s trenched between his brows?
“That was my nephew, Sawyer.” Cade shifts us into drive and spins the tires in his hurry to leave.
I rise, swiveling in my seat to see if I can catch another glimpse of the guy, but he’s gone. “Why didn’t you stay?”
His breathing is rapid until we’re back on the road.
“I didn’t expect him to be there. I ain’t ready yet, I want to talk to Mason first.” He pushes up the brim of his hat to squeeze his temples, then drops his palm to the shifter.
“He looks just like his daddy, but with Caroline’s eyes.
And I saw the look. Mason gets the same expression when he doesn’t like someone. ”
This time I can’t stop myself from resting my fingers on the back of his knuckles.
He twitches, like his instinct is to pull his arm away.
I normally would too, but he told me I needed to start doing what I want. “Why didn’t you tell him the truth? That you didn’t do it?”
Cade groans. “That’s a conversation I need to have with my brothers. They deserve to hear it from me.” His thumb lifts to press my fingertip to his skin, making me feel warmer inside than any heater under this cushion would.
I’ve decided I like touching him.
“Sawyer’s spent his whole life knowing I’m the one who killed his mom.” His voice carries an ache in it that resonates in my chest.
When he turns, I can see the agony lacing the edges of eyes. “He hates me, Ros. And I don’t blame him.”
“He won’t. He’ll know you’re a good man.” My grip tightens gently.
If only his family knew how much he cares? They’d see him like I do.
It’s been a transition from the gruff man holding a rifle on me to the one I’m watching suffer beside me.
Doubt taints his squint when he glances at me.
Then he snorts. “Haven’t had much choice. Was on parole for something I didn’t do for a lot of years.” His jaw tics as he slows the car and pulls into the wide spot on the road near the entrance to my brother’s ranch.
I call it theirs. I don’t have any sense of ownership on the place.
He parks and turns to me. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
Swallowing hard, I stare out the window towards the road. “No, but this is the best way. I won’t be long.” I squeeze his hand once more and push the door open. “Keep my seat warm.” Giving him my best smile, I turn on my heel and face the icy wind.
My stomach rolls with every step.
Get in, get out. That’s my plan.
Making the trek down the lane gives me too much time to think. What am I doing?
How can I dream of starting a new life? Cade is the only person I know outside of my brothers.
I know he won’t want me weighing him down, depending on him forever.
Where will I go? I don’t even have any skills to get a job.
Hell, I can’t even say I graduated. Whatever homeschooling I got from my mom disappeared when she died.
Everything else I’ve learned on my own. I didn’t want to be a burden, so I took my own education as seriously as possible.
Yet I don’t even think I’d qualify to work anywhere.
I really will be an anchor for Cade.
Smelling the woodsmoke from the fireplace, my chest tightens as I get a full view of the ranch.
Shit. Eli’s truck is here. Hopefully he’s in the office.
Climbing the steps to the house, I quietly go inside, careful to avoid all the squeaky boards on the way to my room.
Silence is a blessing. There was a time I wished for a dog. Today, it would have alerted my presence.
Stuffing my purse into the bottom of my backpack, I grab a few handfuls of clothes and cram them in on top. I don’t need much, just enough to change while I can clean the others.
The photo album is next, luckily it isn’t very big.
One last stop to the bathroom for my toiletries, and I’ll be able to get out.
I wonder if my brother’s even realized I was gone? Probably when they had to cook for themselves.
Creeping back down the hall, I turn the corner into the living room—
And run directly into Eli.
“What the fuck, Lyn?” he growls, his arms crossing his chest. “Where have you been?”
Then his cold, pale eyes settle on the bag over my shoulder.
His back hunches and his fists come up as the rage seeps into his gaze like a poisonous cloud. “Where the hell are you going?” Menace drips from his raspy words as he takes a step closer.
“My horse foundered in the woods,” I stammer the story I’ve prepared. “I’m going back out to help her.”
He rakes his scowl down my body, then back up to wrinkle his nose. “I don’t fucking think so.”
Before I can react, his hand snakes out and grips my throat, pulling me to him as he chokes off my air. “You’re gonna tell me the truth.” Spittle plasters against my gaping cheek. My mouth opens but no sound can escape. “Where were you?”
His fingers lighten just to let my answer free.
“Petun—”
He cuts me off with a stinging slap, knocking me out of his grip to crumple onto the floor. “Liar. Try again.”
Struggling to catch my breath, I fight the pain that’s radiating from my elbow and hip to try to drag myself away. “I was, Eli.”
I don’t see his foot move, but the toe of his boot connects with my side to send an explosion of agony through me.
“Don’t even try that shit. Were you out whoring around? Telling people about us? Where’d you go, Rosalyn?” He leers over me, his palm lashing out to smack my face and arms with every question.
Coughing, I gasp and curl on myself.
He rips the bag off my back and jerks it open. “For your piece of shit mare, huh?” He waves the photo album next to my ear. “Gonna show her sappy pictures to make her better?”
With a single stride, he pitches the album into the low flames in the brick fireplace.
“No!” I cry as the embers spark, licking the fabric wrapping the cover.
He swings his palm with such force, it makes me fly backwards.
“She isn’t here to save you. You have one choice.” Eli reaches down to yank my braid until my head is arching painfully. “Tell me the truth.”
When I hear the snap of his knife locking into place, ice rushes through me.
The sharp blade presses my throat with a bite. “Or I’m gonna feed you into that fire one piece at a time and no one will ever know.”
It eats into my skin when I swallow hard. “Please don’t,” I whisper.
My resolve cracks as his scowl deepens, distorting his features into raw rage.
Holy shit. He’s really going to do this.
Just as his muscles bunch for what I know will be the severing slice, all the strength leaves my body.
“I was with him,” I whimper, my cowardly admission completely deflating me.
“Who?” His yell washes over me in a burning wave as the edge digs deeper into my throat.
I don’t want to.
I can’t.
I’m sorry.
“Cade.”