49. Chapter 49 - Rosalyn
My hands shake as the cold truth hits.
Eli did this, I have no doubt. He killed his own sister. And the worst part?
He still continues to blame Cade and the Black Gulch.
“I hate him,” I whisper, choking on the words. “I know I’m not supposed to—”
“Ros, it’s okay.” Cade’s voice is as rough as nails when he pulls me close enough to bury his face into my side.
“It just feels better to know I wasn’t crazy.
That all these years I wasn’t the villain.
” He wraps his arms tighter. “I hate that it happened.” He looks up with the shine of tears in his amber eyes.
“You’ve been the light at the end of a very dark tunnel, Ros.
I wouldn’t have this without that.” His forehead dips towards the screen.
Hugging him to me, I know I feel the same.
His steady love gives me strength I didn’t know I had.
“Cade?” I run my fingers through his hair as I fix on the photos in front of me. “What if I went with you to the Triple-Bar? Does it still count even though I haven’t been there in months?”
“I’d never ask you to do that,” he grunts. “It could be dangerous.”
Chewing on my lip doesn’t make this easier. “Will it help?”
“Maybe? Or not?” He rotates my hips and sits me on his thigh. “Ros, there’s a lot of other ways we can catch them.”
I take a shaky, terrified breath. “I want this to be over. They need to be stopped before they kill anyone else.” Pain claws at my chest as I trace his scarred cheek. “I don’t want them to finish what he started.”
His jaw clenches and he shakes his head. “Won’t happen.”
“It’s my choice,” I whisper.
He goes completely still. He doesn’t speak but his nostrils flare as his mouth thins before he cups my neck.
Without a word, he pulls me into a long, firm kiss. All of his worries, frustrations, and doubts flow through his tense hold and bruising lips.
When he drags himself away, both of his warm palms frame my face. “If, and it’s a big one, we do this, you are glued to my side. I don’t want a wisp of air to be able to pass between us.”
My heart is racing with terror but I would do absolutely anything for this to be done. “That I can promise.”
He pats my leg in a silent cue for me to get up, then he stands over me with a frown. “Okay. For the record I’m not comfortable with this while also respecting the fuck out of the fact you are by far the strongest person I’ve ever known.”
My chin trembles. “I don’t feel that way. I just know the thought of anything happening to you hurts way more than the fear of dying.” I made my peace with the possibility it might be my fate a very long time ago.
But the idea of Cade being the one to suffer?
I’d throw myself in front of any bullet for him. And it’s because of that realization I know this needs to be done.
“Pete?” Cade pulls me against his side. “We don’t need a warrant. We have permission from one of the owners.”
Pete’s bushy gray brows furrow low over his nose. “Rosalyn, I don’t know if—”
Cade’s hand raises, stopping him. “She made her choice. You gonna call Wade or you want me to?”
Pete makes some sort of disgruntled sound. “You call him, I’ll get it approved. There’s a judge down in Missoula who wants all of this mess taken care of.”
“Thanks. I’ll get it set up.” Cade turns, picking up the leftover lasagna and carries it into the kitchen. “We’re gonna go. I appreciate you letting us stay here again.”
“Eh, you’re fine.” His arm waves idly. “Let me know how the apartment looks. I couldn’t get up the damn stairs so I hired out cleaning it up.”
My jaw drops. “You didn’t have to do that. I’m completely—”
“My treat.” Pete smiles up from the couch. “The best wedding gift I could think of was fresh bedding,” he chuckles. “I’ll see y’all tomorrow so we can plan.”
I think my face is quite literally on fire.