Chapter 7 #2
"She wants to know what’s in Arizona that has the Greeks so interested.
She wants to know who they're working with.
What their army looks like. What secrets they're hiding.
She believes they're trying to take over Arizona as a foothold into then taking over LA.
" He pauses. "It's a fucking spiderweb of dangerous men, Harper. Are you sure?"
I don't hesitate.
"Yes. I'm sure. I'll be discreet. I'll use my trusted contacts. If they're going to hurt the people of New Falls, I'll have the whole town to protect me. Don't worry."
I'll have the whole town, because I have Ace. Whether he likes it or not, that man will always protect me. The same way I will always protect him.
That's not a choice. It's not a habit. It's just the truth.
He slides the black box across the desk to me. "So. Will you marry me, Harper Jones?"
I laugh. It comes out watery, but it's real. "You remembered my last name. That's a good start."
"Harper Blake sounds pretty good, too," he says.
I swallow hard.
It doesn't. It sounds wrong. It sounds like a name that belongs to someone else, someone who didn't grow up riding horses and kissing cowboys and falling in love so hard it rewired her DNA.
I pick up the box and open it. The diamond stares back at me. It’s enormous, blinding, way too big for my finger. It’s the kind of ring that's designed to be seen across a room. To make a statement. To declare ownership.
"It's incredible," I whisper. Because it is. Objectively. The way a cage can be beautiful if you don't think too hard about what it's for.
I snap it shut and push it back across the desk.
"So when do I go home?" I say.
He tilts his head. "Home? Isn't this your home now?"
I shrug. "I don't know, Hudson. I really don't know."
"Tomorrow? Do you have somewhere to stay? Or the company can book you a—"
I hold up a hand.
"I have somewhere. Don't worry."
I'm going home. To my parents. To the ranch. To the town I left behind.
I have a plan. I'll speak to Lola. See if I can work with Hunter without having to step foot on Sterling Ranch.
See if he'll give me the information I need—the Greeks, the buy-out, whatever Ranch 42 has gotten itself into.
And in return, I'll give him something valuable: what the Greeks are doing in LA. What Gianna knows. What's coming.
He might even need to know about her.
I have no idea how the mafia runs in practical, everyday terms. I'm way over my head. I'm a journalist who's supposed to report on crime, not wade into the middle of it wearing heels and a fake engagement ring.
But I'm the only one who won't take this story and sell it for millions.
I'm the only one here who can keep them safe.
"So, what time tonight?" I ask.
"Eight. I'll pick you up."
I nod and see myself out of his office without stopping to say goodbye to anyone. I keep my head down as I cross the bullpen, keep my face neutral, keep my breathing steady. Samantha calls my name. I wave without turning.
I make it to my car before I fall apart.
The second the door shuts, and the parking garage swallows me in concrete silence, I pull out my phone and open the thread.
His thread. The long column of blue messages I never answer, stacked one on top of another—birthdays and Christmases and ordinary Tuesdays when he was just thinking about me and couldn't help himself.
The last one. Sent at 1:47 a.m. on his birthday.
Miss you.
I press my thumb against the screen.
And I cry.
Because tomorrow, I'm going home. And I'm going to walk back into the town I tore myself out of, carrying a fake ring from the wrong man and secrets that could destroy the right one.
And Ace Sterling is right there. In that town. On that ranch. Under that sky.
The life I could have had, taunting me. I chose my career over Ace.
I did what my father wanted; I got out of New Falls.
But I’m not sure twenty-year-old Harper made the right decisions. The Harper I am now is a ghost of the girl I used to be.
And I don't know if I'm strong enough to be that close to him and not break. For Ace to see the failure I am, that I left him to chase this life that’s making me miserable. How am I supposed to admit that I fucked everything up?
Instead of calling Ace, I find Lola’s number and hit dial, holding my breath.
“Hello, Harper? Are you okay?” Lola’s New York accent comes through.
I sniffle and regain my composure.
“Lola. I need to meet you. It’s important,” I tell her, and I know she will believe me. I showed her once already that I’m on her team. I just have to hope she still can trust me.
“Who is it?” I hear Hunter ask in the background, and my heart races.
To me, he’s Ace’s older brother. But I’ve learned how dangerous this man is.
“I can speak to him,” I tell Lola.
“Okay,”
“Hello, Harper,” Hunter greets me in his deep voice.
“Hi. Long time no speak,” I say, trying to lighten the tone. “I need to speak to you about something. I don’t know what Lola told you. I’m a reporter in LA.”
He clears his throat. “And how does that involve me?”
“I have a story to write in New Falls, Hunter,” I say, letting my tone give the real message.
“Right. This isn’t an over-the-phone conversation, Harper. Rule one of digging around in this.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose.
“I’m calling you as a family friend,” I say.
“As a warning? Or as a friend? Which side are you on, Harper?” he counters.
I’m now painfully aware of every word I say and who might listen in. Then I have an idea. A way to prove to Hunter that he can trust me and let me back in.
“I’ve heard they’re opening up a Greek restaurant right outside Ranch 42,” I say, and I let that land.
“Interesting. I’m sure that will be delicious. I’ll have to go and try it,” he replies flatly.
There’s a pause.
“Are you in town?” he asks.
“Tomorrow. And I’d rather that information stays between the two of us.”
I hear him take a breath. “I’ll be in touch shortly.”
The call ends, and I stare at the wall in front of me. Holy fuck.