Chapter 8
CHAPTER EIGHT
Della
Entering the house through the back door, I’m thankful that Judy isn’t anywhere to be seen. I’m not in the mood for a lecture from her. Not after I almost revealed the secret to Tyler. Why did I do that?
I let out a heavy breath and shake my head. I didn’t need this—none of it.
Tyler had been out of line with what he said.
Moving to the fridge, I open the door and quickly pull out a bottle of water, needing something to help the dryness of my throat. I usually wouldn’t have sprinted all the way back here, only it felt like the devil himself had been chasing me, and I needed to push myself to get away from him.
Logically, I knew it was only Tyler and he meant well. Only I couldn’t think logically. I was nearing a panic attack.
Drinking my water, I shake off the thoughts about the reasons and do my best to calm myself.
Once I have my emotions in check, I make my way through the house, up the stairs for yet another shower to wash the sweat away. I keep it short. There’s no reason to take any longer than I have to. Not when I could be doing other things.
Like my granddaddy put in his Will. He’d like to see me take on a role here at the ranch, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do.
Sure, I know how to help out getting my hands dirty, but that’s Maddox’s department.
What I can do is help him in other ways.
Similar to what I did for a living, I can handle the books.
Before I can do that, though, I need to see where we’re at with the numbers coming and going.
I finish the shower, dry off, wrap the towel around me, and open the door.
I quickly cross the hall into my room. It doesn’t take me long to dress in a pair of jeans and a tee.
Living here, I’ll need to buy some more casual clothes rather than wearing dressy ones.
No reason for business attire on the ranch.
With a plan in place in my mind, I step out of my room, making sure to stop back in the bathroom to gather my dirty clothes. I take them downstairs to the laundry room. Judy already has a load going, but I’ll get one in after she finishes. Or maybe tonight at least.
I grab another bottle of water from the kitchen and head for the office. Everything I’ll need is in there, so I won’t have to track Maddox down to find it.
The moment I step in the office, a twinge of pain hits me once more, remembering the days I’d sit in here with Granddaddy.
While I did homework on the floor, he would be working at his desk.
I was never allowed to skimp on my schoolwork.
Not that I would. It was time I enjoyed with him.
After dinner, he caught up on what he needed to do, and I did what I was required for school.
The bittersweet memory is one I’ll never forget.
Sucking in a harsh breath, I round the desk and take a seat in the big comfy chair that’s been in this room for as long as I can remember.
I pull out the books, groaning at the fact that everything is actually paper still and not been digitized. It would’ve made things so much simpler. Maybe Maddox will be down with me doing that and making his life easier and, well, mine.
For now, I’ll get through the papers and notate what needs to be done.
* * *
Hours after going through the books, I’m mentally drained from sifting through everything.
My heart hurts for what I’ve found, and I need to find Maddox so we can talk about this. The ranch is in trouble.
Big trouble.
I can help him, but he needs to get on board with my plan.
“What the hell are you doing in here?”
I jerk at the anger coming my way from Maddox. I meet his gaze as he stalks deeper into the room.
“I’m going through the books,” I answer, stating the obvious, getting to my feet. “We seriously need to talk about them.
“The books aren’t your concern, Della,” he snaps, eyes narrowed, hands firmly on his hips.
“This is my ranch as well, Maddox.”
My heart isn’t just beating fast now, it’s racing a million miles a second.
“Not for long. I’m buying you out.” My stomach twists at the disgusted sneer on my brother’s lip.
Those beats went completely still, my heart plummeting to my stomach. “What? How? There’s no way you can buy me out. You’re tapped out. You have no capital. Hell, I don’t even know how you’re paying the staff.”
“I have an investor. They are going to buy your share.”
The way he says it so matter-of-factly, as if he has it all figured out.
“You have an investor,” I parrot. “Who?”
“That’s not your concern. They’re good for the money. Won’t gyp you a dime.”
“I said, who?”
“The Fallen Demons MC.”
My brother couldn’t have hurt me more if he’d hit me. I refuse to show him my anguish at the bomb he’s dropped.
“Well, I hate to break it to you and your biker friends, but I’m not selling my half,” I tell him, planting my hands on the table. “I can help you here. We don’t need to bring in outsiders.” I know I can.
“Della, you’re a fucking outsider yourself.
You can’t sweep in here like some fucking hero when you don’t know shit about how this place works.
Riding horses and cleaning stalls when you were a teen doesn’t qualify you as the savior of Meadows Ranch.
I’m buying you out. End of fucking story.
Then you can go back to your happy little life and keep doing whatever the hell it is you did before. ”
I flinch at his words, so angry, it feels as though he slapped me.
I shake my head, tears I’ve held back for so long stream down my face. “What life? What job? I have nothing.”
“What are you talking about?”
Wrapping my arms tight around myself, I let the sobs rake through me. “You know nothing about what I’ve gone through. You don’t know how unhappy I’ve been. How coming home felt like peace to me. A peace I haven’t felt since I was raped my senior year at college,” I all but scream the final words.
“Okay, then tell me. What have you gone through that’s been so bad? Huh?
“It doesn’t matter. I’m not selling, Maddox, don’t think you can convince me.”
I start to walk past him, only for my brother to stop me. “Fuck that, Della. You don’t get to drop a bomb like that and just walk away from me. If you want me to understand you, you need to start fucking talking. I’m not a mind reader.”
Memories of that night flash in my head that I’ve kept locked away for so long. Stepping away from Maddox, wrapping my arms around myself as I relive that day and the days that followed while telling him.
“My senior year, I was working on two degrees, burning both ends of the candle. I wasn’t playing around. My roommate saw I was stressed out and convinced me to go to a party.” I squeeze my eyes shut and keep going.
“Come on, Dels, you need to unwind, have some fun,” Cameron says, her voice bubbly as it always is. I don’t think I’ve ever known anyone who was always cheerful.
“I’ve got to finish this.” I point to the books on the couch of our tiny apartment, which we shared the rent for.
“Della, you’re always studying. Let your hair down for a while. Have some fun. It’s our senior year.”
I want to roll my eyes at the pout on Cameron’s face.
“Just come out tonight for a little while. We’re just gonna go to James’s frat party.” James, her boyfriend, who thought the world revolved around him.
“I’ll go for an hour, but that’s it,” I reason with her.
Cameron smiles brightly, jumps, and claps her hands. “This is going to be so much fun.”
Coming in my direction, she takes my hand and drags me to her room. “We’re gonna get you ready.”
Thirty minutes later, she’s got my hair curled, makeup done, and me dressed in a sleek black dress that barely hits mid-thigh. To pair it, she put me in a pair of red heels. I have to admit the outfit is cute. I wouldn’t have picked it out for myself, but I do like it.
Once Cameron is ready, dressed similarly, she takes my hand once again, and drabs me out the door. “We’re gonna be late if we don’t get a move on.”
I don’t see what the rush is all about. The party was going to be filled with people drinking, smoking, or doing other things that I don’t want to think about.
I’m not a partier. I didn’t come to school at UT to do anything but study. I’m trying to graduate so I can get on with life.
The drive over in Cameron’s car is less than five minutes, with her speeding, though by the time we pull up at the frat house, it’s already packed. Music is pumping, and I really just want to go back to the apartment.
“We’re here.” Cameron’s bubbly voice sings as she gets out. I follow and stick close.
James grins and meets us both just inside the house.
“Babe, you’re looking gorgeous tonight,” he says to her, handing us both red solo cups filled to the brim.
Cameron giggles and throws herself at the man.
I sigh, knowing exactly what’s about to happen, and I’m correct when she moves, latched onto him without so much as a check you later to me.
Shaking my head, I move deeper into the house and take a sip of the beer James handed to me while staring around the space.
Halfway through my drink, James’s friend, Scott, who has always given me the creeps, comes up to me. I try to blow him off, but my mind seems to blank and becomes fuzzy. The next thing I know, Scott’s ushering me into a room upstairs where James and two other guys were waiting, along with Cameron.
I explain to Maddox, with tears streaming down my face, how that night turned my life upside down.
I reported it to campus police, to a detective in Knoxville, but they were all paid off or something.
I don’t know, but they claimed I was lying at first. One of them even stated I’d brought it on myself.
“You should have told me.” Maddox shakes his head. His voice filled with anguish.
“I didn’t think you or anyone else would believe me.
” If the police refused to listen to the truth, why would my family?
“I ended up finishing school, getting the internship, and blocking out what happened to me. That night destroyed my future. I had plans to come home after graduation. I figured I could apply my degrees to the ranch and help wherever I could, but everything went up in smoke. But I was too ashamed to face anyone here.”
“Della, you listen here. You’ve got nothing to be ashamed of. Not a fucking thing. You were a victim. I just wish you would’ve said something sooner. We could’ve helped you deal with the aftermath.” His nostrils flare as he points out, “I could’ve helped you.”
“It doesn’t matter anymore,” I croak, barely making the words audible. “I didn’t want to disappoint Granddaddy, and if he knew that I’d put myself in such a situation, that’s exactly what would have happened.”
Sucking in a breath, I close my eyes. Thinking about all that has changed about me.
I rarely drink anymore. When I do, it’s only one, and I’m done.
I don’t drink beer or take drinks from anyone.
If I go to a bar, I have to watch them make it or I won’t touch it.
If I don’t have something in a bottle with a cap, I put it in a cup with a lid to lower the risks of someone drugging me again.
I have serious trust issues when it comes to people.
“It doesn’t matter, Della. You matter, and I’m sorry if I made you think otherwise. I’m sorry for my part in making you think you needed to go through that alone, but you’re not alone. And I need you to know you’re safe here.”
“I thought you wanted me gone,” I blurt out. His words from earlier ringing in my ears as I stare at him blankly, not knowing what to feel.
“Look, Della. The last couple of years have been hard on both of us. I didn’t know you were going through all that you did.
I just assumed you wanted nothing to do with this place.
Then, I found out Granddaddy left you half of the ranch, and I got fucking mad.
I resented you. But this changes things.
I can’t fault you for something you couldn’t control, and I certainly can’t be mad about how you chose to handle things afterward.
” He pauses, and I watch as he combs his fingers through the overgrown strands.
“I don’t have all the answers. I don’t know how to fix all that’s broken between us, but I do know that you belong here.
This is your home, and I’ll do whatever you need to feel safe here. ”
“You want to tell me about what happened with your job?”
Turning away from him, I drop my head, staring at the floor.
I don’t want to answer his question, but I won’t lie to my brother.
He should have the truth. “When you called to tell me about Granddaddy, I snapped after we got off the phone. I sent over what I had been working on to my boss, Luka, followed by my immediate resignation. The time I thought I would have with our granddaddy was gone. Realizing that broke my heart and made me aware of just how miserable I was.”
“Why do I feel like there is more to it than that?”
Before I can think better of it, I give him the rest of why I left my job. “So, I was also having an affair with Luka.”
“Your boss,” he repeats, though not in question.
I nod without looking at him, shame burning my cheeks. “After what happened to me, I didn’t allow myself to get close to anyone, but Luka and I were working long hours, and it just happened.”
“I’m gonna stop you right there,” Maddox interrupts me, holding a hand up. “I don’t need to know about your sex life.”
“Fair.” A small smile curls on my lips as I slowly spin back to face him. “Maddox, I really don’t want to sell my half of the ranch. I can help, I have money in savings, forty-five thousand, we can use it—”
“There’s more to it than just buying you out.
Not too long ago, the CEO of an oil company approached me.
They want the land, and they’ll do anything in their power to get it.
A partnership with the Fallen Demons doesn’t just provide the working capital needed to turn this place around, it also grants us protection. ”
“So, we’re doing this together?”
“It’s what Granddaddy wanted.”
Now that everything was out in the open, it was time to start really healing our relationship and move forward with our lives.