Chapter Thirty-Two Blaze
Chapter Thirty-Two
Blaze
Savannah’s words thunder in my ears.
I was pregnant.
Lost the baby.
My stomach clenches and unclenches, ready to revolt at any second. The sharp scent of antiseptic cleaner stings my nose, burning my throat. Jagged breaths make my lungs ache.
Everything is falling apart. Every fucking thing.
I drag myself off the floor of the hospital, staggering to my feet after one too many orderlies ask if I need help. I do, but I shouldn’t get it. I was a willing participant in this shit show, so it’s up to me to find my way out of it.
Thank God Wyatt texted me when Savannah showed up here.
And then finding out about the baby . . .
our baby . . . the despair I left her with when I enlisted, the constant reminder of what we had and what I stole from her when I disappeared from her life .
. . if I wasn’t broken before, I definitely am now.
I walk out of the hospital, legs shaking as if the ground is quaking under my feet.
I pull my phone out of my pocket and stare at the screen before unlocking it.
I dial Savannah’s number, but it goes straight to voicemail.
The normal, cheerful tone of her voice on the recorded message cracks my heart open a little more.
I dial her number three more times before I climb into my truck, but she never answers.
Trying to keep her in the dark about Wilkerson and his plans, thinking ignorance would keep her safe .
. . Christ, it was so fucking stupid. She already overheard too much, and now she knows about things that can hurt her or worse.
Now it’s up to me to fill in the blanks enough so that she will understand the kind of danger she’s in as long as she’s associated with me.
I need to find her. I have to tell her everything. She may hate me for the rest of her life, but at least she’ll be alive. And I’m pretty sure it’s enough to drive her away from Whiskey Creek forever.
I text her before pressing the ignition button.
Please just let me know you’re safe.
A delivery error flashes on the screen. Her phone must be off.
Dammit.
I drive back to Red Rock. Maybe she headed back there.
A slice of icy unease assaults my spine. What if she called Tyler? Looking for comfort after I just took a sledgehammer to everything she thought she knew?
I stomp my foot on the gas and speed down the highway that leads to her ranch. My heart thrashes as I head up the drive. I stare up at the house from my truck. It’s completely dark. The ranch hands are with the cattle in one of the far pastures, but there’s no sign of her.
And her car is nowhere to be found.
I swallow hard, panic burning my insides like acid. She could have run.
But I don’t think she did. She wouldn’t leave Red Rock without at least sending a text. Maybe she went somewhere to blow off steam and get her head straight. Christ knows, Nash and I fed her enough to make it spin off her neck.
She could have gone into town.
My gut roils.
She could have stopped in to see that fucking vet.
I grab my phone from the center console and dial Nash’s number as I head toward Main Street. I peer out my windows for any sign of Burgess’s truck parked in the area. I don’t see it or Savannah’s car anywhere.
I can’t even be relieved, though. The threat is still out there, and now, so is she.
And if I know she’s gone, so does Wilkerson.
I don’t even wait for him to speak once he answers. “Have you heard from Savannah?”
“Why the fuck would I tell you if I did? You got plans to finish her off? Like what we already said wasn’t enough to push her over the edge?”
“I just drove into town. I didn’t see her car anywhere.” I scrape a hand down the front of my beard, but the knot in my gut tightens. “Maybe it’s nothing and she’s just taking a minute. But, Nash . . . what if something’s wrong?”
“You’re what’s wrong. Stay away from her.”
“Nash, I’m telling you. Something doesn’t feel right. Have you seen or talked to her since she left the ranch?”
“No. Why?”
A sharp sigh expels from my lungs. “I found her at the hospital. Wyatt called and told me she went there. It was . . . it was bad. And she took off again. I’m worried. She’s upset and alone, and her phone’s off.”
Nash is silent for a few seconds. “Where would she go?”
“I don’t know. I drove through town and out to Red Rock. I can’t find her.”
“Maybe she just needs space. We should give it to her.”
“No,” I say, backing out of the driveway. “I can’t risk her being alone out there. I’m going back to the hospital. Maybe she stopped back to see Wyatt and told him something. Meet me there.” Sweat pebbles the back of my neck. “Something’s not right. I can feel it, Nash. Just trust me.”
Ending the call, I lean my head back against the seat. I haven’t heard from Wilkerson, but I know he’s watching. What if . . . ?
I squeeze my eyes shut.
What if he or his guys did something to her?
Nash’s caustic words lance my brain, and I stomp on the gas.
When I make it back to the hospital, I swerve around a corner and pull into the parking lot.
The blood ices in my veins. My tires screech to a stop.
Savannah’s car is parked close to the main entrance.
I jump out of the truck and run past it on my way inside. The driver’s seat is empty.
So either she’s still inside or . . .
I curl my fingers into tight fists and press them against my forehead. I can’t think like that. I won’t.
I charge through the entrance and dart toward the elevator. I jab the Up button over and over until the door finally opens at a snail’s fucking pace. It slowly moves toward Wyatt’s floor, and I take off down the hall as soon as the doors open wide enough for me to slip out.
My stomach drops once I get to Wyatt’s doorway.
No Savannah.
But deep down, I knew I wouldn’t find her here.
The problem is, I have no idea where to look next.
“What happened when Savannah was up here?” I look at Wyatt. “Did she say anything?”
“She came in here spewing out a lot of accusations. Mentioned Dad was doing a lot of bad shit and got you involved with it, that he was involved in the explosion years back, how it was his fault her parents died. Then Dad pulled her outside to talk about something,” Wyatt says in a terse voice.
“He disappeared after that. Neither of them has come back. B, what the fuck is going on?”
“He pulled her aside?” I pace the length of the room. “Fuck.”
“What the hell is your problem?” Colt says as he strides into the room and settles into a chair. “You got your ass in a twist over Savvie Carlson again?”
I lance him with a glare. “You smug fucking asshole. Do you even know what the hell is happening right under your nose? You think money and power are everything and that you can get it by sitting on your ass and rubbing elbows with the guys at the big boys’ table.
But you don’t know shit about the business you think you’re running.
You don’t know how you got your position or why.
” My pulse rockets, nearly punching a hole in my throat.
Colt scoffs. “So fucking dramatic. I’ve got things under control. I don’t need you nosing into our business dealings. Find trouble somewhere else.”
“You don’t know anything,” I seethe. “You just sit there on your damn high horse, looking down on everyone around you. You never had to do the dirty work, did you? Never had to handle any of the shit.”
“I have to handle you, don’t I?” he asks, a nasty smirk turning up his lips.
I give him a hard shove backward. “Do you know anything about what’s happening behind the scenes with Wilkerson’s jobs or what kind of criminals Dad’s in bed with?”
“I know enough.” Colt’s nostrils flare, teeth bared like he’d love nothing more than to chew me up and spit me out. “Wilkerson has helped us out a lot, using our network and resources in exchange for cash. Dad’s business has grown and expanded because of him.”
“Trust me, you have no idea what his ‘business relationship’ with Dad is.” I stare at him for a long minute.
Then I look over at Wyatt. Christ, I wanted so badly to protect them all those years ago.
They were too young to be dragged into my father’s bad decisions.
When Mom died, everything spiraled, and I was the only one who could hold shit together.
I tried so damn hard to control things I couldn’t, to keep my brothers safe from the reality my father plunged us into.
But things are about to come crashing down around us. And keeping them in the dark puts them in the same danger me and Savvie are in right now.
“I don’t believe Wyatt’s accident was an accident,” I say.
Colt throws his hands into the air. “Are you fucking kidding me? What makes you the expert in bull riding?”
“It didn’t happen when he was riding the bull.
” I look over at Wyatt. “A friend of yours showed up the day of the accident to check on you. I talked to him. He said something wasn’t right with that bull, that it was out of control before it even went into the chute.
Everyone there agreed. I think someone might have done something to that bull to make it go nuts on Wy.
Not to kill him but to hurt him. Bad. As a message. ”
Colt doesn’t bother to stifle a snort. “You’re fucking paranoid, Blaze. Nobody thought foul play was involved.”
“But what if it was?” I ask, my voice low. “And what if I told you that since I’ve been back here in Whiskey Creek, a local crime boss has been threatening me to do work for him or else?”
“B, what are you sayin’?” Wyatt asks. “What crime boss? And why would he come for you?”
I take in a deep breath. “What I’m about to tell you is gonna be hard to hear. But it’s time you knew the truth and how it all links to Savvie, Nash, and you guys.”
“I don’t want to hear any of your bullshit,” Colt bites out. “You’re jealous that Dad would rather have me working by his side. So save your theories. We don’t need to hear them.”
“Colt, shut the hell up,” Wyatt growls. “If you don’t wanna hear, then piss off. But I’m tired of being kept in the dark. Tell us what you know, B.”