Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 70097 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 350(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70097 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 350(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
“You heading to see Rogue?”
I sighed. “Yeah. I’ve got to.”
“He’s going to be thrilled to see you.”
I ran a hand through my hair. “I guess he will, but he won’t be thrilled to hear what I have to say.”
“He already knows what happened, and he supports you as much as me and all the other guys.”
“Not all of them.”
Rhys scowled. “Those assholes don’t count. They never respected you. They were snakes who only cared about cheating their way to a promotion.”
“True enough, but that’s not what I meant. I know Rogue would have done the same thing.”
“Damn right. Of course, he never would’ve followed the rules in the first place.”
I snorted. Rhys was right. When we’d been left with few choices to support ourselves, Rhys and I had joined the marines, and Rogue had set out on the rodeo circuit.
He’d been a daredevil his whole life, and he’d gotten wilder with each passing year. “He’s not going to want to quit the circuit.”
“You might be surprised.”
“He’s convinced he’s going to win big if he just keeps going.”
Rhys snorted. “He’s going to kill himself.”
“I’ve tried to tell him that a thousand times, but—”
Rhys held up a hand. “I know, but what you’re offering him—a chance to work with horses and live in a fucking mansion—is what he’d do if he ever got the big prize he’s been killing himself for.”
“He won’t like that it’s me handing it to him.”
“Maybe not, but he’s grown up a lot.” Rhys had gone straight to see his twin when we got home. He’d called me daily, trying to convince me to join them.
“Are you sure about that?”
“You know he hates how you still see him as a kid.”
“Yeah, but he’s—”
“No, he’s not.”
I blew out a long breath. Rhys was right. Rogue had been on his own a long time. Even if I didn’t approve of his lifestyle, he kept his bills paid and sent money to us when he won. And he was alive. I was so damn thankful for that.
“Can you also promise me he’s cut ties with all Dad’s associates?”
“He’s not worked with the Carlottis since he joined the rodeo.”
“But he’s worked with someone else.” I hadn’t missed how carefully my brother had worded his response.
“On occasion. Small-time stuff.”
“Goddammit.” I’d worked so hard to keep us all out of that life.
“Just go see him,” Rhys urged.
I nodded. “I will.
“Do you want me to come along?”
“No. I need to do this myself.”
“You don’t always have to do things alone, you know. You don’t have to be the strong one all the time, the one in charge. You can have help too.”
I shook my head. “I’ve got this.”
Rhys narrowed his eyes, but he didn’t say anything else.
I drained the last of my coffee and headed back inside.
Rogue was living in an RV that didn’t look like it had much life left in it. I said a quick prayer before knocking on the door.
He opened it, wearing only his boxers and blinking into the sunlight.
I wrinkled my nose. “You were still asleep at this hour?”
“Hello to you too, big brother. In case you didn’t know, rodeo hours and ranch hours aren’t the same.”
I knew that, but I also knew my brother, and I doubted he’d been getting anywhere near adequate sleep. “How much has Rhys told you about Paradise Ranch?”
“How am I? Oh, I’ve been doing fine, keeping myself alive, contrary to your prediction. I had a shit run last weekend, but I’m heading to San Antonio on Thursday to redeem myself. What have you been up to?”
I sighed. “I didn’t think you’d want to make small talk with me.”
“I should have known better than to expect it, but a little interest in my life before telling me off for whatever I’ve done now would’ve been nice.”
Shit, I was fucking this up. “I’m sorry. It’s been so long since we talked—like really talked—that I may have forgotten how.”
Rogue’s eyes went big. “Did you just apologize?”
“Yeah. It stung.”
“I bet. Sit down.” He waved toward one of the camp chairs set up under the RV’s metal awning. “I’d invite you in, but it’s hot and messy as hell in here. I’ll be right back. I just need some clothes.”
I plopped down in a chair. If it was hotter in the RV than it was out here, I didn’t see how Rogue slept at all.
When he returned, wearing worn jeans and a tank top, he settled into the chair next to me. “If you’re here for an in-person version of your monthly Tell Riley Off speech, don’t bother. I can recite it from memory. Besides, you’re the one who got kicked out of the marines. I haven’t ever—”
I grabbed his shirt and twisted my fist in it, pulling him half out of his chair. “Don’t challenge me about that. You don’t want to know what will happen.”