Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 38829 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 194(@200wpm)___ 155(@250wpm)___ 129(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38829 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 194(@200wpm)___ 155(@250wpm)___ 129(@300wpm)
“I want that,” she says softly.
“What?” I ask confused.
“A love so powerful even death doesn’t let it fade.”
“Don’t forget the love story was really fucking depressing for the most part,” I confess.
“It’s also beautiful. You and Bear shared the depths of something most of us can’t even begin to imagine.”
I search her words, but I can’t deny them. “Yeah,” I breathe.
We get out of the car and meet up with Carson. We spend the next hour touring the ranch—which seems more like a small town. There’s a little café and even a small store filled with camping supplies and a few must-have groceries near a public campground. In the private area of the ranch, there’s an area filled with cabins that Carson said the ranch hands and security live in. Two men are married, and their wives seem really nice. I met Carson’s brother, Cooper, and another guy named Jeff. They all seem like really good people and it’s a miracle, but as nervous as I am at meeting all new people, I feel comfortable too. It’s like … I belong here. That sounds silly, but it’s true.
“This is pretty much it, Olivia. What do you think about the place?”
“I love it,” I admit at once.
“Does that mean you’d be willing to sign up with us?” Carson asks.
“If you’re really okay with me being here, then definitely. I was serious, though. I want to work.”
“I’ll have Lisa show you a list of openings we have here. Will that work?”
“It’s perfect,” I answer, and for once, I feel eager about the future.
“Great. Now, let’s go have dinner with Lisa, and we’ll talk about specifics and how soon you want to move in.”
“Sounds good,” I answer, and I smile at Winnie. “Thank you,” I whisper to her.
She hugs me, and we follow Carson to his home. I feel like I’m finally moving forward, and it’s more than just liberating. It’s intoxicating. My past hasn’t broken me. I survived and I will do what I promised Bear I would do. I would build a life. He assumed that was with Blade, but I never agreed to that. I will build a peaceful life and surround myself with the memory of him.
That’s all I need.
17 BLADE
I stare at Bear’s letter, and I still can’t bring myself to open it. I just can’t read it. Losing Bear ripped my heart out, and I lost myself in all the misery. I was hoping today would be the first really good day I’ve had. Instead, I woke up to an empty bed. I should take the hint and let Arwen get away from me, but I decide not to. I put the envelope down and pick up my cell. I dial her number, preparing myself for the moment she tells me not to bother her again. I mean, I get it. She’s a damn good woman. She deserves more than an ex-con who has let hate and vengeance bleed into everything that made him a man. That doesn’t mean I’m not going to try to talk her into giving me a shot. Turns out my brother and I are both just fools whose biggest downfalls are women. I can’t help it, though. Arwen is the first thing that makes me feel alive since being with Olivia. I know being with Arwen means I have to give up my dream of revenge—at least on Olivia. I can live with that. I doubt Cross and the boys would have cooperated much anyway. Cross and Hangman are right. Bear would kick my ass if I hurt Olivia. My gaze goes back to the letter as Arwen’s phone rings. I really am going to have to read that fucking thing.
“Hold on a second,” Arwen says instead of hi. “Livy? I’ll meet you and Carson at the house in a minute. I need to take this.”
“Sounds good,” I hear Olivia respond, and it doesn’t escape my attention how happy and gentle her voice is. It’s completely different from the woman in that barn begging me to shoot her. Hell, it’s completely different from the woman who was having a panic attack at her father’s funeral. “Hey, Blade.”
“You left without saying goodbye, Arwen,” I grumble into the phone.
“I had to get home. Olivia is touring the Black Stone Ranch today.”
“Black Stone? Why on earth would Olivia be touring a ranch full of ex-military soldiers?”
“She’s going to move here.”
“Move there? What the fuck for?”
“It will be safer. Cross helped talk her into it. She’s been worrying more and more about Douglas. If he finds her, he will use whatever he can to hurt her and, in her eyes, that includes me. Plus, she’s tired of living her life in fear. She made a promise to Bear that she would survive and be happy. Olivia wants to keep that vow.”