Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 38856 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 194(@200wpm)___ 155(@250wpm)___ 130(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38856 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 194(@200wpm)___ 155(@250wpm)___ 130(@300wpm)
Cash's jaw tightens, then releases. "Did you fuck my mother?"
The question is so blunt, so unexpected, that a laugh escapes me before I can stop it. Not amusement—more like disbelief that we're having this conversation while watching a nine-year-old's riding lesson.
"Even if I did," I tell him, meeting his gaze directly, "I'd answer that question with a lie."
Something flickers across his face—anger, confusion, maybe even respect. Hard to tell because I don’t really know him.
I've said all I'm going to say on the subject.
Eleanor Ashby's ghost doesn't get to haunt this moment too.
I turn away from Cash, slip between the arena rails, and cross the perfect sand to where Savannah stands with Madeline. My boots leave heavy prints in the carefully groomed surface.
Savannah's smile when she sees me approach feels like the only real thing in this artificial world they've built.
I stand beside her, close enough that our arms touch, and watch my little sister ride circles around all the things we're not saying.
CHAPTER 11
I don't know what Cash said to Legion, but something shifted between them. Legion's face when he joins me in the center of the arena is carefully blank—that prison mask he wears when he's processing something he doesn't want me to see.
"Legion, this is Madeline," I say, gesturing to my riding instructor. "She's been teaching Mercy this past week."
Madeline extends her hand. "Pleasure to meet you. Your sister has remarkable natural ability."
Legion nods and shakes her hand. "Thanks for teaching her." His voice is polite but distant, eyes already tracking Mercy as she tries her best to post the trot.
And that’s it.
Those are the last words he says. I almost expect him to leave, but he doesn’t. He holds my hand. Standing easily next to me as he watches Mercy. Mercy calls things out to him, but he doesn’t answer. Like he’s deep in thought.
When the lesson is over, Mercy hops off, beaming with pride when Madeline praises her straight back and light hands. "Did you see me?” she keeps asking Legion. “Did you see how much better I’m getting’?" She's breathless, cheeks flushed with excitement.
Legion ruffles her hair. "Looked pretty good to me, Merce."
"Can I show you my room? I have my own bathroom and everything!"
Legion glances at me, then back to Mercy. "Lead the way."
I thank Madeline when she offers to put the pony away, then follow legion and Mercy inside, and up the grand staircase. But once up there, I hand back a little as Mercy pulls Legion through the door of what used to be a guest suite.
She's transformed it completely in just ten days—horse posters cover the walls, stuffed animals crowd the bed, riding boots lined up beneath the window seat.
I watch Legion's face, expecting anger or at least sadness. This is everything he couldn't give her. Everything the Ashbys have that the Kanes don't. But instead, he smiles as Mercy shows him all the stuff we got out of he attic. Her collection of horse figurines that used to be mine, her books that used to be mine, the fancy riding gear I grew out of almost two decades ago.
I hadn’t really realized that Eleanor kept everything from my childhood up in the rambling three-thousand square-foot attic.
And I do mean everything.
Like this stuff would be important one day. Collectable.
I’d rather it be used and thrown out than turn into a listing on Ebay.
"And look!" Mercy pulls open her closet door. "I have so many clothes now! And shoes that actually fit!" All those are new. The clothes from my childhood, while still in this house, are not fit to wear two decades later.
"It's all real nice, Mercy," Legion says, and I can tell he means it. He's not bitter or jealous. He's just glad she's happy.
I hadn't realized how much I was bracing for a fight until it doesn't come. Cash has been spoiling Mercy relentlessly—partly to win her over, partly to spite Legion. I expected some push back from that.
But he is rather calm about the whole thing. Calm enough that I figure I can slip away. "I'm going to freshen up for dinner," I say, needing a moment to recalibrate. "Legion, we eat at seven."
He nods, already being dragged toward Mercy's bathroom to see her collection of fancy soaps shaped like animals.
In my room, I strip and step into the shower, letting hot water wash away the canyon dust and dried sweat from our afternoon together. I close my eyes, remembering the way Legion's hands felt on my skin. How perfectly we fit together. How his eyes stayed locked on mine the entire time we were fucking, like he was memorizing every reaction, every sound I made.
But underneath that perfect moment was the reality we're still avoiding. He wants to go back to his trailer. Back to the club that abandoned him when he needed them most. And I want...