Page 61 of Ride the Sky

Not backing down, I say, “Her cottage, then. I’ll stay with her there.”

Fallon swipes at her tears, trying to rally a frown. “Don’t I get a say?”

“No,” we all snap in unison.

Fallon scowls.

Dakota crosses her arms. “She’s my sister.”

I stand tall. Ready myself for my brother’s fist to be in my face. “And she’s my wife.” Pure instinct to say it. Pure truth.

Dakota narrows her eyes. Davis’s nostrils flare, tension dropping like a lead blanket. The line between self-destruction and love is a fine one, but goddamn do I walk it hard.

“Wyatt,” Davis growls.

I ball a fist. This is fucking ridiculous. Fallon’s mental and physical health take precedence. If she wants to go back to her cottage, then she’ll go back to her goddamn cottage.

Over and over again, I’ve failed Fallon. I won’t fail her now.

I square up with him.

“Listen, D. You have your babies, the ranch. You got a fucking ulcer, man. You don’t need the stress. I can handle this.”

Doubt furrows Davis’s brow. “Someone needs to be with Fallon 24/7. What about your job?”

Fuck my job, fuck Younger, I think, but don’t say it. Fallon is my priority. I’ll take care of her, I’ll keep her safe, even if she does want to rip my fucking head off.

“My hours are flexible. I train two hours a day. You and Dakota are gone, what, eight hours a day? We’ll make it work. Ruby and Reese can hang out with her while I coach.”

A muscle jerks in Davis’s jaw. “If you lose funding—”

“I won’t.” I run a hand through my hair, wishing my older brother would trust me for once in his life. “I swear to you, I got her.”

Davis looks at Dakota.

“Okay.” Dakota exhales. “Let’s try it.”

A soft choked sound comes from the bed. We all turn to Fallon. The glare she gives us could burn down the world.

“Go.” Her mouth begins to tremble. “Just leave me alone. All of you. Leave me alone.”

The neon in her eyes goes dark. No fight there, no life. Only a blank, faraway expression.

My chest constricts. Scared. I’m fucking scared.

I reach for her. “Fallon—”

“Go.”

Then she turns her on her pillow and buries her face in her hands. We leave the room.

In the hallway, Reese and Ford are leaning against the wall, talking in low tones. Charlie sits in a hard plastic chair, Ruby on his lap.

Ruby and Reese must read something on Dakota’s face, because they swoop in. They link arms with Dakota and lead her down the hall to the cafeteria.

My brothers watch their wives walk away. Ford turns to Davis. “Y’all nail down a plan?”

“I’m staying with Fallon.” I scowl at my gawking brothers. “She’s my wife. Why wouldn’t I take care of her?”

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