“Ford, I still need to finish her statement.” Wade’s chair rolls across the tiled floor, but stops when Ford turns to him.
“No, you don’t. They won’t make it to court.” As furious as he seems, Ford’s touch is gentle when he cups my elbow.
Wade nods. “I hear ya. I’ll see if I can nail down their location.” His jaw clenches under his thick copper whiskers. “And I’ll fill Blue in,” he adds quietly.
I can feel the rage rippling from Ford’s body as he lifts me into his truck.
The fact that one of those monsters had a part in Sarah’s death haunts me.
It could have been me.
An ache forms in my belly, a crippling memory of the pain they caused.
Fear, agony, desperation. Everything I went through could have still ended with an even worse fate.
Ford’s steering wheel squeaks from the vice grip he has on it.
His neck pulses as he drives in silence.
It’s like we’re both locked in our own versions of hell.
Halfway to the ranch, he veers off onto a snowy road, cutting through the drifts before he slams the truck into park and jumps out.
What is he doing?
I’m too numb to ask.
He wades through the ice pack to a thick tree, his roar echoes through the cab as he starts hitting the craggy bark.
Blow after blow lands until I can see blood fly from his knuckles.
Oh God, no.
When I jump out, I sink nearly to my thighs, but push through the crusty snow as if it’s water.
“Ford? Please don’t?” I manage to grab his arm before he lands another strike.
His eyes are red and glassy when he looks at me.
Hollow.
“It’s my fucking fault, April. He hurt you because I didn’t stop him.” His voice is so hoarse it’s almost a whisper.
My palms cup his teary cheeks. “No, it’s not. He did that because he’s an animal.”
He falls to his knees in front of me, his head bowed, and wraps his arms behind my thighs. “He could have killed you.” A shudder runs through Ford’s shoulders as he pulls me so close it knocks his hat off.
Threading my fingers through his hair, all I want to do is hold him.
Letting myself slump, my legs frame his hips to sit on his lap. “I wanted him to,” I admit. “I was in so much pain, I wanted to die.”
Ford’s hands spread over my back to hug me tighter. “I’m glad you didn’t.”
“Me too. I’d have never found you.” I let my lips press against his brow, hoping he can hear the truth of what I’m saying.
“I hate that you had to go through hell first.” Agony tinges his words. “And I sure as fuck haven’t made it easy for you.” His bloodshot eyes focus on me as he traces my chin with his thumb. “You’re the most incredible woman I’ve ever met, Frosty. The thought of anyone hurting you just rips me apart.”
He tilts my face, and crashes his mouth over mine. Squeezing me so tightly I can barely breathe, he consumes me with his fiery kiss.