Page 56 of Property of Legend

“I do half that already,” she spits.

“You ready to kill for me, Sophie?”

Her chin lifts.“No.I’m not a killer.”She wipes her face with the back of her hand.“But I’d damn sure fight for you.”

“You ready to lose this farm for me?”

“You wouldn’t ask for that, would you?”

“No.Well, too bad,” I say.“Because you might lose everything getting mixed up with me.”

“Leave me, like you left me before.”

“Sophie, I didn’t leave you.James was listening.The cops came.They told me you called them.I believed that all these years.”

She crosses her arms.“I thought you stood me up.I didn’t know you were arrest.”

“You don’t know the half of it, then.Just like you don’t realize I can’t be the reason you’re in danger.”

“Well, then you’re fired.You don’t have to protect me anymore.”

“No.You’re fired.”I reach in my cut and pull out the charm bracelet she gave me for luck.

Takin’ it, she blinks.“Excuse me?”

“You heard me.You’re free of me.I’m still protecting you, but we’re done.That ain’t up for debate.”

Her fists ball at her sides, fire blazing behind her green eyes.“You’re such an arrogant prick.”

“Yeah,” I mutter, voice low.“But I’d burn down the world to keep you breathing.”

Chapter 32

Sophie

Fiddling with mama’s charm bracelet, I watch him from the upstairs window, just like I always seem to do.Legend, standing stiff as steel on my front lawn, barking orders like he’s still the one protecting me even if I’m no longer his to protect.

He won’t even look at me now.

The biker who once touched me like I was salvation won’t meet my eyes.And I hate him for it.Hate that he lit a fire in me only to leave me burning alone.Hate that I still want to run down there, wrap my arms around him, and beg him to stop being so damn noble.

Instead, I make myself coffee I won’t drink and stare out the window like some desperate widow.The Kings still move around my property like soldiers guarding a queen, but their commander has gone cold.No more calling me horse princess.No more longing in his voice.

I’m not sure if they’re protecting me or caging me in.

Legend said he’s doing it to keep me safe.

That his enemies are too dangerous.That loving me put a target on my back.

But what if that’s not the truth?

What if he just got what he wanted and now he’s done?

What if I wasn’t wild enough?Rough enough?What if silk sheets and love making bored the big bad biker?I start counting off the reasons.My perfect hair.My trust fund roots.My blue-ribbon life.Maybe I was just a challenge he wanted to conquer before crawling back to her.His sister.

I’m halfway through convincing myself of that when the porch creaks, and the hair on my neck rises.

I grab the shotgun by the door.The wood squeaks again.Too deliberate to be wind.I raise the shotgun slowly, every hair on my neck standing at attention.

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