Page 94 of Untamed

Chapter Fifty-Six

COLTER

I watch as Mila steps toward me, my heart lodged in my throat. She chose me. For once in my god damn life, someone chose me. Happiness surges in my body. It’s a strange foreign emotion—one I’ve only experienced a few times in my life, and each time it’s been tied to the woman walking toward me.

Sure, I’ve felt happiness, when I had my career, when I was winning, but this? This is on another level. An intense, overwhelming joy and contentment. It’s exhilarating yet terrifying all at once. My stomach dips as I watch her approach, and that joy begins to shift, morphing into something darker.

Fear.

A feeling I’ve never really known, not even when I risked my life every time I got in the arena. But love comes with the chance of loss. The woman I love could be taken from me at any moment, and that thought terrifies me.

“If you leave now, you can find your own way back to Montana. But you won’t be welcome. Not if you choose him.” Lincoln’s voice cuts through the air as he delivers his cruel ultimatum.

“Dad…” Maverick barks, but Lincoln ignores him.

Mila’s steps falter, and she sucks in a deep breath. Her face falls, the tears that rimmed her eyes now spill freely down her cheeks. For a long agonizing second, I think she’s going to turn around, go back to her family and do what she’s told. My heart pounds in my chest as I watch her. One, two, three, four heartbeats pass before I see the decision form in her eyes.

She reaches up, brushing the tears away, her gaze locking with mine. My chest tightens at the stricken look on her beautiful face and the way her chin trembles. It kills me that she’s caught between us. Without thinking I step forward, pulling her into my arms. I hold her tight, offering whatever comfort I can in this moment.

“Sunshine…” I murmur, trailing off, my throat tight with emotion. She’s being torn in two and I can’t help but feel it’s my fault. I’m to blame for this.

I should’ve approached this differently, not spring it on Lincoln the way I did so publicly. If he hadn’t found out last night, would we have ever had the courage to tell him? I’d like to believe we wouldn’t have kept something so beautiful as our relationship a secret forever. Surely, it’s better that it’s out in the open, so we can all start to move forward with our lives. With how things unfolded, I can’t be sure anymore.

Mila straightens her spine, turning in my hold to face her father. Her voice is strong, but I don’t miss the way it shakes when she speaks. “How can you say that?”

His jaw tightens, his expression thunderous.

“It’s me or him, Mila,” Lincoln spits, his eyes flashing with venom. “You deserve better than him.Youare better than him. He’s too old and has nothing to offer you.” Lincoln crosses his arms over his chest, holding firm in his words and glowering in my direction.

I step forward, meeting his gaze head on. “With all due respect, sir, I love your daughter. I may have made mistakes inlife, taken a few wrong turns, but every one of them led me to Mila. So, I can’t apologize for the past, for the things I’ve done or the way things have unfolded. Sure, I may not have money, but I will do everything in my power to support her and give her everything she deserves.”

I feel Mila’s soft gaze on me, but I don’t break my stare from her father. Lincoln’s eyes narrow further, his jaw ticking with irritation.

“It’s not enough. She deserves better,” he growls, voice thick with anger.

Sighing, I shake my head. I could argue until I’m blue in the face, get on my knees and beg him to understand, but it won’t be enough. Nothing will ever be enough.

In Lincoln’s mind, I’m not good enough for Mila, and if I’m being honest, part of me agrees with him. But that doesn’t change the fact I love her, that I won’t stop fighting for her. Because surely that’s all a father wants. To know that the man who loves his daughter will give her everything he can. And that’s me. Maybe I haven’t known real love before, maybe I don’t have a perfect past, but I will do anything in my power to make sure Mila is cared for.

“Daddy?” Mila’s voice cracks with that single word, and my heart shatters at the sound of her pain.

Lincoln doesn’t flinch, his hostility palpable as he locks eyes with his daughter. “Make the right choice, Mila. You start school in the fall. Do you really thinkhe…” He spits the word like venom. “…is going to follow you there? A thirty-year-old felon? And even if he does, what’s he gonna do for work? He has no skills other than ranching. And no one will employ him anyway. Get in the SUV. Go to school. You’ve got plenty of time to meet someone more deserving of your love.”

With every word out of his mouth, I feel my teeth grinding harder. I’m surprised they haven’t turned to dust. It’s clear asday Lincoln has no faith in me, and I’ve had enough. The only reason I haven’t punched him in his goddamn mouth is because he’s the father of the person I love most in this world.

“Don’t do this, Lincoln. All you’ll do is push her away.” Skylar warns, grabbing at his arm, trying to get his attention.

“Stay out of this, Skylar. It’s none of your business,” he growls, and I don’t miss the way she flinches, but she pushes on.

“Tempers are high right now. Let’s all take some time to cool down,” she pleads with him, just as Maverick steps back up, slipping his phone into his pocket.

“The Sheriff is on his way,” he drawls, his gaze flicking to his sister apologetically.

My heart races. I’m running out of time. I don’t need the sheriff showing up here and hauling my ass away. Turning Mila to face me, I cup her face gently. “Look, baby.” I murmur, feeling eyes on me. “Why don’t you go with them, work things out with your dad. I’m staying at the Tree Gardens motel. I can go grab my things and head back to Montana. I will just see you there. I never wanted you to have to choose, Sunshine. But just know, I’ll be waiting for you.”

Her eyes soften, and she shakes her head, her hands coming up to cup my cheeks. “I love you. I’m coming with you.”

My eyes squeeze shut, a sharp breath escaping my lungs. It’s as if her words pierce me in the best way. I should be happy. I am happy. But the guilt weighs on me, because I hate that she’s caught up in in this impossible position.

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