Page 102 of Maddox

“A goddamn list of victims and people who paid Alfaro to handle the exterminations,” Maddox tossed out. “Plus, my guess is there’s some code than can be tracked providing information about the people really working with Alfaro so he can effectively run his drug trade in the country. You have people in this country and others helping the bastard gain control of the drug trade. Now, he’s branching out into sex trafficking while ceremoniously killing anyone who stands in his way. What you have there is a smoking gun.”

He studied the paperwork again, his sigh deeper than before. “Maddox is right. You need to be placed in protective care. I’ll see what I can do, but you’ll need to be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice.”

“I don’t think I can do that.”

Maddox took two long strides toward me, gripping both arms. “There’s no other choice, Charmaine. None. Can you guarantee her parents will be provided a safe space as well?”

Gray studied Maddox for a few seconds. “I’ll pull a few favors. But you’ll need to agree to testifying. Someone wanted you to have this list. They went to great lengths to try and ensure that happened.”

“Exactly,” Maddox said quietly and cupped my face. “You deserve to live. Please don’t fight me on this.”

My entire body was quivering and not from fear of losing my job or even my life.

From the ugly thought of losing him.

He squeezed my face and I gripped his arm, trying to hold to the passion and connection we’d shared for just a little while longer. As he lowered his head, pressing his forehead against mine, my body reacted as it always did around him. The wave of desire was intense, but there was more shared between us this time, a chemistry that was more than just physical.

“Charmaine. Will you let this happen?” he muttered.

A single tear slipped down my cheek and I fought the sobs threatening to expose how deeply I felt about him. When I gripped his other arm, he pulled me even closer.

“Baby. Please. I want you to live.”

His words were heartfelt, husky from worry.

I closed my eyes, rubbing my fingers across his skin.

Then I answered, “Yes.”

And I knew after tonight, I’d never see him again.

Possibly the one true love of my life.

CHAPTER 26

Four months later…

Maddox

Who the hell purchased a previously working cattle ranch on a whim, especially one who knew very little about owning a business or participating in the required everyday grunt work?

This guy, the one who’d never felt so in the weeds as he had the last two weeks.

I’d neglected to take the cattle to slaughter. I’d had a dozen excuses from weather to the day being inconvenient, but the truth was staring me in the eyes.

The thought of killing them under any circumstances disgusted me.

Maybe it was the fact my mother had volunteered at an animal sanctuary when I’d been a teenager or that my uncle had a cattle ranch in Wyoming and during a visit, I’d been subjected to witnessing the entire process.

Including a visit to a beef processing plant.

Maybe I’d been bored or had consumed too many shots of bourbon when I’d eyed the ranch’s internet page. But I’d called the broker and negotiated a deal within twelve hours.

Right now, I was beginning to wonder if I was certifiable.

I rubbed my arm across my face, still sweating even though there was snow on the ground. I hated the white shit, or at least I’d come to barely tolerating it since this was the third major snowstorm of the season.

The cows were suffering.

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