Page 46 of Wrecked for Love
“Elia…” Claire’s voice trembled from behind me as Diesel stormed closer. His eyes locked on us, nostrils flaring, muscles rippling with fury. That wasn’t the bull I knew. Sure enough, there was a long, ugly whip mark down his thigh. Someone had messed with him.
“Easy, big guy,” I said, my voice low and steady as I positioned myself squarely between Claire and Diesel. No way I was letting him get near her.
Diesel’s hoof scraped the ground, sending dust flying, and his massive frame lunged forward. I moved fast, shoving Claire farther back as I sidestepped, but in the process, a sharp pain shot through my shoulder. Damn it. The bull wasn’t backing down, and Hank was still nowhere near close enough.
“Stay put,” I told Claire over my shoulder. “I’ve got this.”
I advanced, the pain radiating through my shoulder ignored as I kept Diesel’s attention on me. One wrong move, and he’d trample us both. Claire didn’t make a sound, her breathing barely audible as she stayed close to the fence.
Diesel pawed the ground, ready for another go, but just as I braced myself for the next charge, a flash of fur flew into my line of sight.
Koda.
Diesel’s friend had shown up out of nowhere, growling and commanding the bull’s attention. Koda had a presence about him—confident, unshaken. The kind of confidence that even a bull like Diesel respected.
“Koda, steady,” I commanded, my voice firm. The loyal dog herded Diesel with a calm dominance, circling him and barking orders I couldn’t. Diesel huffed, his aggression faltering as Koda stood his ground, refusing to let the bull pass.
I took the opportunity, wincing as my shoulder throbbed, but damn if I was going to back down. “Good boy, Koda,” I muttered as Diesel began to calm, his snorting softening. The wildness in his eyes slowly faded.
And then, as if the tension broke in a heartbeat, Diesel turned, huffed, and sauntered away like nothing had happened. Koda trotted beside him, keeping the bull in check.
“You okay?” I asked, turning to Claire as I fastened my pants.
“Yeah,” she replied, pulling me into a hug and pressing a soft kiss to my cheek.
Hank and the boys arrived just as Diesel disappeared over the hill.
“Hell of a night for a rodeo,” Hank panted as he and the others managed to wrangle Diesel back into his pen.
I glanced toward the gate. Sabotaged.
“Someone was looking for trouble,” I muttered.
“I’d say we just found it,” Hank grunted.
I turned back to Claire. She was trying to keep it together, but I could tell—she was shaken. She didn’t want me to see it, though.
“I’m so sorry,” I said, the disappointment settling in. I knew perfect moments couldn’t last forever, but I hated that our night ended this way.
She smiled, shrugging it off like the badass she was. “No need to apologize. I got to watch you take the bull by the horns.” The sparkle returned to her eyes.
I chuckled, relieved she took it all in her stride. “Though, let’s be honest, Koda kind of stole my thunder,” I said, kneeling to ruffle Koda’s ears. Truth be told, I was damn proud of him. “How’d you get here so fast, huh? How’d you do that?” I asked the mutt. He must’ve found a way to slip past the fence—not bad for a ten-year-old.
I turned back to Claire. “Come on, let’s get you home.”
17
ELIA
“Are you going to come in this time?” Claire asked as we pulled up to The Willow.
If I said no, I’d have to explain. How could I tell her that I’d found my sister’s lifeless body in the second bedroom—the one Claire now used as her creative space, where her mind wandered free? How could I tell her that Tessa’s killer was still out there, that no one had ever believed she’d been murdered?
Claire loved this place too much for me to ruin it. It was her refuge, her sanctuary after escaping her own nightmare. I pushed aside my trepidation. Putting her first—that came easy to me.
“Of course,” I said and followed her inside.
The place was almost unrecognizable—brighter, warmer, and alive in a way I never thought possible again. She’d breathed life into this house, into every corner, every nook. A hideout I once believed was lost to the past now felt like it could almost make me happy again. But not quite.
