Page 55 of All Tied Up
This wasn’t real. This had to be a nightmare. Things like this didn’t happen in real life.
“Arden left a note and disappeared before anything started between Ransom and me. I mean, other than our texting and that first time he showed up at my apartment. We had only been on friendly terms.”
I started to turn around and look at her, but her hand was on my back again.
“Don’t,” she hissed. “Bend over again like you need to throw up more.”
I hesitated, then did as she’d said. Out of all the people here, I decided trusting her was my best option.
“Ransom’s feelings for you ran deeper much sooner than he let on. He is guilty. Can you live with that?” she asked hesitantly. “Knowing what he is capable of?”
The ground came and went out of focus as I kept my eyes on the vomit that was splattered at my feet.
“They do things that most can’t fathom. Their moral code is measured by a different set of standards. Loving one of them isn’t for the weak. And that love has to be all-consuming.”
Organized crime. The Southern Mafia. I’d watched Ransom stab a man in the lungs and not care that he was struggling to breathe. He let him die. That hadn’t been his first kill. Could I live with that?
There wasn’t even guilt as I replied, “I can’t live without him. If he … if he—” I fought against the sob. “I can live with anything as long as he is alive.”
I heard her let out a relieved sigh. “Okay, if that’s the case, I have an idea.”
I turned to look at her, forgetting I was supposed to be pretending I was still sick and not having a conversation with her. “What?” I asked, the tiniest bit of hope clinging to my sorrow.
“I’ll tell you on the flight there. Let’s go,” she replied.
I didn’t ask questions. Whatever I was told to do, I would do.
“What did you say to her?” Than demanded.
She stopped and put her hands on her hips as she stared up at the porch. “I know you’re upset. I get it. You’ve already lost one brother, and the idea of losing another is more than you can handle. But right now, I need you to get it together. Noa wants to save Ransom, and I have a plan. But you have to calm down and help. It’ll go a lot smoother.”
Than’s eyes darted between the two of us. “What can she do to help?” he asked, not sounding convinced.
“More than you can, acting like you’re about to attack a woman,” she snapped. “Forge, get a plane ready at the airstrip. Gathe, stay here and lock things up.”
“Where do I tell the pilot we are going?” Forge asked.
“Ocala,” she replied.
“You’re taking her to Ocala?” Than asked with disbelief in histone.
“Yes. And if any of you alert Linc before we arrive, then you’ll have to deal with me. Be warned, I’ve gotten real damn good at target practice.”
“What can she do?” Than demanded.
Branwen cut her eyes back to him. “She can appeal to the one woman with the power to control Blaise Hughes.”
They all stilled and stared at her.
“Y-you’re taking her to talk to Madeline Hughes?” Than asked.
“I sure as hell am. Now, are you going to shut up and do as I said or stand there and stare at me like I’ve lost my mind?”
“I’m coming with you,” Than told her.
“Which is why Gathe is locking up,” she replied, then snapped her fingers. “Let’s get going, boys.”
“Linc may kill all three of us for letting you do this,” Forge said.
