Page 53 of Unmasked Rivalry
He smiles, slow and familiar. “Hey, kid.”
I toss my sandwich so fast and then I run, with everything I am, and wrap my arms around his neck. My vision blurs, and my hands shake, and I ugly sob right into his shoulder, not caring who sees or what anyone thinks.
“Wolfe said he could do it, but I was honestly so unsure if that was true or not,” I manage, fists still tangled in my brother’s jacket.
Ruger chuckles. “Well, I didn’t either, but before I knew it, I was being shipped out of that place and wondering what the fuck was going on. Saw my lawyer, and then I was free. Just like that.”
I let go, wiping my nose with the back of my hand. “You’re really here. You’re out. I thought you were going to die in there.”
He holds me at arm’s length, looking me up and down. “You look like hell, kid.”
I chuckle through my sniffles. “Well, you look...” I step back, taking him in. “Muscled?”
“Been working out, nothing else to do in there.”
His face is still covered in cuts and greenish bruises, but otherwise, he looks just the same. The same dark hair, messy on his head, the same stark blue eyes and crooked grin. He’s taller, broader, but otherwise just the same.
My lip trembles again. “I missed you. So bad.”
“Missed you more, kid.”
We’re twins, but he has called me kid for as long as I can remember. I have always loved it. I break away from Ruger, then walk straight over and hug Wolfe, surprising us both. “Thank you,” I whisper, meaning it more than I’ve ever meant anything. I can feel him tense, then his arms come around me and squeeze back, just for a second before he lets go and clears his throat.
“Anytime, darlin’. Now get outta here, we’ll finish this. You’ve got some catchin’ up to do.”
I flash Mera and Nia the biggest grin, then hug Sable before taking Ruger’s hand and leading him out.
I catch Knox’s expression as I pass him, but he isn’t looking at me; he’s looking at Ruger. The two give each other a nod, one I don’t fully understand.
I don’t care to, either.
Right now, I just want to spend time with my brother.
Life just hasn’t been the same without him.
“WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKEto be free?” I ask Ruger, taking a sip of my beer as we sit on the porch, overlooking the paddocks.
“Free,” he chuckles.
I laugh.
We have been talking for hours about what it was like in prison, how he coped, and what has been happening out there. He is all filled in on the situation with Ralston, and that, of course, leaves me with one question that I am too scared to ask.
“I know you probably don’t want to talk about it, but I have to know, why did Harper get involved with Ralston?”
Ruger goes silent, staring out, his eyes fixed on a cow in the paddock lazily grazing.
The air is thick between us as I hold my breath, waiting for the answer.
Ruger drags a hand across his chin, thumb braced against his jaw. “I got mixed up with some real bad people. Like other-level bad. Guys who buy you for what you can do and throw you out when you can’t pay up.” He shakes his head the tiniest bit. “I didn’t know who else to go to. Harper was the only one who ever really tried to save me from myself.”
I nod, because it makes sense. Out of the three of us, Harper was always the one who ran toward the fire and shielded everyone else from the burn. We all grew up together. We were close. The best of friends.
“I had a debt,” he continues. His voice is so flat and factual I know he’s doing it for me, sanding down the worst parts so it won’t hurt as bad. “Not just money. Product. I was running for these assholes up near the border. Got in too deep and I owed a lot of money. They were threatening my life and everyone I loved. I told Harper because I didn’t know what else to do. I was scared they’d come after you, that they’d take you as leverage.” He rubs a knuckle over his lower lip, staring out at the dark. “She told me she’d handle it. And she did. She fucking did.”
Harper was working for Ralston to protect my brother?
It’s like a punch to the stomach.
