Breaking the Reins

by Juliana Haygert

  I clamped my ears, not wanting to hear Eric’s screams, and buried my face in Leo’s neck, inhaling his familiar scent, allowing myself to drown in him.

  His arms wound around me, and he kissed the top of my head. “You’re okay now. Everything is okay now.”

  Sirens sounded in the distance.

  Over Leo’s shoulder, I saw Hilary—with her phone in her hand—and Belle making their way back. I turned my head behind me and saw Argus as he collapsed to the ground, Eric by his side, immobile.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  My parking lot looked like a circus. A tragic circus.

  Five police cars, three ambulances, my mother’s car, and two other cars with Leo’s family. Not to mention the reporters trying to get past the police line.

  I was seated on the back of an ambulance; a paramedic tried to examine me while I glanced around.

  After arresting Pete and the second bodyguard, and loading Jimmy and Eric into ambulances and dispatching them to the hospital, the police officers walked around the ranch, collecting evidence and such.

  Still shaking, Hilary sat by another ambulance with my crying mother beside her. My mother had already embraced and kissed me thousands of times since she arrived. She also apologized repeatedly for not noticing anything weird about Eric before. But it wasn’t her fault. It was nobody’s fault.

  Leo was huddled in a circle with his family a couple of feet from where I was. He kept looking over his shoulder at me, his eyes and sad smile saying more than words could. He had his palm over the bandage on his side where the bullet had grazed him. Thank God, it hadn’t been worse.

  On the other hand, Argus didn’t seem quite well.

  After stomping on Eric, he collapsed. Leo called the vet right away, and while he was on his way, I wouldn't allow a paramedic to touch me before doing something about Argus. There was nothing they could do, because they weren’t permitted to, but I felt a little better for trying.

  Soon, Dr. Bohm and his assistant arrived and started working on Argus. Both of them looked worried while they moved around Argus, doing only God knew what.

  I took a step toward them, and the paramedic gently pushed me back. He turned my face and checked my cheek under a lantern kind of thing.

  “You’ll be fine,” he said. “Perhaps just a minor concussion from hitting your head, but other than that, fine.” He settled the lantern down. “But take it easy. And stay awake for a couple of hours more, if you can. If in the morning you’re feeling dizzy or in pain, have someone drive you to the hospital for further exams.”

  I nodded and he turned to his clipboard.

  I glanced to Hilary and my mother, then to Leo and his family. They seemed well, as well as they could be, and I didn’t feel like joining their conversations. I had already told them what I remembered of the events, and everything else I knew, at least three times. To the police, to my mother, to Leo’s family. And each time, I felt more exhausted and drained than before.

  I approached Argus just as Dr. Bohm stood up.

  He glanced at me. “I was able to stop the bleeding for now, but he’ll need surgery to take the bullet out. I also need to evaluate the internal damage and repair it if I can.”

  If I can …

  I knelt beside Argus. He looked unconscious, but maybe he was sleepy from the sedative I saw Dr. Bohm giving him. I brushed my fingers over his soft white coat, afraid of hurting him.

  A sob lodged in my throat. He had ignored his injuries to save me, more than once.

  A hand clutched my shoulder, and I knew who was it without having to look. I rested my hand over Leo’s.

  Dr. Bohm moved around Argus. “We need to take him to the animal hospital right away,” he said.

  Moments later, his truck was parked beside Argus, and Leo, João Pedro, Ricardo, Pedro, and Guilherme helped him carry Argus inside it. The assistant hopped on the back with Argus as I caressed his hind leg one more time.

  Leo stood by my side and put his arm around my shoulders.

  Dr. Bohm paused in front of us. “I’ll do the best I can to save him.” Then he shut the doors and ran to the driver seat.

  I rested my head on Leo’s shoulder as the truck drove away, carrying one of things I loved most in this life.

  A tear rolled down my cheek.

  “He’ll be all right,” Leo said, pulling me against his chest. I slid my arms around his waist and buried my face in his shirt. “He went through rougher patches, didn’t he? And now he has you. He will fight and he’ll make it.”

  I hoped so. I really, really hoped so, because … I couldn’t lose him now.

  I tilted my head up and stared into Leo’s eyes. “I think I’ll go to the animal hospital, stay there until …”

  “I know you’re worried, morena. I am too. But you need to rest. You need to take a nice shower, eat some comfort food, and go to bed, even if you can’t sleep. Unfortunately, staying up in a waiting room all night won’t help in any way.” He ran his fingers over my cheek, brushing a strand of my hair away from my face. “I’m sure Dr. Bohm won’t hesitate in calling you if he needs to.”

  I couldn’t imagine staying here, waiting for news, but I knew Leo was right. I felt like I would collapse in a couple of seconds. Collapsing in the waiting room of an animal hospital wouldn’t be the best.

  I stood on tiptoes and lightly grazed his lips with mine. “You’re right.”

  Ricardo cleared his throat, and we turned to him, without actually letting go of each other.

  “The police are asking everyone to leave, so, hmm, we’re going,” he said.

  I turned my head toward the house, and sure enough, the police were putting up those yellow tapes around it. Another cop grabbed a roll of tape and marched to the stable.

  “Shit,” I muttered.

  Bia walked up to us, her expression forlorn and so unlike her usual self. “You’re welcome to stay with us,” she said. “You can borrow my clothes, if you want.”

  I tried smiling at her generosity, but I didn’t feel like it. “Thanks.” I wanted to stay with them, with Leo, but there were other people who needed me at this moment. Surveying the place, I found Hilary and my mother stepping out of the ambulance, a cop talking to them. I could see from here that Hilary was still shaking. “Thanks, really, but I think I should stay with my family tonight.”

  Ricardo and Bia nodded. “I understand,” she said.

  Her expression changed to something like confusion, until she stepped forward, pulled me from Leo, and gave me the fastest and most awkward hug of all times. Then she turned and walked away.

  “I’m glad you’re okay,” Ricardo said before following his sister.

  I watched them go as a comfortable feeling poked amid all the bad stuff in me.

  “So,” Leo said, clasping my hand and pulling me to him again. “I’m not going to lie. I wanted to be by your side tonight, to hold you myself, to lull you to sleep, but … I understand why you want to be with your mother and sister.”

  I ran my hands up his arm. “I wanted that too.” I wound my arms around his neck as his hands snaked around me. “But they need me. My mother is freaking out, and Hilary …… well, I don’t really know how she is. I think I should be by her side tonight.”

  Leo stared into my eyes, a frown twisting his brows. “I’ll miss you.”

  I knotted my fingers into his hair and pulled his head down to me. “I’ll miss you too,” I whispered before taking his lips into mine. He opened his mouth to me, sighing, his muscles relaxing. Our lips moved slowly, gently, quietly, but that didn’t prevent the heat from building up south of my stomach, especially when he stroked my tongue with his.

  I pulled back, before I let myself dive into the moment. All I wanted was to dive into the moment, but I couldn’t. Not yet.

  I gave him another quick peck and turned away. He held on to my hand until my steps took me too far from him.

  Without looking back, I rushed to catch up with my mother and Hilary as they wal
ked from the ambulance to the parking lot.

  “There you are,” my mother said. She had an arm around Hilary’s shoulder. “I was beginning to wonder if you would come with us or not.”

  “I’m here and I’m coming with you,” I said.

  I stepped closer, and she draped her other arm around me too. “Good, because I don’t plan on letting you both out of my sight ever again.”

  ***

  After my mother drove us to her house, we sat on a couch in the living room, hugged, and cried. Hours must have passed by the time we finally stood up and went upstairs.

  I cried again once I was in the shower. I cried over the girl I had been when Eric swept me off my feet. I cried over the years wasted with him. I cried for all the terrible things he did. I still couldn’t grasp the fact that he had a hand in my grandma’s and Hercules’s death, in my father’s incident, in Leo’s scandal, but then I saw him hurting Argus and Jimmy, and ready to abuse Hilary.

  I cried for Jimmy. I cried for Argus. Poor, dear Argus. I cried for Hilary. Gosh, how I hoped she wouldn’t be too traumatized by this.

  I cried over me. Over my injuries, over my pride, over my feelings.

  I wasn’t sure what would become of Eric—he had been in bad shape when he was taken to the hospital, but he had enough on his back to rot in jail. And there was his mother too. Once I told the police everything, they sent a cop to her house. She was probably at a police department right now, being interrogated.

  Which reminded me of the upcoming scandal.

  With the quantity of reporters that were at the ranch, who had probably come from Leo’s ranch, I didn’t doubt several magazines and newspapers would sport this tragic event on their covers by tomorrow.

  However, right now, I didn’t care about scandals.

  When I was finally able to leave the shower, I put on comfy PJs and tiptoed to my mother’s bedroom. She was waiting for us, seated on her bed. She pointed to the table in front of the window, flanked by two fancy armchairs, where there was a tray with lots of yummy food.

  My stomach growled.

  Hilary soon joined us and we ate in silence.

  Then, without any invitation, Hilary and I climbed onto Mom's king size bed. With a small smile, she joined us, lying in the middle.

  In the dark, we three held hands.

  Mom sighed. “I don’t think any of us wants to talk about what happened just yet and I believe we’ll have a hard time falling asleep. But, when you’re rolling from side to side, remember that you made it through it.” She squeezed our hands. “Soon, your father will be home, and we’ll be all together again and we’ll make it through whatever ghosts are left together.” She squeezed our hands. “I love you both so much.”

  Her voice broke, and Hilary and I scooted closer to her.

  Chapter Thirty

  “We should be leaving in about half an hour,” my mother said.

  She was seated on a lounge chair in the sunroom, already dressed and ready to go. Hilary and I were seated on the matching rattan love seat, still in our PJs.

  “Okay,” I said, getting up. “I’m gonna get ready.”

  Hilary stood up by my side. “Me too.”

  As we walked out of the sunroom, she reached for me and, holding hands like two lost five-year-old girls, we walked across the hallway and into the foyer.

  I had just set foot on the first step of the stairs when the bell rang.

  With a frown, I turned to the door.

  “Holy shit, haven’t they bothered us enough this morning?” Hilary said.

  “Apparently not,” I said, walking to the front door. Rosa stepped out from the hallway, but I waved her off. “I’ve got it. No worries.”

  She withdrew back to the kitchen as I unlocked the door and opened it.

  My heart skipped a beat. Or four.

  Leo stood there, in dark jeans, a fitted dark green polo, his cowboy boots, and huge Starbucks packets in his arms.

  “Bom dia,” he said with a tight smile. “Technically, it’s almost eleven in the morning, but hey, it’s still morning. I thought you might have overslept and not had breakfast yet because, you know, last night …” he wandered off. His eyes left mine and went south, widening, before running me up and down, each inch making me aware of the skimpy material of the shorts and tee, and the fact that I wore no bra. However, the shine in his eyes told me he approved of it. “And you’re even in your pajamas. Perfect.” His gaze shifted to the stairs. “Oh, good morning.”

  Hilary waved at him before rushing up the stairs.

  I crossed my arms over my breasts. “What are you doing here?”

  He lifted his shoulders an inch, indicating the packets he held. “I brought brunch, for you three. And me.”

  I smiled and stepped aside. “How did you dodge the reporters?”

  “Oh, I have my ways.” He entered the house, deliberately taking his time while walking past me, his eyes on mine.

  Without pausing completely, he placed a Douglas Iris around my ear. My heart squeezed in contentment. I took a sharp inhale and, turning to the side, closed the door behind him.

  I grabbed one of the packets from him, and gestured ahead. “Over this way.” I showed him to the dining room, placed the packet on the table, and held up a finger. “Be right back.” I dashed to the kitchen and informed Rosa about the visitor. “Please, bring plates and whatnots.”

  She looked at me, stunned. “But you already ate.”

  “Yes, well, he doesn’t have to know about that.”

  Laughing, she shook her head, and I rushed back to the dining room.

  Leo had taken a seat close to the head of the table. “Is this place all right?” he asked.

  “Yeah,” I said, walking to the chair right beside his. I sat down, suddenly nervous. “Thank you for this.”

  He turned to me with his cocky grin. “I hope you’re hungry.”

  “Starving,” I said.

  A second later, Rosa came by the dining room and set it for brunch for us.

  “Won’t your mother and Hilary join us?” Leo asked.

  “I can call Mrs. Taylor,” Rosa said, leaving the dining room before I could come up with some excuse.

  Leo reached for the packets and began working on them. I helped. There was a ton of food to feed three moms, four Hilarys, and maybe three Hannahs too. He had brought plain, dark coffee, several kinds of scones, cake slices, and sweet bread, and even wraps.

  My mother walked into the dining room. “Hello, Leonardo.”

  “Good morning, Mrs. Taylor,” Leo responded, sounding a little nervous.

  “Hmm, what’s happening here?” she asked, a wide smile on her lips.

  “Leo brought brunch,” I said, trying to emphasize the hidden don’t-say-anything message with my eyes and tone.

  She didn’t get the hint. “But you already ate. Twice. And we have lunch plans.”

  Leo’s head whipped to me. “What?”

  “I’m sorry,” I whispered.

  “Why didn’t you say anything?”

  “Why would I? I mean, you came here, all prettied up and bringing me food. It was so sweet, I didn’t want to ruin it.”

  He leaned back in his chair. “Well, it’s sorta ruined now.” He glanced over his shoulder, but my mom was gone. “You ate twice already?”

  “Yeah, well …” I sighed. “We had a pretty crappy night and around 5 a.m. we decided to stop lying in bed without purpose. Since then, we barely stopped. First, the three of us talked about the previous night, mostly to judge how much it affected Hilary.”

  “How is she?”

  “A little shaken, but fine. She’ll be fine.”

  “What else?”

  “Then the police came early.” Thank goodness, I had a robe handy when they knocked on the door. “They made me tell them everything again.” I suppressed a shudder. “They said Chloe Bennett confessed everything.”

  I didn’t want to tell him about Eric, though I hadn’t been the one going afte
r information. Apparently, he had listed me as his emergency contact with his health insurance, and someone called me to let me know his state. Which wasn’t good. Argus had broken too many bones and ruptured too many ligaments and tendons. The probability of Eric ever walking again was low, and there was a chance he wouldn’t be able to move his arms. Even knowing I shouldn’t wish that on anyone, I couldn’t help feeling like he got what he deserved, because really, death would be an easy way out.

  “I’ve talked to Jimmy too,” I continued. “He’s in the hospital recovering. Other than blood loss and a few whip marks on his back, he’ll be fine.”

  “I know.”

  My eyes widened. “You know. How?”

  He shook his head. “Not important. Keep going.”

  “Well, if you know that, maybe you know that he’s also working through his phone now, because he got someone to go over to the ranch and transfer the horses to the stable in the back. This friend of his will watch over them until we can go back.”

  “I didn’t know that.” Leo reached over the table and rested his hand over mine. “I can stop by once a day and make sure they are okay too.” I glanced at our hands, and he quickly pulled his away. I frowned. What was that? Before I could ask, he continued, “I know about Argus too.”

  “You do?”

  He ran his hand over his hair. “Yeah. I stopped at the animal hospital before coming here.”

  “You did?”

  “I wanted to know how he was, and, if possible, to see him, see him well, so I could tell you that myself.”

  My eyes watered. I had spoken with Dr. Bohm earlier, but still, I wanted to hear this from Leo. “And?”

  “He needs to go into a second surgery soon, but he’s holding on. Dr. Bohm thinks his chances of making it through this are good.”

  I nodded, a tear rolling down my face.

  Leo’s fingertip stopped the tear halfway down. His touch sizzled my skin and I shivered. His eyes found mine as he pulled his hand away, but I didn’t let him. I caught his hand and pulled it back to me.

  “You’re acting weird,” I said. “Like …… you’re shy.”

  He splayed his fingers over my cheek, cupping my face. “Not shy. Just a little precautious.”