by Donn, KL
“What are you doing here, sparrow?” I growl when she walks through the door.
Tears well up in her eyes. “Cross.”
“Where the hell are my brothers, and why did they let you come?” I fucking told them she wasn’t to be here. She didn’t need to witness this shit.
“At home. Nick brought me. They fought against it. What did you do, Cross?” Her delicate hands circle around mine, holding the bars, and the touch is more than welcome.
“They got what was coming to them, Bella.”
“But now you’re here. What am I supposed to do without you?” Genuine terror enters her gaze, and I hate it.
Cupping her cheek, I wipe away the tears. “I’ll be home soon, Isabella. I promise.”
“You can’t make that promise!” She discreetly shouts at me.
“I can, and I will. Nothing will keep me from your side for long.” I’m fully aware of what she’s afraid of. Isabella thinks I’m just like every other person in her life.
That I’m going to desert her.
Even if unwillingly.
But I won’t. I’m here to stay.
“You need to go home, Isabella. Keep the ranch running. Nick will help. And take care of yourself. I’ll be there in a day or two, at most.” Trying to keep my tone calm, I glare at Colter as he spies on us. For causing her this grief.
It doesn’t concern me about what I did. He’s the one who could have let it go; he could have arrested those sons of bitches, and we wouldn’t be here.
“I need you, Cross,” Bella whimpers, and my heart breaks.
“Open the cell, Colter!” I shout at the man, and he shakes his head no. “Where the fuck am I gonna go that you won’t find me? Don’t be an ass and open the fucking cell!”
“Doesn’t work that way, Cross, and you know it.” He sighs.
“You gonna chase her tears away then? Huh? Let me fucking hold my wife!” Red rage envelops my vision, and I think I finally comprehend how Crux felt all those years he was forced away from Farren. I don’t know how the hell he held on so long.
“Five minutes.” He points the keys at me. I don’t respond because I’ll take as long as I damn well please.
As soon as the bars slide back, she’s in my arms, and her tears soak through my shirt. “I’ve got you, baby. You’re alright.” I try to soothe her. I’ll be fucked if I believe it, though. There’s nothing that I won’t do to keep her safe. I’m just fucking pissed my brothers were there. I shouldn’t have brought them. I could have gotten away with leaving both Curtis and Sully for dead if Crew and Crux hadn’t insisted that manslaughter was a harsher sentence than assault.
“Five minutes,” Colter repeats as he leaves us alone.
“It’s not long enough,” Isabella cries against me.
“We have a lifetime, Bella. An entire fucking lifetime.” I won’t allow her to pick up on my doubts, but if Zack is half as good as Crux insists, I’ll be home soon.
Chapter Eleven
Cross
It’s been twenty-four hours since Isabella was ripped out of my arms with disregard of her tears and hyperventilating and my rage. I fought Colter for forcing me behind bars and gave him a black eye for his troubles. The fact one of his deputies had his hands on my wife didn’t help.
“Are you even listening to me, Cross?” Zack yaps at me. I haven’t been.
“Yeah.” I lie.
“No, you’re not. I’m not sure I can prevent jail time,” he says, and I’d like to throttle him.
“Figure it out, Zack. I want to be home tomorrow morning at the latest.” I told Bella two days. I also told Nick she can’t come back here. That if anyone offers to bring her to me, they’re fired, and I’ll make sure they never work another ranch in this country again.
“You shouldn’t have cold-cocked the sheriff then. Things are moving at a snail’s pace.” Crux had Farren fly in to help Isabella cope with what I’ve done, and I have no idea if it’s working or making things worse. I need to be home.
“I don’t want excuses. Get shit done. Whatever it costs.” I look him straight in the eye, telling him without words to basically throw money at whoever needs it to get me out of here. I know he won’t, but it’s worth a shot.
“Money isn’t going to help.” He smirks, understanding what I was thinking.
“Then go talk to those sleazeballs, find out what they want to make this go away.” Whatever their price, I’ll pay it, so long as they also leave.
“Christ. Crux said you were reasonable,” Zack mutters as he packs up his briefcase and walks out.
My thoughts keep circling the drain and, in some ways, I’m pissed at myself for being unable to control my reaction to the things Curtis and Sully said, but then I hear it in my head again and become even more enraged. They’re the worst type of scum and deserve nothing but death.
Laying down on the hard cot, I close my eyes and picture Isabella when she first wakes up in the morning. Sensual, sultry, well-loved long into each night.
She submits to me in the most beautiful ways. Her entire body does as I please, anticipates my every request. I’ve never been so taken with a woman before in my life. But with Isabella and her desire to be controlled, we’re on a pedestal. Our entire relationship is something to be coveted. I wasn’t expecting her when I went into those woods that day, and now, I can’t imagine a single day without her.
Except for yesterday and today.
Right now, she’s hurting, heartbroken because of me. And that’s a hard fucking pill to swallow. Being the source of her pain had not been something I intended when I lost my shit.
“I’m coming home, Bella,” I promise into the morning light as I remember one of the last times I woke up to her beside me.
“Isabella,” I growl into her back, kissing the pronounced bumps of her spine as I climb up her back. There’s no doubt she would be healthier with a couple of extra pounds on her slim frame and getting her pregnant would do that, but first I want at least a year of just us.
“Wake up, my sparrow.” She’s a stomach sleeper, so when my hands slip around her body to cup her perfect tits, she moans and rolls over. Exposing her body to me. The bruises are fading on her ribs, and love bites cover her hips and upper thighs.
“Cross?” Her sleepy voice has my dick aching to be inside of her again.
Spreading her legs, I slip between them before kissing the valley of her breasts. Small to some but perfect for me. Capturing a nipple with my lips, I suck the tiny bud into my mouth as her fingers dig into my hair.
“Time to shower,” I tease when cries ring out as I pull away from her body.
“That was cruel.” Her glare isn’t as angry as she’d like. If there’s one thing I’ve learned in the last couple days, it’s that she enjoys being tormented.
Guiding her in front of me to the bathroom, I cup both of her ass cheeks in my hands and squeeze. “Oh!” Isabella loses her balance and catches herself against the vanity in the bathroom as I move in behind her.
“Stop complaining.” My words are uttered in her ear while my feet kick her legs apart gently, and I prop her hips so my cock can go searching for her wet heat.
The only light in the room is from the sun shining through the window behind us, and a halo appears above our heads. “This will be anything but angelic,” I groan as I slam inside of her.
Her mouth opens on a silent cry of pleasure while my hands tighten on her hips, and I thrust in and out of her tightness. She squeezes me so tightly that I know I won’t last long. Neither will she. Her walls are already pulsing, and her eyes have rolled to the back of her head as she tries to watch me watch her.
“How dirty will you let me be, sparrow? How much do you want to give me?” I grunt.
“Anything you want, Cross.” She’s breathless as she grants me permission.
Pulling from her pussy, I spread her ass cheeks and press on her tight rosebud. I’ve been dying to own every inch of her body from the moment I saw her and now th
at she’s truly mine, I can.
Her body freezes as I gather her wetness on my tip and dip the head of my cock into the entrance of her ass but don’t move any farther. “Fuck me, Bella. One day soon, I’m going to fuck this tight hole until we’re both screaming in ecstasy. But for now, it can take my cum.”
Her breathing becomes rapid as I start pumping my cock with an iron fist until my balls tighten up to my body, and I feel my release coming.
“Oh, fuck.” I groan as every shot of my cum splashes inside of her.
“That was dirty,” she whispers as I lean against her back. She shocks me when she pushes back further, taking more of me into her. “It hurts,” she mewls, and as much as I’d like to give her more, I know I need to work her up to it.
“Soon, sparrow. Real soon,” I promise as we head into the shower.
My dick is aching just thinking about that morning. She watched me with greedy eyes all fucking day. Three times I drug her off to some hidden corner to fuck her until she screamed my name like I was God.
She makes me the center of her world, and I’ll do anything I can to get back to her. Show her that I am a motherfucking king, and nobody can take me away from her.
* * *
Isabella
I shouldn’t be doing this. I shouldn’t be here. I’m likely going to regret it, but I need to do something. I can’t let Cross rot in that jail cell because of me. It’s not fair. My life is shit. His wasn’t until he met me.
This is solely my problem, and I’ve never been one to let anyone else fight my battles for me. Now won’t be any different. I can’t allow it to be.
Exiting the truck that I convinced Jericho—one of the younger and newer ranch hands—to drive me in, I stand and stare at the house that has been the bane of my existence since I moved here a year ago. I get chills up my spine, and my stomach becomes queasy from stepping foot on the property.
What I’m about to do is likely going to get me in a lot of trouble, but if Cross is free, then I don’t care. Taking a deep breath, I knock on the door and wait.
Heavy footsteps can be heard, and I know it’s Sully before the door opens. “Well, well, well, what do we have here? Little girl running home.” He snorts as he turns his back on me, and that’s when I notice the large bandage with dried blood in the center on the back of his head.
“Where’s Curtis?” I ask, mustering all the courage I have.
“Why?” He turns and glares at me.
“I have a deal for him.” I swallow the impeding lump in my throat.
“Yo, Curtis. The whore is back,” he yells and walks away down the hallway as my uncle comes out of the bathroom.
“Decide real life isn’t for you?” He laughs as if it’s a given.
“I need you to drop the charges against Cross.” I don’t say my husband because I know that will only anger him, and I won’t get what I want.
“Why would I do that?” He cocks his bruised head to the side. Cross really did a number on these two, and I inwardly cheer about it.
“Because I’ll come back. Once he’s out of jail, I’ll come back.” I feel sick saying the words. I don’t want to return to this nightmare. I want to run as far away as I can.
Rubbing his pudgy hand across his fat jaw, Curtis pretends to think about it, but I already know the answer. “Sounds like a deal to me.” His grin is downright predatory, and I have a moment of regret until I remember it's Cross’ life on the line.
“Make the call. Once he’s out, I’ll move back,” I say and leave before he can do anything else. Jericho is standing with my door open. He has no idea why I’ve come, and I don’t plan on telling him either, but I need for Cross to be released. I need him to know that even though he’s hell-bent on protecting me, I can and will, protect him, too.
“Let’s go,” I say before my companion can say a word either. As we pull away, I see Curtis on the phone, and I hope that it won’t be long before we get a call at the house that Cross is coming home.
“What did you just do?” Jericho asks me carefully.
I don’t answer him. I’ve never been a good liar.
“It’s going to get me fired, isn’t it.”
I share a sad look with him.
He smacks the steering wheel. “Fuck.”
“Pretty much.”
“Will you at least let me help you? Tell me what to do, and I’ll do it.” Not much older than me, I’m surprised at his protective instincts. I wonder if it’s in the cowboy DNA.
“Nobody can help me now, Jericho. Nobody.”
He’s barely pulled the truck to a stop in front of the house before I’m jumping out and running inside to the sound of the house phone ringing.
Crew answers, and immediately, I can tell it’s good news.
Cross is coming home.
“He wants to talk to you.” Crew nods, and I take the receiver from him.
“Cross?” I’m excited yet terrified.
“I’m coming home, baby. I’m coming home.” Relief settles in my bones, and a weight lifts off my shoulders at his words.
“I’m so happy.”
“I’ll be there within the hour. Zack is here, and he’s going to give me a ride. I don’t know what happened, but it’s just you and me now, sparrow.” He sounds so joyful. I hate to take that away from him.
Leaving the room, I head upstairs, not wanting anyone else witness to the breakdown that’s about to happen.
“I’m so glad, Cross.” I can’t hold back the sob that erupts.
“Hey, it’s gonna be okay now. Everything will be alright.” I wish I could believe that.
“I love you, Cross, more than I ever thought I could love someone in my life. I need you to know that, okay. You know I love you.” I shove a few pieces of clothing in a bag in an effort to not collapse on the floor.
“Isabella, what’s going on? Why do you sound like you’re saying… Motherfucker! What did you do, Bella?” I wish I could avoid telling him.
“Just know that I’ll love you forever, and with you, I found a slice of heaven I can never replace.”
“I’m on my way. Don’t fucking move,” he orders, and I can hear him barking out orders as I openly cry.
“I love you, Cross,” I whisper before hanging up and slipping downstairs silently. Making sure not to run into Crew or Crux, knowing they’ll hold me here until Cross tells them otherwise.
A ringing phone in the living room catches my attention, so I head out the back door and away from the stables and any other civilization as I jump into the truck Jericho drove. I paid attention to the things he did, and I hope to hell that driving it isn’t nearly as difficult as I’ve always thought it to be.
Once I’ve got the transmission in drive and slowly press down on the gas pedal, I pick up speed, and before I know it, I’m at the entrance to the ranch, saying goodbye as it becomes smaller in the rearview mirror.
I’m driving away from a home I could have spent the rest of my life in to wallow in another where I’ll die. The irony isn’t lost on me as I head down the backroads to Curtis’ place. I hate what I’m doing, but I have no choice. I can’t risk my uncle coming after Cross again. This is my penance for not helping my sister, for enjoying just a hint of happiness as she rots in an unmarked grave.
This was always meant to be my destiny.
* * *
Cross
Slamming through the door of my house, the knob lodges in the wall and plaster falls to the ground. I don’t fucking care, though. Nothing matters right now.
“Where the fuck is she?” I shout at the near dozen men in the room as Colter and Zack follow in behind me.
“She was gone before I got your call,” Crew says coming forward, hands raised, treating me like an angry fucking bull. “Take a breath, brother. She needs you in control.”
I ignore him, glaring at each man in the room. “Who saw her leave?” Nobody answers, and my rage intensifies. “What the hell were you all doing then!”
Je
richo, my newest hand, stands up, and I immediately sense he knows something, and I’m murderous all over again. “She begged me to take her to her uncle’s ranch earlier this morning.”
And now I know why the charges were dropped and where she’s likely gone. “You saw what he did to her, how she’s been. Why the fuck would you do that?”
He doesn’t back down from my anger, and if I didn’t want to snap his neck, I’d have respect for him. “Because she fucking loves you so deeply, she would have gone without me. And she wouldn’t have come back then. The way you two watch each other, with this…this obsession, is fucking terrifying, man, but that’s not something I could have said no to. Not to her.”
“Take a breath, Malcolm, or you’ll wind up behind bars again,” Colter warns, and I’m forced to let all my anger roll off and start to think strategically.
“I want her home, Colt. You’re either going to help, or you’re in my way.” I walk away and into my office, heading for my gun closet. My wife is coming home,
and once she’s in my bed again, I’m going to fucking tie her to it.
“What do you think you’re doing with that?” Colter asks, and I stare him down until he shakes his head and relents. “Fine. But Crux can’t touch one. He’ll get in more shit.”
“Fine.” I hadn’t planned on letting my youngest brother tag along when his girl is here anyway. “Crux”—he nods—“hold down the fort.” He frowns but Ren sits in his lap, and he nods again.
“Load up,” I snap at everyone else. Zack stays behind for legal reasons, too.
Leaving the house, Sheriff Wade guides me to his vehicle as the rest of my men and Crew load into three other trucks. “If there is a shot to be taken, it’s by me, Cross. I can’t guarantee that I can keep anyone out of jail if this goes sideways.”
Leaning my head against the seat, I close my eyes and try to calm the turmoil surrounding my heart. This wasn’t how things were supposed to go down. Even as threatening as Colter had been while I was locked up, he was working with Zack to get me out. To find something to charge Sully and Curtis with instead.