“So what’s the plan here? I want out, but these women need help too. I can’t go on with my life with a healthy conscience, knowing what’s happening right under my nose. Any of those women could be Maisie…or my sister.” I can’t bring myself to say Nova’s name out loud.
“I need time.”
“I’ve given you time,” I yell, catching stares again. “Shit, sorry. I just…I can’t keep doing this. I need some hope, something to keep fighting for. I need a plan in place to make all this pain worth it.”
“I hear you, I do, but this sort of thing takes time. You can’t crumble an empire overnight. There are steps that need to happen in a specific order. Matteo is untouchable. There’s no one more important than him. He calls the shots here, but his son, he’s more malleable. He hasn’t been hardened by the world and his dad fully. I can still see some good in him. If we can get him to take over the organization, I think we would see a lot of changes. For one, he’s against the sex trade. I’ve personally heard him give his dad shit for it and pay the price. He’s also an honest man. If you can get the numbers together—and I mean hard numbers—that you’ve paid off your debt with your fights, I have no doubt he would release you.”
I relax into my seat. “Great. So we kill Matteo. Easy.”
“Not,” Moretti cuts me off. “Didn’t you hear what I just told you? He’suntouchable. He has top guards around him twenty-four seven, loyal ones. This isn’t some SWAT team operation, in and out type of deal. We need a solid plan, and we need to get the others to back his son before we make our move, or this is all for nothing.”
I blow out a breath. “What do you suggest then?”
“We continue to lay low. You keep winning your fights, and I will slowly start to feel people out within the organization. I’ve been around these men my whole life. I know which ones I think would be the first to fold and switch loyalties. I need to start planting seeds in their ears so we can entice a coop without Matteo finding out. Then, we strike.”
“How long?”
“I can’t give you that number. It takes time, but just know I’m doing everything in my power to get you out of this mess. I was born into it, so I had no choice, but you got wrapped into this mess without knowledge of how deep it ran. I want to make it right. Call it looking for good karma.”
“I don’t like this.”
“Me either, brother, but it’s the cards we’ve been dealt. If any of this is going to work out, I need you to be on your best behavior.”His face hardens, all mafia boss now. “Don’t talk back. Don’t ask questions. Put your head down, be a good boy, and get your fights done exactly how they want. If they say jump, you say how high.”
I grit my teeth, not liking his words but nodding along anyway. If it keeps everyone safe and gets me out of this mess, I’ll do whatever it takes.
“Oh, and one last piece of advice. If you plan to keep the girl in your life, keep her close. I mean it. Do not let that woman out of your sight. They won’t hesitate to hurt her—or worse, take her if they see the opportunity. Chain her to you, for all I care, but they have her on their radar now. Before, it was safer to stay away, but now that you’ve let them see you two together, you need to keep her close until this blows over. There’s no going back now. Pushing her away to show them your disinterest will only push them closer to her. Got it?”
I nod, knowing exactly what I must do next.
maisie
. . .
TWENTY-SEVEN
Today is the big day,as in the last day before the Ranch opens. It’s all hands on deck, getting the Ranch as polished as possible for the first round of guests.
I’m a little nervous to see the dynamic of the Ranch change, the peaceful nights turned to chaos. Both are good; God knows I could use more company to keep my head from wandering. I won’t lie and say I’ll for sure miss the quiet mornings before getting the chores done, or the slow nights out on the dock, the music of wildlife all around me, to write into the night.
I know it’s all going to change come tomorrow. I’m a girl who loves her routine, but I’ve also been feeding off Roxy’s excitement. I can’t believe I’ve already been here for a month. It feels like just yesterday I was boarding that last minute flight with Evie strapped to my chest. At the same time, it feels like this is where I was meant to be all along.
Roxy is in her element, all jittery with opening day excitement. She lives for the Ranch and her excursions. My Uncle Walter is just here for the ride, retiring his Ranch working boots and passing them along to his wife. This is what she was meant to be doing.
I’ve yet to see Grayson today. I’m sure he’s off preparing. There are all kinds of inspections that have to be passed before we can open tomorrow.
Grayson, the man of the fucking hour and all my thoughts. We’ve come to a truce of sorts. We get along great while working, but there’s still something between us holding me back. I don’t miss the way he looks at me, the way his eyes track me no matter where I am on the Ranch. He’s like a ghost—I feel him everywhere. He even bought me a new bandana to use while in the barn.Honey orange, to match your eyes, he had said.
Dang ovaries are always acting up when he’s around, doing sweet gestures like that. We are getting closer each day, and the sexual tension between us should be studied at this point. If he isn’t pissing me off, he’s making me want to climb him like a tree.
It seems, in this case, it’s true: the boys who torment you are the ones who want you the most. Grayson and I are like fire when we are together, but, sometimes, that flame burns too hot, and I’m scared it's going to burn us both in the end.
My hands get lost weaving the freshly picked lupine flowers from the field by the zipline. Roxy and I decided we wanted to decorate theFoxy Roxy Ranchsign at the entrance.
“That looks lovely, dear,” Roxy chirps, weaving her own across the kitchen table.
My cheeks heat under her praise. Even if it’s something so simple, it feels good to be told you’re doing something right. God knows my agent, Pam, could take a page out of Roxy’s book.
“Yours too! These will look so cute on the sign. Who knew I loved weaving flowers so much?” I tease.
