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There is only so long you can run in survival mode before it either kills you or you let yourself accept love.
After spending my life chained to a family name, losing myself for the power, I still wouldn’t change a second of my history. Even the beatings, the neglect, the childhood I spent crying myself to sleep.
My dad was right; his version of tough love made me who I am today. It made me powerful enough to kill him, to ruin everything my family had built over years.
But Colten taught me something far more important. That it’s okay to love. That there is power in having a man beside you who will not just accept who you are; he will embrace it and help you see who you were meant to be.
Powerful, sexy, and now… cute.
So, my past is my past; without it, I’d never have ended up here. I would have never found a love that doesn’t dim my fire; it ignites it.
I’d walk through the flames all over again if it meant I’d find my way to my cowboy.
And I know he would too.
THE END.
EPILOGUE
COLTEN
By the time I’ve cleared up breakfast, Gianna is nowhere to be seen. The menace is probably either plotting her next prank or in her new second home, the barn.
She’s not just fallen in love with the animals; she’s made it her mission to give them the best care possible. I’ve never had to answer so many ranching and animal questions in my damn life. Even the new ranch hands aren’t this interested.
But I love it for her. She still gets to do the mafia thing beside me. She’s completely overhauled our shipping system and found us new warehouses after ours burned down.
I don’t bother heading upstairs; I know where to find her. Grabbing my hat, I head straight to the barn. I keep my footsteps light as I approach and gently push the door open.
She’s got her hat on, a pair of cut-offs, and a little black crop top. And she’s shoveling sheep shit into a wheelbarrow. At seven in the damn morning.
I bet she never imagined this is how she’d spent her life.
She knows I’m there, so she drops the shovel and wipes the sweat from her forehead.
“Oh, thank fuck. This is your job, cowboy.”
I cross my arms. “I thought you specifically told me you’d be the one looking after Preziosa. That also involves the bad bits.”
She pouts. “I would like to renegotiate.”
I motion for her to come to me, curling two fingers. “I’ll discuss terms.”
She doesn’t hesitate; she’s walking towards me, with an extra sway in her hips. I grab the rope hanging on the wall and run it through my fingers.
“Oh. Are we playing that game again?” she asks, a darkness flashing in her eyes.
My cock aches at the thought of her tied up for me again.
“No. We got some loose cattle over in pasture seven; I thought you might want a cowboy lesson today. Watch us work?”
She nods slowly, but her gaze dips to the floor.
“Gianna,” I say sternly. “What is it?”
She swallows, twirling her wedding ring around her finger. “I need to ask you a question.”
The nerves are radiating off her, and it makes my heart beat like it wants to jump out of my chest.
