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I reached over, my hand shaking slightly as I gently touched her cheek. “I couldn’t kill the man who killed her. But I did what I could to protect others from people like him. Gangbangers, criminals. It’s not pretty, Clover, but it’s the truth.”
“Yeah, it’s not pretty,” she agreed, her voice barely above a whisper. She looked down at the ring, her brow furrowed in thought. Then, she asked the question I’d been expecting, “Why me, Declan? Why are you so obsessive about . . . this?”
My chuckle was dry, devoid of humor. “Clover, you have this way of getting under my skin. From that first rodeo to the car accident, to the night of the trail ride . . . You’re stubborn, fearless. You don’t back down.”
“But I don’t need saving,” she insisted, her eyes flashing defiantly.
“I disagree. You’ve been dealt a tough hand, darlin’. You’ve been fighting all your life, haven’t you? Trying to keep Avery safe, to keep this house together . . . I can see it in your eyes. You’re tired. You stepped up when your mom walked out. Took care of everything when your dad died. Who takes care of you?”
Clover stayed silent, her scrutiny flicking between my eyes and the ring. There was a vulnerability in her expression that made my chest tighten. “I take care of myself.”
“I’m not trying to swoop in and play the hero, Clover,” I admitted, my voice gentle. “But I am offering to stand by your side. To help carry the weight that’s been burdening you.”
She looked up at me, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. “Why would you do that?”
“Because I want to, Clover,” I replied, the truth of the words resonating in the air between us. “Because I’ve seen you fight and I admire your spirit. And because when I save you, I feel like maybe . . . just maybe . . . I’m saving a part of myself too.”
Clover let out a frustrated sigh, “You’re infuriating, you know that? Why can’t you just be . . . normal?”
I laughed, the sound dark and husky. “Darlin’,normalisn’t a term I’ve ever been familiar with. And if I was ‘normal,’ I might not have been able to save you.”
Clover’s defiant eyes softened slightly, a flicker of confusion and perhaps even understanding passing over her face. She pressed her lips together, her fingers idly tracing the edges of the ring.
“Okay, cowboy,” she finally replied, an odd note of resignation in her voice. “What now?”
I reached for her hand, tangling our fingers together, “Now, we play along, Clover. For your sake, for Avery’s, for Laura’s. We act like everything’s normal, even if it’s far from it.”
“And if I can’t do it? If I can’t pretend?” Clover’s voice was barely a whisper, the reality of our situation beginning to set in.
“Then you lean on me, Wildflower. We’re in this together now. Whether you like it or not.” My gaze never left hers, my promise hanging heavily in the air between us.
CLOVER
The Nightfall Rodeo was a whirlwind. People shouted. Music played. Hooves thumped against dirt. But I wasn’t there for any of it. My mind was elsewhere, my heart still thudding with the beat of a trauma that was all too fresh.
I moved through it all, my fingers wrapped around a piece of Declan’s jacket. It was like holding onto a lifeline. He was there, a steady presence by my side as we wove through the sea of people.
“Nervous?” he asked, his voice barely rising above the noise.
“Terrified,” I admitted. No point in lying. His grip tightened, a simple gesture that spoke volumes.
Everywhere I looked, there were reminders. Men. Noise. Unwanted attention. It was a sensory overload that had my skin prickling with unease. I tried to focus on Avery, to channel her excitement, her nerves. This was a big day for her. She was finally accepted as a regular for bull riding. But even her joy felt distant, muted.
Declan stayed by my side, a solid force amidst the chaos. There was an undeniable comfort in his presence. It didn’t wipe away the fear, but it made it bearable. Which was really fucking confusing. I should have been scared of him, but at least he was the Devil I knew.
Avery squeezed my arm, her eyes sparkling with nervous anticipation. “I’m off to get ready for my ride,” she declared, her voice steady despite the adrenaline that was surely hitting her hard.
She disappeared into the throng of competitors, leaving Declan and me alone. “You should go with her,” I suggested while watching Avery’s retreating figure.
He shook his head. “She’s strong, Clover. She needs to do this on her own.”
My heart thrummed with nervous energy, and I suddenly felt an overwhelming concern. Not just for Avery, but for Declan too. “Aren’t you riding tonight?” I asked, forcing myself to look back at him.
“No, not tonight,” he answered, meeting my stare with an unwavering ferocity.
I was momentarily surprised by the relief that washed over me. It was odd, this new protective instinct I was feeling for Declan. He was the strong one. Yet, I realized, beneath it all, I worried about him too.
As the bustling crowd of the rodeo continued around us, I stood there, mulling over what Declan had shared earlier. The revelation about his past was still fresh, a sobering reminder of the man standing beside me.
