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I’m no killer, but I’d lie and say I was again to protect my brothers.
Thing is…there’s stuff that needs to stay buried—both literally and figuratively.
And I’ll take all of it to the grave.
“Hey, sis.” The deep voice comes from the doorway.
“Hawk.” Raven smiles.
My brother’s almost as tall as I am and slightly broader. Eagle’s the tallest and leanest of all of us, but he’s still got his share of muscles. Not an ounce of fat on any of us, just like our father, Austin Bellamy. Good genetic stock, I suppose. That and the fact that we worked our asses off on the ranch since we could walk. Inside, I made sure I kept my muscles intact. I didn’t have a workout room, but I did pushups, sit-ups, everything I could think of in my cell.
I stayed in shape.
It helped maintain my image as Savage.
I nod at Hawk.
He, Eagle, and I are the only three who know the truth of what went down eight years ago. We’d do anything for each other, which is why I’ve got to compartmentalize now.
If I start worrying about Eagle…
Can’t do it.
“Where are Mom and Dad?” Hawk asks.
“On their way,” Robin replies.
“Right here.”
I turn.
My father’s big frame fills up the doorway. Hawk looks the most like him, with his blue eyes. The rest of us got Mom’s brown eyes. Dad is big and blond—graying now—with blue eyes. Beside him, Mom looks tiny. Her hair is still dark brown with only a few strands of silver, and her eyes are dark and sad. We all favor her with our dark hair. None of us turned out blond like dad.
Dad comes from ranching stock. His father, Brick Bellamy, started Bellamy Ranch with our great-grandfather, Francis Stuart Bellamy. They do well but our real money comes from Dad’s mother, Sandra Cooper Bellamy, the Cooper Steel heiress. So now we’re worth over a billion. The ranch brings in millions, but in truth? We could sell the damned thing and live off Grandma’s legacy. But Dad will never do that. He’s a rancher through and through. He raised all of us to be ranchers as well.
I love the outdoors. I didn’t get to see enough of it on the inside, so I’ll be taking my place on the ranch and spending as much time in the sunshine as I can. You learn to appreciate the little things on the inside.
A sunrise.
A sunset.
Looking at the stars.
The love of animals.
The love of a hard day’s work outside.
I’ve missed all that, and I can’t wait to get back to it.
But first…Raven.
Mom walks to her bedside and smooths her fingers over Raven’s bald head. “Today’s the day, honey. You’re going to be fine.”
Raven smiles. “I know, Mommy.”
“Your brother has given you the ultimate gift.”
They make it sound like I’m some kind of hero. The truth is? If I hadn’t been the only match for Raven, I’d still be in the slammer. Sure, I’d be up for parole in a few months, but I’d still be inside, and if someone came after me again and I had to retaliate within that time, my parole hearing would be canceled like it was the first time.
So in effect, Raven—my sweet sister who nearly met her maker—has given me the ultimate gift.
I’ll never forget that.
And I’ll never go back inside.
But even as I think the words, I know I’d do it all again.
To protect my brothers.
It’s getting crowded in the room, so I excuse myself. I need a walk. I head toward the elevators just as one stops.
The doors open—
17
SAVANNAH
My heart nearly stops when I see Falcon standing in front of me as the elevator doors open on six. His jeans hug those amazing thighs, and he’s wearing a black T-shirt that shows every muscle on his chest.
His eyes widen, and then he steps onto the elevator.
“Hey,” he says.
“Hi.”
“You visiting your friend?”
“I was. I have to get back to work. How is your sister?”
“She’s good. Apparently it was a bout of sleep apnea last night. At least they can’t find anything else wrong.”
“You don’t sound like you believe it.”
He narrows his eyes. “How would you know what I sound like? You don’t even know me, Savannah.”
Savannah. Not Vannah. Serves me right, I suppose. I told him to call me Savannah.
Whatever we had is apparently over. Who am I kidding? We didn’t have anything. It was a quickie. Best sex I’ve ever had, but still a quickie. He needed comfort, and I was in the right place at the right time.
“You’re right.” I clear my throat. “I don’t.”
“Sorry,” he mumbles. “I’ve got a lot on my mind.”
“I’m sure you do. No offense taken.”
Except I do take offense. He has a sick sister—a sister I’m sure he adores. A sister he gave his bone marrow for. And I’m being selfish and focusing on my own feelings.
