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I flip the knife shut and pocket it. I’m going to enjoy killing him. There’s no easy death for men like him. He’s going to be the unfortunate recipient of all my rage and disappointment that, after thirty-seven years, I fell in love, and he ripped her from me at the eleventh hour.
My father told me to always aim to kill. Men do the job right the first time around. Maybe I’m a hell of a lot more like him than Ihoped, because I’m going to make sure there’s nothing left when I’m done.
I go to shower the dried mud off. I smell like her, like sweet lemonade. When I dry off, I catch a glimpse of the brand on my back.
Gunslinger.
I stop, eyes dropping down to my hands. I think this might make me into something far worse than I’ve ever been.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
DIANE
My nails dig into my arms. I can hear Thomas breathing behind me.
“I won’t fuck you,” I whisper.
The only thing visible is the light over the stove in Thomas Garrison’s kitchen. His keys hit the counter with a clatter. He lets out a long, impatient sigh.
“Fine,” he says.
I don’t know what I expected, but it wasn’t for him to cave so easily. I turn, my arms wrapped around my body. I’m still in the dirty sundress I wore with Westin. I can still feel his hands on me.
As I’m standing here in the kitchen of a Garrison, I can feel another man’s cum dripping down my thigh. I press my legs together. It feels like what Westin did to me at the swimming hole was years ago.
I can’t let Thomas touch me. He might be benevolent enough not to force himself on me, but I don’t know what he’ll do if he finds out about Westin. David was right to warn me not to mention his name in a Garrison household.
He watches me, clearly unhappy, but not surprised.
“I want this to be in name only,” I breathe. “Non-monogamous. I’ll sleep in my room, and you feel free to sleep wherever you want.”
“You’re going to be my wife,” he says flatly.
“Give me time,” I whisper, my voice cracking. “Please, Thomas. I don’t know you. I’m not ready for this. I didn’t choose it.”
He takes a step closer, then another, until he’s standing over me. His hand comes up. I flinch violently, leaning away. He starts to brush back my hair, but then he sees my reaction. His fist drops.
“Jesus, who beat you?” he snaps.
My eyes start watering. Maybe, if I’m being honest, they’re not watering; I’m just crying. I shake my head, unable to answer him. He lets out an impatient sigh and runs a hand over his face.
“Fine, I won’t fuck you tonight,” he says.
I wipe my nose with the back of my hand. “You can sleep with whoever, just give me some time.”
“And you?”
“Me, what?”
His eyes glint. “So you’re going to sleep with…whoever too?”
I shrug, nodding, and that’s the wrong thing to do. He was tempered a moment ago, but he’s angry now. I take a step back, and his hand shoots out, gripping me by the neck. Fear explodes through my body, and my heart goes wild. He drags me in until I’m against his tall body.
“Fine, let’s fuck whoever we like. You spread your legs for anyone, see if I care,” he snaps. “Good luck with that. There isn’t anyone to fuck for twenty miles of this godforsaken ranch.”
He lets me go, shoving me the way David does. I spill back against the sink, paralyzed. He goes to where I left my linen purse and yanks it open, taking out my wallet.
My jaw drops. I can’t say a word as he takes out my driver’s license and my bank card. He hesitates, and then he takes my social security card, the cash too, and shoves them all in his pocket.
