Page 81 of Branded

“I know. But with Marshall, and the shit with Dad…” He stops, jaw clenched tight. “Just check in. Please.”

The vulnerability in that “please” catches me off guard.

“I’ll check in. Morning and night, I promise.”

Pete carries my bag to the jet while Sebastian and I stand on the tarmac. The engines are already running, and the pilot is visible through the cockpit window, running preflight checks.

“Four and a half days,” Sebastian says as he reaches out and tucks a stray piece of hair behind my ear.

“Four and a half days,” I confirm.

He pulls me against him, and this time the hug is desperate. Like he’s afraid I won’t come back despite my promises.

“Be safe,” he murmurs into my hair. “Be careful. Don’t trust anyone you don’t know.”

“I will. I promise.”

He pulls back to look at me, his dark eyes searching mine.

“I’m coming back,” I say firmly, answering the question he doesn’t ask. “We made a deal. Then we figure out what this marriage is going to be.”

“I know what we agreed to.” But he doesn’t look convinced. “Fine.” He kisses me then, gentle, careful, nothing demanding. It feels more like a goodbye kiss, and I want to yell, I want to tell him that’s not how he kisses me, but I don’t.

When he lets me go, I climb the stairs onto the jet and take my seat, looking out to see Sebastian watching from below as the door closes between us.

The flight is smooth. Three hours of silence and expensive leather seats and too much time to think about what I am going home to. Questions from my family. Suspicion about my sudden marriage. Having to lie about how Sebastian and I actually met.

Having to pretend this is all normal.

I land at a small regional airport near Sweetwater just before noon Montana time. Through the window, I can see a familiar truck parked near the private aviation terminal. Cage, my oldest brother, is here to pick me up.

I grab my bag and head down the stairs into the cold Montana air, which feels like coming home. Cage stands by the truck, arms crossed, his expression unreadable.

“Lenny Lou.” He pulls me into a hug the second I’m close enough. “You look different.”

“Different how?”

“Older. Tired. Like something heavy’s been sitting on you.” He pulls back, studies my face. “What happened in California?”

“It’s complicated.”

“That’s what you said in your text. But you’re here now, so un-complicate it.” He tosses my bag in the truck bed. “And fair warning, Dad’s pissed. Like, really pissed. You disappeared for months, sent Janie back with some cryptic message about being fine, and didn’t answer anyone’s calls for over a month.”

“I know. I’ll explain.”

“You better.” He climbs into the driver’s seat. “Because right now, the only thing keeping him from driving to California and dragging you home is the fact that you’re already here.”

The drive to the ranch is tense. Cage keeps glancing at me as I stare out the window at the familiar landscape, mountains in the distance, rolling hills, and ranches spread across valleys.

Home. But it feels different now. I’ve changed so much in the last weeks that even familiar places seem foreign.

“So,” Cage finally says. “Janie mentioned you met someone. Is that true?”

My left hand is in my lap. The ring, simple, elegant, expensive, catches the light from the window.

“Yeah,” I say quietly. “I met someone.”

“Someone serious enough that you’re wearing a ring?” He nearly drives off the road. “Len, are you…? Is that a wedding ring?”