Page 108 of Bastard

“Got to say, there’s minus craic around here.”

“Shut up, McDuff,” Diego, Jaxson, and Kylie say in unison.

With a sudden swerve that sends everyone sideways in their seats, Hayden stops the Landcruiser.

“Everyone out.”

“Feck’s sake. Here?”

“The jog back to camp will do you all good.” Hayden doesn’t so much as look at them as he speaks. Still, everyone climbs out of the vehicle. Like being left in the middle of a wildlife preserve is the most normal of requests.

My brother doesn’t move.

I stand to exit.

“Sit. It’s time we talked.”

I scowl at him, but he’s already locking eyes on Diego.

My brother has folded his arms across his chest. “I’ll stay.”

“You’ll go.”

“She’s my goddamn sister.”

“She. Is. My. Wife. Now, get the fuck out.”

“Tell her the truth, motherfucker.” Diego jumps over the door and out of the vehicle.

“I will.”

My brother turns to join the others, who are already jogging back along the road.

“Wait,” Hayden orders.

Diego stiffens.

“I love her. I never stopped.”

I gasp.

My brother smiles. “I know. Just make sure she does.” Then, with a thumbs-up, he jogs away.

“Life with me will never be simple, you understand that?”

I snort. “And I aspire for nothing but simplicity.”

“I’m never letting you go. Never again. But I’m done with the lies, the deception. I’m done denying what I want. I’m done telling you no.”

“I like the sound of this.”

“Come on.” He leans over me to push open my door. “Follow me.”

Hand in hand, we walk. A rabbit perks its ears up, startled, then hops away. Off in the distance, a dazzle of zebras lunch on tall grass.

A very different definition of dazzle than what I feel toward this man. Dazzled. Overwhelmed. Deeply in love with.

He halts in the middle of a patch of yellow flowers. His hand slips free. I blink down at my own, and at my ring finger. Santo cielo, this man drives me loca. He just stole my ring.