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SIX MONTHS AGO…

Sos I’ve witnessed and the criainst those I love taintedthrough my veins

I y for it

Leaning against the wall in the hallway outside lare at the closed door Dad is in there right now, completely oblivious to his fate

Most men look at their fathers and feel protective Loyal When I look at reed An abomination I want to destroy

I don’t just want to hurt John Holsten I want to throw him into the ravine and duoddamn mouth overfloith dirt I want to hear his pained cries while boulders rain down and crush his organs I want to see the life drain froe ss him whole

This is the exact an Schroeder

The vest-pocket loan shark was the biggest threat against Conor Cassidy’s life His network of black-market creditors loaned money to our fathers and demanded repayment with impossible interest rates

Rogan Schroeder didn’t just want to be repaid He wanted a piece of Julep Ranch Specifically, the oil-rich land My father bowed to his de with him to keep the land owners, Conor and Lorne Cassidy, out of the picture while oil rigs chewed up the property

The Cassidys will return eventually Conor, to honor our blood oath Lorne, when he’s released froan intended to have them murdered the moment they stepped foot on the ranch

So Jake and I eliminated him

In doing so, there will be no ainst the girl I love like a sister

After Jake and I deal with Dad, Conor will finally be able to live safely at the ranch Lorne still has a few years to serve in prison, but when he’s free, we’ll be able to welcome him home with open arms

I dru forready to put this shit behind us

A few minutes later, he rounds the corner of the hall and strides toward me with a laptop tucked under an arm

Despite how close we are to getting Conor back, his mood hasn’t improved from the surly, miserable funk he’s been immersed in for the past five years

Because Conor has a boyfriend A e ca Jake apart, day after day

“Ready?” His whisper snags, his jaw so tight it doesn’t give