Page 16 of Unchained

“We’ve got this, little bro,” I tell him.

He runs his thumb over mine. “We have no other choice, G.”

“But we’ve got each other. Always have,” I tell him. And I mean it. It’s us against the world, always has been, always will be.

The front door opens, and Harper's golden blonde hair flows over her shoulders; she’s glowing. I smile, for real. This is the happiness this girl deserves.

“Show time,” I mutter, opening up the door and getting out.

She closes the distance between us, but stops right in front of me, like I might bite. I know she wants to hug me, despite the fact that I am totally not a hugger. She’s the only person outside of blood relations who can get away with it.

“Have you missed me?” I say.

She chews on her lip. “Weirdly, yes.”

A smile beams on her face, and she wraps her arms around me. I hold her. She’s the only girl I’ve ever had as a friend. The first time I felt some sense of a normal life. I want to show her that I’m not the evil bitch she thinks I am. Well, I am. Just not to her. Not to the people I care about.

“Let me show you to your house.” She pauses, glancing down at my dress, then back up to my face, holding back her laughter. “And then you’re going to need to get changed. I already packed your closet full of more appropriate clothes for a ranch.”

I close my eyes for a second. Harper Sterling has style. A beautiful style for her. A cute country girl with a silver nose ring and blonde curls.

“Don’t worry, the majority of it is black and silver. Just… less LA, more Arizona. Trust me,” she says with a sweet smile.

I nod. She turns to Dom. “Sorry, I didn’t grab you anything; I wasn’t sure on sizes or style. But I can ask Ace if he’s got anything spare.”

Dom grins. He’s like me and hates everyone on first sight, except Harper.

“I’m good, Harper. I went shopping before we came; I have everything that the internet told me I needed.”

“Oh, good. Let’s go. It’s not far from the main house.”

We follow behind her, and Ace steps out of Hunter’s house, his face like thunder as he approaches. I keep my mouth firmly shut.

He nods at me and then to Dom. Doesn’t say a word. Not even a thank you for saving his life and killing my own brother. Dom frowns, but we walk in silence as Ace slides his hand into Harper's.

“Have you got your dress?” Harper asks.

“Yeah, it’s in my car; I’ll unpack it when I do everything else,” I tell her.

A couple of minutes later, we stop outside a wooden ranch house. It’s beautiful. Big enough for Dom and me. Harper and Ace turn to face us; she nudges his side.

“Thank you, Harper,” I tell her, and I mean it.

She smiles, and Ace sighs. “Gianna, look, all I’m asking is don’t hurt my brother. I can forget what happened; everything ended up fine in the end. But don’t make me regret forgiving you.”

I swallow. Because I know the lie that’s about to slip from my mouth. That his forgiveness is stupid and that he’s only doing this for his wife.

“I won’t,” I tell him. “I’m here to bring change, for peace, not for war. I told you all from the start I wanted to work with you, not against you. You didn’t listen to me the first time.”

He nods, tipping his hat. “Then have a fantastic stay on Sterling Ranch, Ma’am.”

I almost laugh.

“Is there booze in here?” I ask, pointing to the house.

“Yep. Plenty,” Ace says.

“Great.”