We slept in a pile again, none of us wanting to leave Ivy’s side, even though she insisted she was fine.
All night I’ve been stirring every few minutes, yanked out of sleep like I’m on watch duty. Because it feels like I am. We’ve been irresponsible with Ivy and now her life is at risk.
It’s just one more reason to get her to the Ranch as soon as possible. My sister, Reese, will know what to do, she used to be a midwife. Plus, she’s had two babies of her own.
But ever since Zane said the words, it’s as if something has lifted off Ivy’s shoulders. She looks weightless. And I hate how much I love seeing her like that, like I’m watching something rare and fragile unfold.
I didn’t know she could look that unburdened. Unguarded. She carries so much weight all the time, it’s unusual to see her not tense.
But Ivy’s even more vulnerable now, more of a target. If that were even possible.
The world’s full of monsters, of men like Bennett. And I don’t give a damn how smug Myles feels about it—noneof us are prepared for the dangers this brings.
I’ve run over every scenario in my head hundreds of times, every risk. Every way it could go wrong. All of them end the same… with Ivy gone. Ripped out of our lives in some way or another.
Just the thought hurts worse than when I lost Gemma.
Oh God, I’m… in love with Ivy.
With that reckless, manipulative, patience-testing… caring, innocent, sweet little angel.
I need to tell her.
I don’t want her thinking that what we have is just a convenient alliance. That we’re using her in exchange for food and safety.
I was an asshole for ever saying those words to her.
She’s our sun and we’ll still be orbiting her long after this planet is a husk.
I want to shield her from everything. Build walls so high nothing could ever touch her. But she doesn’t need walls. Zane was right. She needs fresh air. Sunlight. Space. And the ranch is our best chance of giving her that.
Reaching for the warmth of her body beside me, my heart sinks when I find only cool sheets. Cracking my eyes open, the sun streams through the curtains and momentarily blinds me.
Squinting, I blink against the light and catch movement. Myles stands beside the bed, pulling a pair of grey sweatpants over his bare ass. His muscles coiled, hair already styled. He moves like he’s slept for days, more refreshed than ever.
Shit. Even Myles woke up before me?
“Didn’t mean to wake you,” he whispers, grimacing. “Just wanna get to work on the truck. The sooner we get Ivy to Reese, the better.”
“Yeah,” I murmur, rubbing my eyes with the heel ofmy hand. “She’ll know what to do.”
The thought brings me a small comfort. But the possibility that they’re still at the Ranch isn’t a sure thing.
As Myles grins and slips out the door, my thoughts drift back to Ivy.
The need to tell her how I feel is overwhelming. She should know she’s not a burden to us. That if I could go back, I would’ve done things differently.
Still groggy, I drag myself out of bed and pull on some pants.
I make my way downstairs, aiming for the shower, until the smell of frying eggs drifts down the hall. My stomach flips, and I veer toward the kitchen instead.
“Goddamn, that smells good,” I moan, rubbing a hand over my jaw.
Zane’s at the stove with a spatula in hand. He glances over his shoulder, one brow raised. “Never known you to sleep so long.”
“Neither,” I grunt, grabbing a mug and pouring coffee as my eyes flick around the kitchen, scanning for Ivy.
Falling into a chair at the table, I slouch back, stretching my legs out as I sip the warm brew.
