I hesitated. Not knowing what to do. Hookinh up with Stoker’s men meant crossing a line—stepping away from the safe path, the one where rules still meant something.
But rules hadn’t saved Raine. Stoker had.
I looked Hawk dead in the eye. “Alright. I’m in.”
His mouth curved, just a hint. Approval, maybe. “Good. Let’s see if you can keep up.”
49
Raine
The motel room was dim, the curtains pulled tight against the morning light. I lay curled on my side, sheets tangled at my waist, watching the slow rise and fall of Adam’s chest.
For a long moment, I didn’t move. Just… looked.
Five years, and I thought I’d lost this forever—the weight of him beside me, the scars mapping his skin, the way his jaw softened only when he slept.
I brushed a finger along his ribs, careful of the bandage taped across his side. He stirred, eyes blinking open, blue-gray and raw from everything we’d been through.
“Morning,” he murmured, voice thick with sleep.
“Morning.” I smiled faintly. “You should be resting.”
“So should you.” He caught my hand, pressed a kiss into my palm. That simple touch undid me more than the storm, more than the bullets, more than the fear.
For a while, we just stayed like that—silent, breathing each other in. The world outside felt far away.
But reality had a way of clawing back in.
Adam shifted upright, reaching for his shirt. I caught the wince as he moved, the way his muscles clenched against pain.
“You’re hurt worse than you’re letting on,” I said softly.
His mouth curved, but his eyes stayed serious. “Hurts less with you here.”
My throat tightened. “Last night, on the ridge… when I couldn’t see you—”
“Hey.” He reached for me, pulling me onto his lap, his arms wrapping strong around my waist. His forehead pressed to mine. “I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.”
The words hit me harder than any bullet. Because five years ago, hehadgone. And some part of me still didn’t trust that promises lasted. But it was I who made the final move. A move I regretted for five years.
Before I could answer, voices drifted from the hallway outside. Two troopers, low and urgent.
“…told to hold back. Orders straight from the top. They wanted them hung out there.”
My stomach dropped.
The second voice hissed. “Shut it. You want your badge stripped? Don’t say another word.”
Footsteps moved past the door, fading into silence.
I froze in Adam’s arms, the weight of what I’d just heard pressing down. Backup hadn’t been late by mistake.
Somebody hadwantedthem exposed.
Adam felt me stiffen. His thumb stroked the inside of my wrist, grounding me. “What is it?”
I looked at him, heart pounding. “Something’s wrong. Really wrong.”
