Wolf, hardened operative, man who lived for control and order…
felt something unravel at the idea of her out of sight.
But the math was the math.
“Nora… if there are two men out there—”
“There are. Maybe more.”
“Then you’re a target times two, or more.”
She lifted her chin. “Then don’t send me somewhere without you.”
The words hit my chest like a blunt force blow.
I lowered my forehead to hers. “I know. I know. But Tate has a secure bunker beneath the station. No one gets past that without being noticed.”
She hesitated.
Just for a breath.
Then nodded. “Okay. But come find me. Soon.”
“I will.”
A promise.
A vow.
Havoc’s voice echoed down the hall. “WOLF! MOVE!”
I kissed Nora’s forehead—brief, instinctive, not romantic but more intimate than anything I’d ever done—and pressed her into Tate’s waiting arms. It started snowing, and it looked like a blizzard was coming.
“Get her there,” I growled. “No stops. No detours.”
Sheriff Tate nodded tightly. “You have my word.”
Nora didn’t fight, but her fingers brushed mine as he guided her into the hall… and letting go felt like tearing off a piece of my own ribs.
Trigger slapped my arm as he passed. “Come on, lover boy. Time to hunt.”
I exhaled roughly. “Let’s find them.”
Nora
Sheriff Tate was a wall of determination beside me, sweeping me down the stairs and out the side door to his SUV. Snow crunched under our boots, Main Street glowing faintly beneath flickering lamps.
But something felt wrong.
The kind of wrong that wasn’t loud—but cold.
Quiet.
Patient.
Tate opened the passenger door. “Get in.”
I hesitated, glancing toward the dark alley beside the tavern. “Sheriff… do you hear that?”
