That single word lodged in his throat like a stone. Safe. After everything that had happened yesterday, she still felt safe with him. Even though he’d failed to protect her. Even though he’d nearly lost control completely when he saw Landry’s hands on her.
He’d come so close to crossing a line he’d sworn never to cross again.
“Hey.” She tipped her face up, studying him with those perceptive green eyes. “Where’d you go just now?”
“Nowhere good.” He traced the edge of the bruise on her neck, his fingers barely grazing her skin. “I almost killed him, Maggie.”
“But you didn’t.”
“Only because Bear stopped me. But I wanted to.”
“And I wanted you to.” Her voice was steady, unflinching. “Does that make me a bad person?”
“No.” He caught her hand, brought it to his lips. “It makes you human.”
“So are you.” She held his gaze, refusing to let him look away. “What happened yesterday doesn’t erase all the work you’ve done. That was one moment of protecting someone you love, and it doesn’t define you.”
A crash down the hall, followed by River’s startled “Holy shit, that’s hot!” broke the moment.
“River’s going to burn the place down one of these days.” Anson broke away from her to grab another flannel—blue, not as soft. He pulled it on with his jeans and boots, ran a hand through his hair to tame the worst of it, then opened the door.
“Anson.”
He stopped.
Maggie hadn’t moved. She stood in the middle of his room, worry forming a line between her brows. “What happened to Landry?”
“Sheriff’s department took him.”
“Doesn’t Sheriff Goodwin have a grudge against us?”
Us.
He closed his eyes at that. She counted herself as part of Valor Ridge now.
“He does, but Naomi will make sure Landry doesn’t walk. The assault charges alone should keep him locked up until the trial, and the restraining order violation is a slam dunk.”
“Good.” She nodded, but her shoulders remained tense. “I never want to see him again.”
Remnants of fear still lingered in his eyes, and it killed him. He went to her, wrapped her up in his arms, and said, “You won’t have to.”
He’d make sure of it.
Slowly, she relaxed against him. “Okay.”
Bramble gave a soft woof and rose from his place on the floor, circling them once before heading to the door.
“Someone’s ready for breakfast,” Maggie said with a small smile.
“He’s always ready for food.” He released her reluctantly, but kept one hand at the small of her back as they followed the wolfhound into the hallway.
The bunkhouse kitchen vibrated with chaotic energy. River stood at the stove in a grease-splattered t-shirt and those ugly-ass bright pink bunny slippers of his, spatula in one hand, coffee in the other, flipping what might generously be called pancakes.
Bear hovered nearby, blocking most of the counter as he guarded a plate of bacon from King, who stared up with laser focus.
X sprawled in a chair, strumming an acoustic guitar and singing something melodic in Spanish. Kavik sat beside him, head tilted back, howling along in harmony.
Ghost occupied his usual corner spot, his blue mug at his elbow, filled with back coffee. Naomi sat beside him, head resting on his shoulder, her expression serene despite the surrounding madness.
