Maggie replayed every conversation with Taryn over the past year. The subtle pressure to return to work with Landry. The casual dismissal of his “harmless” behavior. The constant reminders that their careers were linked, that the network wanted them back together.
“I should’ve seen it. She kept nudging me to consider taking Landry back. Ratings dropped sharply when he left, so they canceled Building Home and gave me a solo show. Magnolia Builds does better than pretty much all of HDN’s other shows, but it doesn’t pull in the same numbers that Building Home did in its one season. People kept tuning in to see if Landry and I would get together.”
“The old will-they-won’t-they,” X spoke up from where he’d positioned himself near the door. When everyone looked at him, he shrugged. “Hey, sex sells.”
“Except when we did get together, it wasn’t the happily ever after the studio and the viewers had hoped for.”
Anson growled softly, and she squeezed his hand before turning back to the group. “I saw him for who he really was. I dumped him when I found out about his substance abuse issues, and he spiraled. Ended up in rehab, which the network paid for. They lost a lot of money, and I thought I was lucky that Taryn went to bat for me to have my own show.”
She should feel betrayed, she thought. But as it was, she was just… exhausted. This wasn’t at all what she wanted when she started her YouTube channel all those years ago.
“She must have promised the network she’d get us back together for a reconciliation episode.” She scoffed and shook her head. “God. I’m such an idiot.”
“No,” Anson said. “You’re not. She took advantage of your friendship, your trust.”
She wanted to argue, to insist that she should have known better, but the certainty in Anson’s voice stopped her. He wasn’t placating her; he didn’t do that. When he spoke, he meant every word.
“Alright.” Walker straightened, commanding attention without raising his voice. “From now on, Maggie doesn’t go anywhere alone. Not even on ranch grounds.”
“What? No,” she protested. “That’s ridiculous. I can’t have someone babysitting me twenty-four seven.” The idea of being watched, monitored, confined made her skin crawl.
Naomi shook her head. “It’s not ridiculous. Men like Landry are persistent. They watch patterns, wait for opportunities. One moment alone is all it takes.”
“Fine, but I’m not hiding here. I’m still going to teach at Haven House.”
“Maggie—” Anson started, but she turned to face him.
“No. I’ve let him—let thembothcontrol my life for too long. I refuse to be a prisoner again. You of all people have to understand that.”
He stared into her eyes for a long moment before finally nodding. “I do.”
“We all do,” Jax said.
She looked across the room at him and Nessie. As the ranch’s newest resident, who had been out of prison for the least amountof time, she knew Jax understood the need for freedom better than most.
“This isn’t a prison.” Walker held up a hand when Ghost opened his mouth to say something. “Which is why we’re not locking this place down like one. We’re not putting code locks on the gate. We already have cameras.”
“I can’t monitor cameras constantly,” Ghost grumbled.
“He does have to sleep sometimes,” Naomi added.
“Whoa, Casper actually sleeps?” River asked. “That’s news to me.”
Ghost’s mouth twitched in what might have been a smile. “I require less sleep than most.”
“He’s not human,” X stage-whispered. “Government experiment gone wrong.”
Through it all, Anson remained silent beside her. Protective fury radiated from him, barely contained. His thumb traced circles on the back of her hand—the only outward sign of his struggle to stay calm.
“I can keep Princess and the kittens at my place tonight,” Lila offered. “If that helps. One less thing for you to worry about.”
Maggie nodded, grateful. One less reason for Anson to leave her side. One less thing to manage. “Thank you.”
As the meeting continued, details and schedules hammered out, Maggie leaned slightly into Anson’s solid warmth. She didn’t want to be afraid anymore. But with him beside her, at least she wasn’t afraid alone.
Then Boone spoke up for the first time. “There’s one more thing we need to discuss before we end this.”
The room went silent.
