Relief hit him hard enough that I saw it ripple through him. He exhaled slowly, one hand dragging down his face before he reached for me—careful, gentle—settling his fingers over mine on top of the blanket.
“Doc said you’d sleep most of the morning,” he said. “Didn’t want to wake you.”
“You didn’t,” I murmured. “I woke up because you were thinking too loud.”
That earned a ghost of a smile.
“I’m bad at quiet,” he admitted.
I shifted slightly, testing my limits. A dull ache flared, but nothing unbearable. The meds had dulled the edges without fogging my head—just like I’d asked.
“Where are we?” I asked.
“This is the Rangers cabin,” he replied. “It’s one of our backup place. Off-grid. Harder to find. Easier to defend. We have about eight safe houses where we can take our clients if needed.
Of course it was.
I let my head sink back into the pillow. “Everyone else?”
“Rotating security. Wolf and Havoc are outside. Saint’s in town, keeping eyes open. Your Dad I just sent home. Ace took first watch last night.”
I absorbed that in silence.
No alarms.
No shouting.
No gunfire.
Just the quiet crackle of the fire and the steady warmth of his hand around mine.
“You don’t have to stay,” I said softly. “I’m not going anywhere.”
His thumb brushed over my knuckles—slow, grounding.
“I know,” he said. “I’m still staying.”
That shouldn’t have meant so much.
It did anyway.
The door creaked open and Wolf stepped inside, his movements deliberately quiet. He took one look at me awake and nodded once, approval and relief wrapped into the gesture.
“Morning,” he said. “How you feeling, Sheriff’s Daughter?”
“Tougher than I look,” I replied. How is that sweet new baby? You should be home with your family.”
His mouth twitched. “She’s perfect. I’m going home in a little bit.” He pulled his phone out and showed us the baby’s pictures he had.
“She’s beautiful.”
Trigger’s grip tightened just a fraction.
Wolf didn’t miss it.
“We’ve got eyes on all known associates,” he continued. “Nothing yet. No calls. No movement. No word from Thomas.”
I swallowed. “That’s not good. Why isn’t Thomas locked up?”
