“He was bailed out.”
“Why did he even get bail?”
“I don’t know,” Wolf said honestly.
“They’re showing patience.”
The word settled heavy in my chest.
Trigger leaned forward. “You’re not leaving this cabin,” he said. Not harsh. Not loud. Just final.
I met his gaze. “I wasn’t planning to.”
Wolf studied us both for a moment, then nodded. “Good. Because when they move again…” He let the sentence trail off.
When.
Not if.
Wolf headed back outside, closing the door softly behind him.
Silence filled the room again—but this time it wasn’t empty.
Trigger stood and carefully sat on the edge of the bed, close enough that I could feel his warmth. He brushed a strand of hair back from my face, his touch reverent, like he was still surprised I was here.
“You scared me,” he said quietly.
“I know,” I replied. “You scared me too.”
His lips curved faintly. “Fair.”
I hesitated, then asked the question that had been circling in my chest since I woke.
“What happens when they come back?”
He didn’t dodge it.
“We end it,” he said. “Completely.”
I searched his face. The certainty there didn’t frighten me.
It steadied me.
“Together?” I asked.
His eyes softened. “Always.”
I closed my eyes, letting my head rest against his shoulder, letting myself believe—just for a little while—that the world might hold its breath.
Outside, the forest stood quiet.
But somewhere far beyond the tree line, men who didn’t forgive losses were already planning their next move.
And deep down, I knew—
This peace was borrowed.
38
