“Shit,” Colter said.
And there was something fierce in his tone that had me straightening.
“What—” I started.
But then I heard it too.
Barking.
Roach had gotten dogs.
And someone had just pushed them out the door.
Without a leash or fence.
Colter looked at me, face tight.
Then he offered his hand.
I took it.
And we fucking booked it.
“Saint… Syn…” I panted as we ran.
“I saw them running between the trees,” Colter, not at all winded, declared. “If we hear snarling, we can turn back. But they can handle themselves. And they’re armed.”
My stomach lurched, hating the idea of any dog being hurt. But I imagined that if a dog was trying to rip out my throat, I would have to make that awful decision too.
I just hoped it didn’t come to that.
We ran at full tilt, but I got the idea that Colter was pacing himself so he didn’t drag me. Even so, I struggled to keep up. Little tree branches slapped and scraped at my cheeks. The ground was uneven under me, making me almost fall twice. The only reason I stayed upright was Colter’s hand yanking me upright.
We reached the bikes in half the time it took to walk from them, me having to bend forward, panting for breath, my face feeling on fire, my chest tight.
Colter was barely breathing heavy.
“What… if… they’re… lost?” I panted between gasps.
“Then at least they’re safe,” Colter said.
He’d kept his tone casual, but his shoulders were squared as he scanned the trees.
He was the senior brother on this job. He didn’t act like it. He even let Saint kind of take control at times. But it was his ass on the line if something happened to one of the brothers. To any of us. And that was clearly weighing on him.
I understood the weight of the mantle of leadership all too well.
I stepped forward, pressing a hand into his back as he stood watching the woods.
“They’re coming,” I told him, even though we both knew I had no idea.
Colter glanced over. And for a second, there was something so intense in his gaze it almost sent me back a step.
Then his arm went out, scooping around the back of my shoulders, and curling me into him.
What’s more, I let him.
He’d been there for me more than a few times now.
