“I want the whole story.”
So I give it to him. Everything.
When I finish, silence settles heavy.
“I want to kill him.”
“Dex?”
“What? No. Russel.”
“I’m safe now.”
His grip tightens around mine.
Then he stands.
I follow, slower, as he stops in front of Dex.
They look at each other. Measuring.
“You the one who kept her from sleeping in her car?”
Dex sets the cloth down.
“I’d walk through a thousand snowstorms for her.”
“She’s my sister.”
“I know.”
“You hurt her, and nothing in this world will keep me from ending you.”
“If I ever hurt her, I’ll hand you the gun myself.”
My breath catches.
“I’d burn down the whole of Wyoming if I need to before I ever let anyone hurt her again.”
Something shifts.
“You think you’re good enough for her?”
“No one is.”
Dex’s eyes find mine.
“But I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to be.”
My throat tightens.
“Are you happy?” Mason turns to me.
“I am.”
“Good.”
“Mason.” My brother extends his hand to Dex.
