"He's a businessman. Businessmen understand cost-benefit analysis." King shrugs. "Right now, getting you back costs more than it's worth. He'll probably cut his losses and move on. But if he doesn't—" He looks at her directly. "We'll be ready."
I extend my hand. "Thank you. For everything."
King shakes it. Firm grip. "It's our job to protect this town. Protect the people in it." He looks at Nora again. "But now it's your job to keep living. Keep surviving. Because no one can do that for you."
Nora straightens. Something shifts in her expression. Determination replacing fear.
"I'll do it," she says firmly. "I have reasons to now."
She looks at me when she says it.
And I smile.
Actually smile. Not the tight, forced thing I do when people expect it. A real smile. The kind that comes from somewhere deep and genuine.
When was the last time I smiled out of pure happiness instead of pretending?
I can't remember.
But Nora makes me want to. Makes me feel like maybe happiness isn't something that only exists for other people.
She really has that effect on me.
King notices the smile. One eyebrow goes up slightly but he doesn't comment. Just nods once and turns to leave.
"We'll keep patrol up for the next few weeks," he says over his shoulder. "Just in case. But you two should be fine."
He disappears down the hallway.
I close the door. Turn back to Nora.
She's staring at me.
"What?" I ask.
"You smiled."
"Yeah."
"A real smile. Not the polite one you do when you're trying to end a conversation. A real one."
I cross the distance between us. Pull her against me. "You make me want to smile."
"Good." She wraps her arms around my waist. "Because I plan on making you smile a lot more."
Another knock on the door.
I groan. "Popular night."
But when I open it, it's not King or one of the other Riders.
It's my brother.
Ruin stands there in his work clothes—jeans, flannel, boots covered in sawdust. His dark hair is longer than mine, pulled back in a knot. Same brown eyes though. Same build.
He looks past me. Sees Nora.
"So," he says slowly. "This is the neighbor?"
