The humor fades from her expression, leaving a fierce warrior goddess look. “I’m afraid if Kelly knows I’m here, he’ll disappear again, and so will Turner. I can’t let that happen, not because of me. I need to get Kelly, Mason.”
“I know you do.” I pull her closer, needing to hold her. “And you will, but not alone. Not with your cover blown, and not with the possibility of Turner's people actively hunting you.”
She opens her mouth to argue, but I'm done with words. My hand slides into her hair and I tilt her head up to look at me.
Her breath catches, her lips parting.
Good.
“I want to kiss you.” The confession feels like it's being ripped out of me. I grapple with the need to grip her tighter, keeping my hands loose. “I want to make it so clear that you're mine that noone would dare touch you. But I can't do any of that if something happens to you, Lily.”
She's staring at me like she's never seen me before.
“You're under my skin,” I say quietly, staring into her eyes. “You've been under my skin since the first time I saw you walk into the Rusty Spur. I will not lose you.”
“Mason—”
“So you don't get to dismiss this.” I lower my head to make sure she sees I mean business. “You don't get to pretend Kelly recognizing you doesn't matter. You don't get to keep operating like you're invincible when we both know you're not.”
Her brow furrows. “What do you want me to do?”
“Come to the ranch.” The words are out before I can consider them, but the moment I hear them out loud, I know it’s the right move.
Lily blinks. “What?”
“Blackthorn Ranch. Come stay with me. It's fortified. It's protected. Jake and Luke are there. Emma’s there. I'm there.” I hold her gaze. “At the ranch, Kelly won't be able to reach you.”
Her chin sets stubbornly. “I'm not hiding.”
“I'm not asking you to hide.” My voice gentles. “I'm asking you to operate from a position of strength instead of being afraid you’re walking into a trap every time you go home.”
She's silent for a long moment. I can see the war playing out behind her eyes—the need for independence battling against the tactical reality of what I'm saying. The part of her that's spent thirteen years trusting no one warring with the part of her that's starting to trust me.
I wait. I don't push. I just hold her gaze and let her see exactly how serious I am about this.
“Okay,” she says quietly. “Okay, I'll come.”
I exhale, not realizing I'd been holding my breath. “Okay. Good.”
60
MASON
Lily’s cover blown at Turner Ranch.
Kelly made her. Saw the barcode.
At the vet, keeping watch until closing.
Warden
Fuck.
She extract clean?
Affirmative.
Riot
