Page 146 of Wild Sanctuary

“I’d have come through that damn wall if I had to.”

She makes a sound, almost like a broken laugh. “I know.”

Then she reaches up, her fingers skimming along the edge of my stubbled jaw to find the old scar on my chin before resting her thumb against it.

Scars mean you survived.

I need to swallow roughly before I’m able to form words.

“You’re alright now. Hear me? It’s done.”

“Okay.” She nods under my forehead. “Okay.”

I pick some strands of hay out of her hair with one hand, while the other stays wrapped around the back of her neck, and listen to her breathe. Ragged, then steadier, then steadier still. My own breath moves to match hers without being asked, while her pulse is steady under my palm.

Fast and alive.

And everything I could ask for.

I lose track of how long we stay wrapped up in one another, only coming around when Rhett’s low timbre calls from below.

“Sheriff’s askin’ for you, Boss.”

Pulling back to see Daisy’s face, I nod reassuringly. “You ready?”

Her lips tremble ever so slightly before she nods back. Slowly, I turn and drop to a crouch. “Up, baby.”

She moves soundlessly, locking her arms around my neck and her legs around my waist before pressing her face against the middle of my back, right between my shoulder blades.

I take the ladder one rung at a time, and once I’m down, I turn her around and into my chest, her arms immediately looping around my neck once more.

Deputy Torres is at the open barn doors with his hat in his hands, and just beyond him, I see two cruisers in the yard with the light bars flashing. Marcus Donnelly is in the back of the second cruiser with his head lowered.

“Wyatt.” Torres greets me with a somber nod that I return before his eyes move to Daisy. “Miss Monroe.”

She lifts her head off my collarbone just enough to answer. “Deputy Torres.”

He watches her closely, then flicks his eyes to mine. “Cutter still in the loft?”

“Out cold.”

Rhett steps forward. “I can show one of your deputies.”

Torres nods at one of his men, who then follows Rhett inside the barn.

I clench my jaw before asking, “How’s Dave doin’?”

“Stable.” Daisy goes stock still in my arms. “Medics got to him in time. Colt’s gone along in the ambulance to Sage Harbor Memorial.”

Daisy lifts her head then. “I recorded him.”

Torres frowns as we both look at the woman in my arms. She props herself a fraction higher.

“I recorded Marcus. In a voice memo on my phone. I started it before Stan came in. I got every word of his confession.” Her eyes glisten at that, her voice dropping to a whisper. “I got the proof. I got it.”

“Do you have the phone now?” Torres’ eyes cut to me, then back to her.

She pulls it out from between us and hands it over without a word.