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“Yeah, I’d say so.” Mav crosses his arms, and the two men remain silent while they watch Ryker move around his house, removing three more of those little discs before sliding them into what looks like a thick black bag.

Only once it’s sealed does he set the device down and turn to face them, crossing both muscled arms. “Go on, say what you’re going to say.”

“Are you safe here?” Zane asks.

“My brother is exceptionally good at finding things. It seems we’ve both made a habit of keeping track of one another. So, yeah, I wouldn’t count on Dahlia and me being tracked by the others. At least, not yet.”

“Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars is a lot of money, Tank,” Zane warns. “That’s a quarter million reasons to be motivated.”

“I understand.”

“Then you also understand that if things get heated, we may not be able to get to you guys in time.”

“I’m well aware.”

“Then what’s your plan?”

He looks at me, then shakes his head. “I’m working on one.”

“We will back you up until the very end. You know that. But if there’s even a slight chance that getting out of town until we figure this out is an option⁠—”

“I’m considering it,” Ryker growls. “Now, can we check the status of Mrs. Marooney’s rescue, then give it a rest for the night? In case you’ve forgotten, my truck was totaled a few hours ago, and I’m exhausted from hiking through the woods. I’m sure Dahlia is, too. We both have injuries to tend to, and the absolute last thing I need to do is make any decisions in my current mental state.”

“Dahlia is still processing the quarter of a million dollars,” I say, holding up both hands. “Among other things. Leave me out of it.”

I can’t even fully process the fact that we were in a car accident because, out of everything I’ve faced over the last few days—being abducted, drugged, driven off a bridge during a nasty storm, realizing I lost two weeks of my life, learning a resident I adored was murdered, another one was almost killed, and now have a bounty on my head—that accident earlier today feels a whole lot like small potatoes.

“I’ll find out the status on Mrs. Marooney,” Zane promises. “But we’re not done talking about this, Tank. Don’t shut us out now.”

“Fine. Call me when you have an update.”

Both Mav and Zane offer me a sympathetic look before leaving the cabin. Ryker locks the door behind them, re-engages the security alarm, then takes a moment to breathe.

When he turns back to me, his expression is a bit more neutral.

“I’m sorry.”

I stare at him for a moment, trying to figure out what he thinks he needs to apologize about. “For what? You didn’t do anything.”

“You never should have gone to Pine Meadow. I should have insisted I go alone.”

“They wouldn’t have given you the time of day if I hadn’t been there, Ryker. Besides, I wanted to go.”

“You could have died.”

“So could you. Look, I’m not in the habit of obsessing over what-ifs. We’re fine. God brought us through it, and He will carry us through whatever comes next.”

“How can you be so calm about it?”

“Because I know that, no matter what happens, God is good and He can work all situations for good. Something you helped remind me of earlier today.” Is it really seeing his brother that derailed him this way?

“Even being driven off a bridge into a river?”

“I met you, didn’t I?” The words come out so quickly, I don’t even have a chance to process the insinuation they carry. “I just mean, I’m glad I met you, Ryker. You saved my life, and I am forever grateful for that.”

He swallows hard, his attention pinning me with an intensity so strong I force myself to look away.

“I need to check your injuries.”