Page 40 of Ranger Bravery

“Yeah, the Jensen women are a tough breed. Always have been. My theory is you just keep pushing until they finally let you in. It takes time, mind you.” His gaze turned distant. “Years in my case. But I’m hoping one day Ava will finally realize the man she was looking for was standing right in front of her the whole time.”

“Have you tried telling her how you feel?”

Derek’s brows arched. “How’s that plan working for you?”

“Good point.”

Piper was still running scared. Jackson didn’t know how to topple her walls. He respected Derek’s dedication, but sticking around for years didn’t seem like a good answer to the problem. There had to be another way. If he survived this incident, he intended to figure it out.

He was in love with Piper. It’d taken standing on a pressure plate with a bomb attached to make things crystal clear. He’d lived his life without her—could do it again if he had to—but it’s not what he wanted. He wanted a life with her. Marriage. Kids. The whole fairy tale.

Of course, telling her that was a surefire way to send Piper into a panic.

“I checked on Piper. For years after she left town, I called Grandma Mary for updates. I was hurt by her actions, but I always cared. Sometimes I wonder if I’m a glutton for punishment.” Jackson blinked more sweat away from his eyes. “My mom abandoned me when I was a kid. Now I’m chasing after a woman determined not to be caught. I’m sure a therapist would have a field day with that.”

Derek grunted. “I’m no therapist, and I can’t speak about your mother or her actions, but I know Piper cares deeply about you. She tried to get back into this house after clearing everyone out. Bennett had to physically restrain her, and the only reason she’s not in here instead of me is because I threatened to arrest her.”

Jackson’s gut clenched. Deep inside, part of him had wondered if the feelings between them were one-sided, or at the very least, Jackson cared more than Piper. Clearly that wasn’t true. The brave woman tried to run back into a house with a bomb inside it. To be with him.

“She’s not pushing you away because she’s difficult,” Derek continued. “She does it because she’s scared. Ava and Piper never had any love or security before they moved in with Grandma Mary. The abuse they suffered before children’s services removed them from their mother’s home… it would turn your hair white. I’ve read all the reports. Both of them have holes in the memories. A trauma response.”

“Why did they bounce between Grandma Mary’s and their mother’s if the abuse was so awful?”

“Because the system is screwed up. Their mom would get her act together just enough to have them returned. Within a month or two, they’d be back with Mary. It was a constant merry-go-round. And the worst part? They really loved their mom. I mean, Piper was there, at the house, delivering groceries when she was attacked. She has a heart of gold, but every time she turned around, bam.” Derek slapped his hands together. “She’d get knocked down.”

Jackson took in every word. He’d never considered how devastating it must’ve been for Piper to be constantly shifted between her mother and Grandma Mary’s house. There was no security. No safety. Nothing steady or dependable. The minute she got comfortable, she’d been torn away from Grandma Mary and shipped back to her mother’s. Through it all, she studied and worked hard to get into college.

Then the attack happened. Jackson knew it’d devastated Piper, but he’d never understood the full picture. She fought and crawled and battled to get her life under control, only to have it all ripped away again.

Did she think it would always be like that? Every time her life was stable, something would tear it apart again?

His heart broke. No wonder Piper was so terrified of their relationship.

The radio crackled, and a voice mumbled something Jackson couldn’t make out. Derek lifted the device and pressed the button. “Sheriff here. Go ahead.”

“We’ve gained access to the underside of the house and are determining the best course of action to disable the bomb. We’ll contact you once we have a plan.”

“The faster, the better, gentlemen. It’s hot in here and the cockroaches are getting aggressive.” Derek shooed one away from Jackson.

“Understood.”

Jackson’s muscles trembled, and an ache had started in his leg, indicating a cramp was not far off. He didn’t know how long he could continue standing motionless. It’d been almost an hour, and his body was at an awkward angle with his balance pitched more on his right foot than his left. His shirt was soaked with sweat.

God, give me strength.

If he triggered the bomb, it would kill Derek along with the techs underneath the house. Jackson had to hold it together. For them. For himself. And for Piper.

He couldn’t die without telling her he loved her. Piper might panic, but at least she would know the truth.

After that… Jackson had no clue. He couldn’t think that far ahead.

The future—like everything else—was in God’s hands.

TWENTY-TWO

Piper had never prayed so hard in her entire life. She’d begged and pleaded. It wasn’t right, but she’d also bargained with God. Anything to move from one breath to the next without completely having a breakdown. It was torture, standing close enough to see the house, but being unable to do anything to help Jackson.

At any moment, he could die.

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