Page 73 of July 27

They spent the rest of the afternoon playing with Lucky, their laughter confined to the privacy of the tall grass as they shared one happy day as brother and sister.

"He wasn't always a criminal," Rachel whispered, her voice trembling. "When we were kids, Shady was always finding something fun for us to do. We were so happy."

Ruger stroked her hair gently. "Hold on to the good memories, Rach. That's the brother you love."

She circled his waist with her arms and leaned her cheek against his chest, needing the comfort and strength he always brought her.

Maverick cleared his throat. "Sorry about the bad news."

The Havlin member walked back to his Harley before she could thank him. The news was a shock, but it was better than what she'd feared all these weeks.

She inhaled deeply and blew out her breath. Shady was alive. Now that she had time to process the news, knowing he was in prison was a relief. In there, he was safe, even if he hated confinement.

But her relief was tangled with guilt. How could she feel better knowing her brother was locked up? It felt selfish, almost cruel. She remembered the nights she lay awake, imagining the worst—Shady handcuffed in someone's basement, getting beat every day or worse. The thought had been unbearable, a constant weight on her chest.

That weight was lifted, but it left behind a hollow ache. She was glad he was alive, but the reality of his situation was still grim. Shady was in prison, a place he despised, a place that stripped away his freedom. Maybe this time, while he sat in prison, he'd learn to value his life.

It was selfish to feel better, but he was alive. That was all that mattered.

She clung to that thought, trying to push away the guilt. Someday, Shady would realize how precious life was and hopefully stop living so dangerously. But what if he didn't? What if prison only hardened him further, made him more reckless?

She shook her head, trying to dispel the dark thoughts. She had to believe in him, believe that he could change. But the fear lingered, a shadow that refused to be banished. She wanted to be hopeful, to trust that this was a turning point for him. Yet, the reality of their broken family loomed large, a reminder of all the times hope had been dashed before.

As she stood, conflicting emotions swirled within her—relief, guilt, hope, and fear. She was thankful to have Ruger by her side, his steady presence a balm to her troubled heart. She looked forward to the future with him, even as the past cast its ugly shadow on her.

Ruger gently cupped her face in his hands. "Are you okay?"

She tapped the side of her head. "My thoughts are fighting. This is so messed up, and to think I dragged you—"

"I owed Shady a favor, Rach. It wasn't you." He pressed his lips to her forehead. "If not for your brother, I never would've found you."

"I know, but..." She blew out an exhausted breath.

"Relief and guilt will eat you up. What matters is you're here, you're alive, you're safe." He whispered, "You're with me."

She looked up at him, tears brimming in her eyes. "I'm glad he's alive but scared for him. And I feel so guilty for being relieved."

Ruger pulled her into a tight embrace. "One day at a time. You don't have to go through this alone."

Rachel buried her face in his shoulder, feeling the warmth of his support. "Thank you. I don't know what I'd do without you."

He kissed her lips softly. "We'll get through this together."

Rachel pulled back slightly, looking into Ruger's eyes. "Thank you for being my rock."

Ruger brushed a tear from her cheek. "We're in this together, Rachel. Always."

Chapter Thirty Three

Brooke set a package on the fold-out table and handed Skye and Mariah a notepad. "Skye, you sit by Cora, and Mariah can sit by Katrina. Make sure you write down the gift and who gave it to them, okay?"

"Why?" Skye set her notepad on the table.

"So they can send thank you cards afterward."

"Can't they just say thank you while they're here?" Mariah laughed. "Adults make everything harder."

Brooke laughed. "You're not wrong, but now you know, so someday, you can give one of your friends an after-baby shower."

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