Page 104 of Redeeming Melodies

My fist connected with his jaw, satisfaction singing through my knuckles. He went down hard, needle skittering across floor tiles.

"Clear!" Rio's voice carried command as Smith cuffed our former brother. Former friend. Former everything.

Only then did I let myself look at Jimmy. Still breathing. Still fighting. Still ours to protect.

Medical staff swarmed in, all efficient movement and urgent voices. Pushed us back, took control, did what they were trained to do.

Watched them work through a haze of fading adrenaline and rising pain. My cheek burned where his blade caught me. Ribs screamed from that lucky punch. But we'd won.

For now.

"Jake." Liam's hand landed on my shoulder, grounding. "You're bleeding."

"Worth it." Meant it with everything in me. Because that's what being sheriff meant. Taking the hits so others didn't have to.

"Sheriff Thompson." One of the nurses approached, all business. "We need to check that cut."

"In a minute." Couldn't take my eyes off Ramirez as they led him away. Needed to see it happen. Needed to know it was real.

He turned at the door, something like respect mixing with the hatred in his eyes. "You got me, Jake. But this isn't over. What's coming"

"Save it." Cut him off clean. "Only thing coming is a cell with your name on it."

Watched until they loaded him into a transport car. Until the taillights disappeared into darkness. Until the night settled back into something almost normal.

Only then did I let the nurse clean my face, stitch what needed stitching. Let the adrenaline fade into bone-deep exhaustion.

DAMAGE CONTROL

The laptop screen lit up with Jake's incoming call, and my heart did that stupid flutter thing it always did when he’s nearby.

But the moment his face appeared, everything inside me went cold. Bruises painted his jaw dark purple, angry red scrapes telling stories of violence I hadn't been there to prevent. White bandage wrapped his shoulder like an accusation.

"What the fuck happened?" My voice came out harder than intended, fear making me sharp.

"It's nothing." That calm sheriff voice that usually steadied me now just pissed me off. "Had a situation with Ramirez. It's handled."

"Handled?" Leaned closer to the screen like I could somehow reach through and touch him. "You look like you went ten rounds with a brick wall."

His laugh came rough, pained. "Should see the other guy."

"Not funny." But my chest loosened slightly seeing that familiar half-smile. "Tell me."

So he did. Each word making my hands clench tighter. Ramirez at the hospital. Jimmy almost dying. The fight that ended with Jake bleeding but victorious.

"Fuck." The city lights behind me felt wrong suddenly, too bright, too far from where I needed to be. "Should've been there."

"And done what?" His eyes went soft even through the pixelated screen. "You've got your own battles right now. Speaking of which, how'd it go with Vanessa?"

Right. My turn for confessions.

"Found Anderson there." The words tasted bitter. "Playing house with my family like he belonged."

Jake's expression darkened. "Tell me you didn't"

"He swung first." Defensive now, remembering the rage that had filled me. "Standing there all smug, trying to act like Tommy's new dad. What was I supposed to do?"

"Maybe not get into a fistfight before your custody hearing?" But there was understanding in his voice, maybe even a hint of pride. "Though I wouldn't have done any different."

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