Page 102 of Searching for Valor

Ash nodded. “Seems like he’s finding his footing again.”

“He is.”

“That’s good.”

Ash fell silent. She gave him a beat. And then another. This wasn’t like Ash Rawlings at all. He was usually blunt to the point of rudeness and never beat around the bush.

When he didn’t speak again after several seconds, she crossed her arms over her chest. “So why are you here, Ash?”

He exhaled heavily and faced her. “I made a mistake. I should’ve had your back. You’re one of the best deputies I’ve ever worked with, but I let all of Parker’s bullshit get to me. I was so focused on being the opposite of the previous sheriff, of gettingrid of every hint of corruption, that I lost sight of what truly matters. You were protecting your family, Izzy. I shouldn’t have punished you for something any of us would’ve done. Something I, myself, have done. I broke the rules when Rose was in trouble. Hell, Zak broke laws when Anna was, and I let it slide because she’s my sister. I was wrong to single you out, and I apologize.”

Izzy blinked, caught off guard by the admission. “Ash?—”

“I want you back,” he interrupted, sounding more like his usual gruff self. “I know you’ve got your PI thing going, and I’ll support whatever you want to do, but if you’re willing… there’s a badge waiting for you.”

Wow. She’d thought about this moment a hundred times, had dreamed of it, but now that it was here, she didn’t know how to respond.

“I… I’ll think about it,” she said finally.

Ash nodded. “That’s all I ask.” He strode over to the study doors and pulled one side open, wincing as the noise level increased tenfold. “I’ll let you get back to dinner. Take your time deciding. The offer’s not going anywhere.”

Izzy rejoined the family just as everyone settled around the dining table, the air filled with the enticing aroma of her mother’s cooking. Rylan caught her eye from across the room and raised an eyebrow in silent question. She shook her head slightly, mouthing “later,” before taking her seat between him and Sofia.

Dinner was a lively affair, with multiple conversations flowing around the table. Izzy tried to focus on the chatter and laughter, but her mind kept drifting back to Ash’s unexpected offer. Could she really go back to being a deputy after everything that had happened?

Did she even want to?

“Monica,” Mateo said worriedly as he passed her a plate. “You need anything else? More tamales? More rice?”

Monica smiled shyly. “No, thank you. You’re already spoiling us.”

“That’s his job as big brother,” Diego said, grinning. “He’s like a golden retriever—loyal to a fault.”

Mateo rolled his eyes. “And you’re like a stray cat. We don’t know where you came from or what breed you are, but we feed you anyway.”

“Hey, I’m the lovable stray that everyone wants to adopt.”

“More like the one that pees on the furniture,” Sofia muttered and easily dodged the roll Diego lobbed at her head.

“No throwing food,” Mamá chided and then sighed heavily. “Ay, Dios. I’ve raised a bunch of heathens.”

Izzy chuckled, shaking her head at her brothers’ antics. Her gaze drifted to Rylan, who was smiling softly as he watched the exchange. She could tell he was enjoying the easy banter, the sense of family. It warmed her heart to see him like this, relaxed and content despite the demons he was battling.

As if sensing her eyes on him, Rylan turned to meet her gaze. His smile deepened, crinkling the corners of his eyes. Under the table, his hand found hers, his fingers lacing through her own and giving a gentle squeeze.

The chaos quieted as Lucia, Sofia, and Diego said their goodbyes, laughter giving way to a warm, easy silence. The lingering scent of Marisol’s cooking filled the air, and faint voices drifted from the living room where Mateo was in deep conversation with Monica.

While Izzy helped her mom with the dishes, Rylan stepped out onto the back porch, needing a moment of quiet. He leanedon the wooden railing and tilted his head up to the sky. The stars were brighter here than in town, scattered across the dark expanse like silver dust. He breathed in the crisp air, trying to clear his mind.

The evening had been perfect.

After the initial“you-hurt-her-and-I’ll-end-you”talk from her father, Izzy’s family welcomed him with open arms as though he wasn’t some broken-down stranger with scars, baggage, and a mechanical arm. They’d laughed with him, teased him, fed him like he belonged there. But as much as he wanted to let that feeling of belonging sink in, a part of him knew he couldn’t.

Not yet.

The door creaked behind him, and he turned slightly to see Izzy stepping out. Her Abuela’s colorful shawl was pulled over her shoulders, and her dark hair was loose around her face. She looked at him for a moment before crossing the porch and leaning on the railing beside him.

“You okay?” she asked softly. “You got quiet after that the Stroud thing.”

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