Page 42 of The Trail Boss

“There was no way anyone was going to get to you. Dawson is arguably the best sniper in the universe.” As the chaos began to fade, the lounge seemed to quiet down to just the two of them. Gavin reached out, his hand brushing against hers. “It is over,” he said quietly. “You don’t have to feel obligated…”

“Are you kidding me? I’ve already signed my contract, and I want my collar.” Roxie’s lips curved into a small, grateful smile.

Gavin laughed. “Good because I gave them notice at your apartment. We can go back and you can take what you want.”

Roxie smiled. “I’m standing next to the only thing I want. Well, you and my collar.”

“I gotta tell you, that collar comes with a ring chaser.”

“Does it now,” she said, her eyes glistening with unshed happy tears.

As the team detained the thugs and the Albrights, Gavin stood by Roxie’s side, his resolve stronger than ever. They’d faced the worst together—and come out on the other side.

The flashing red and blue lights cast jagged shadows across the front of the Iron Spur, their strobing intensity matching the chaos that had unfolded moments ago. Uniformed officers swarmed the area, moving with purpose as Margaret and William Albright were led out in handcuffs.

Margaret’s sharp voice cut through the night like a whip. “This is a mistake! Do you have any idea who I am?” she demanded, her heels clicking loudly against the pavement as two officers flanked her.

One of the officers, unimpressed, replied evenly, “You can explain it to the judge.”

“This is ridiculous,” William snarled, his face flushed with anger as he struggled against the cuffs. “You’ve got nothing on us. Nothing!”

“Oh, we’ve got plenty,” Reed said, stepping forward, a satisfied grin on his face. “Bank records, forged documents, and more witnesses than you can count. You’re finished.”

Margaret’s icy glare shifted to Roxie, who stood beside Gavin, her posture steady but her hands trembling slightly. “You think this changes anything, Roxanne?” Margaret hissed. “You’ll still never be more than...”

“That’s enough,” Gavin growled, stepping in front of Roxie with a protective edge. His eyes bore into Margaret’s, silencing her. “You don’t get to say another word to her. Not now, not ever.”

Margaret’s lips pressed into a thin line, her fury palpable, but the officers didn’t pause. She and William were loaded into separate squad cars, their protests muffled by the slamming of the doors.

As the vehicles pulled away, a hush fell over the scene. Roxie exhaled a shaky breath, her shoulders sagging as the weight of the past weeks began to lift.

The rest of the team gave them space, packing up equipment and coordinating with law enforcement. It felt like the world narrowed to just the two of them, standing in the soft glow of the club’s exterior lights.

“Freedom feels... strange,” Roxie said with a small laugh, wiping at the corner of her eye.

“It suits you,” Gavin replied, his voice warm.

She tilted her head. “You know, I spent so long thinking I had to do everything on my own. That letting someone help me meant I was weak.”

“You’re the farthest thing from weak,” Gavin said firmly.

“I know that now,” Roxie said softly. “Because you showed me.”

Her words hit him square in the chest, and he couldn’t speak. The connection between them felt tangible, electric, and undeniable. Slowly, he reached up, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

“I didn’t do this for thanks,” he said quietly. “I did it because I...”

Roxie closed the distance between them, her lips brushing his in a kiss that started gentle but quickly deepened. Gavin pulled her closer, his arms wrapping around her as the world seemed to fade. She tasted like hope and resilience, and he poured everything he couldn’t put into words into that kiss.

When they finally pulled apart, their foreheads rested together, their breath mingling in the cool night air.

“What happens now?” Roxie whispered.

Gavin smiled, his hand still cradling her face. “You signed the contract, we go through a collaring ceremony…”

“We don’t have to have a ceremony…”

“Oh yes we do. After that, we figure it out. Together.”

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