Page 42 of The Wrangler

Keely let out a shaky laugh, burying her face in the crook of his neck. Jesse stroked a hand down her spine, content to hold her for as long as she needed.

After a long moment, she pulled back, studying him with those sharp green eyes of hers. “So… when do I get to take you home?”

Jesse chuckled, already regretting it as his ribs protested. “Soon, darlin’.”

Keely huffed. “Not soon enough.”

Jesse caught her jaw, tilting her face up so she had to look at him. “You’re not getting rid of me, Keely. You belong to me.”

She swallowed hard, then nodded. “Good. Because you’re mine, too.”

Jesse’s gut clenched, a wave of something fierce and right rolling through him.

Yeah. He was hers. And he wasn’t going anywhere.

Jesse had fought enough battles to know when a war wasn’t over. Sure, Nico Alvarez was dead, his empire dismantled, and Keely was safe, but as he sat in his hospital bed, waiting for the inevitable confrontation, he knew damn well that the hardest fight was still ahead of him.

Reed Malone.

Keely’s brother. One of his closest friends. The man who could either accept what Jesse already knew in his bones—that Keely belonged to him—or make his life a living hell.

Jesse dragged a hand through his hair as the door swung open.

Gavin walked in first, his usual cool demeanor in place. “Well, well, look who’s not dead.”

Dawson followed, grinning. “Shame, too. We had a hell of a wake planned. Open bar and everything.”

Hawke leaned against the wall, arms crossed. “I was gonna say some real nice words about you, man. Guess I’ll save them for next time.”

Jesse rolled his eyes, shifting slightly in the hospital bed. “Y’all that disappointed I pulled through?”

Gavin shrugged. “Nah. Just means you get to pay your tab at the Spur next time we go out.”

Jesse chuckled, but the sound was rough. He wasn’t at a hundred percent yet, not even close, but he’d survived worse. Hell, if he could survive Keely, a bullet to the gut was nothing.

Speaking of Keely—she had gone to grab coffee, leaving him alone for this. He wasn’t sure if she was giving him space to handle his business, or if she just didn’t want to witness the bloodshed when her brother arrived. Because he was coming. Jesse could feel it.

And sure as hell, a second later, the air in the room shifted as the door opened again.

Reed.

He stood in the doorway, his posture deceptively relaxed, but Jesse knew better. Reed’s eyes were sharp, his jaw tight, his gaze locked on Jesse like a heat-seeking missile. The conversation was coming, and there was no stopping it.

The room went quiet.

Dawson muttered something under his breath. Hawke let out a low whistle. Gavin, the only one dumb enough to poke the bear, clapped Jesse on the shoulder. “This should be fun. Try not to bleed out before we get a chance to grab a drink.”

And just like that, the team filtered out, leaving Jesse alone with Reed.

The silence stretched.

Jesse didn’t look away.

Reed crossed his arms over his chest, his stance solid, unshakable. “You gonna tell me what the hell you were thinking?”

Jesse let out a slow breath. “You really need me to spell it out?”

Reed’s eyes darkened. “Twice you put yourself between her and a bullet.”

---