Page 39 of Rage

“Meadow,” he calls out, voice gruff with concern.He strides toward us, Grandma right on his heels.

I step forward, suddenly feeling like a little girl again.“Grandpa, I?—”

He cuts me off, pulling me into a bear hug that nearly lifts me off my feet.“You okay, sweetheart?”he murmurs, his voice rumbling through his chest.

I nod against him, not trusting my voice.When he releases me, Grandma’s there, her hands cupping my face.

“Oh, my baby,” she says, eyes glistening.Her thumb brushes over a scrape on my cheek I hadn’t even noticed.“What happened?”

Before I can answer, Grandpa’s attention shifts.His eyes narrow, focusing on Mason with laser-like intensity.The air between them crackles with tension.

“You,” Grandpa pants with anger, taking a step forward.“This happen on your watch?”

Mason stands his ground, meeting Grandpa’s glare head-on.“Sir, I?—”

“Stop,” I interject, placing a hand on Grandpa’s arm.“Mason saved my life tonight.If he hadn’t been here…” I trail off, the words catching in my throat.

Grandpa’s jaw clenches, his gaze flicking between Mason and me.I can see the battle waging inside him—protective anger versus grudging respect.

“Is that right?”he asks, voice low and dangerous.

Mason nods, his posture relaxed but alert.“Yes, sir.I’d die before I let anything happen to her.”

The conviction in his voice sends a shiver down my spine.Grandpa studies him for a long moment, then gives a curt nod.

“We’ll talk more about this later,” he says, the threat clear in his tone.“For now, let’s get our girl home.”

As Grandpa turns to confer with Dad, Grandma pulls me close again.Her eyes, so like my own, search my face.

“You sure you’re all right, sweetheart?”she asks softly.

I open my mouth to reassure her, but the words won’t come.Instead, a sob bubbles up from somewhere inside me, and suddenly I’m clinging to her, shaking uncontrollably.

“Shh, it’s okay,” Grandma soothes, stroking my hair.“You’re safe now.We’ve got you.”

Mason’s hand never leaves me, a constant anchor amid the chaos.His touch burns through my scrubs, grounding me.I lean into him, drawing strength from his solid presence.

Lane and his dad hover nearby, their eyes tight with concern.The weight of their gazes prickles my skin.

Exhaustion crashes over me in waves, threatening to pull me under, but Mason holds me steady.

“I’ve got you,” he murmurs, his breath hot against my ear.

The memory of Peterson’s wild eyes flashes through my mind.The cold bite of the scalpel against my throat.My heart races, panic clawing at my chest.

“Mason,” I choke out, my voice barely a whisper.

He turns me to face him, his hands cupping my cheeks.“Look at me, darlin’,” he says, his voice low and intense.“You’re safe.I’m right here.”

I meet his gaze, losing myself in the depths of his dark eyes.The world narrows to just us, the chaos around us fading away.

“That’s it,” Mason says, his thumb tracing my cheekbone.“Just breathe with me.”

I match my breathing to his, slow and steady.The panic recedes, leaving behind a bone-deep weariness.

“Can we go home?”I ask, hating how small my voice sounds.

Mason nods, pressing a kiss to my forehead.“Yeah, sweetheart.Let’s get you out of here.”

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