Page 27 of Ranger's Justice

I shake my head. “I work better…”

“You work better alive,” he cuts in, his voice steel.

We stare each other down, a war waging in the space between us. I hate that he’s right. I hate it. But I can’t let this go.

Dalton clears his throat, breaking the heavy silence. “So, are we done with the staring contest, or should I start taking bets?”

I tear my gaze from Rush, my cheeks heating. “Shut up, Dalton.”

He grins. “Not a chance.”

Gideon steps forward. “If Hollister is tied to this, then someone is protecting him. We need a plan, not reckless moves.” His sharp gaze flicks to me. “And not solo ones.”

I want to argue. I need to argue. But the truth is—if I’m being honest—I don’t want to do this alone. Rush watches me closely, waiting, his body still taut with controlled fury.

I huff out a breath, crossing my arms tighter. “Fine.”

His eyebrows lift. “Fine?”

I meet his gaze. “Fine. We do it your way.”

Something unreadable flickers in his eyes. Victory. Relief. Possessiveness.

I pretend I don’t see it.

Rush gives a curt nod. “Good.” He turns back to his men, all business now. “We move at dawn.”

Dalton claps his hands together. “Oh, this is going to be fun.”

Gideon glares at him. “You have a twisted sense of fun.”

Dalton shrugs. “I live for the chaos.”

Rush ignores them, his attention locked on me as he steps closer, voice dropping low enough that only I can hear. “You don’t run again, Marlow. You don’t lie to me. You stay in my sight. Got it?”

Something dark and heady rolls through me at the way he says my name, the command in his voice.

I swallow hard. “Got it.”

Rush watches me a second longer before nodding.

I don’t know what I’ve just agreed to.

But I have a feeling that the moment this war with Hollister ends, the one between me and Rush will be just beginning.

CHAPTER 7

RUSH

The air in the room is thick, electric. Cassidy stands her ground in front of me, arms crossed, her chin tilted up in that way that makes me want to either kiss her or throw her over my shoulder and carry her the hell out of here before she does something reckless. Knowing her, it’ll be both before the night’s over.

“We do it my way,” I remind her, voice steady. “That was the deal.”

She snorts out a laugh, but there’s no humor in it. “Your way? You mean standing around while Hollister keeps making moves?” She shakes her head. “That’s not a plan, Rush. That’s waiting to lose.”

“I don’t wait to lose.” I step closer, the space between us disappearing, and she doesn’t move back. I can hear the rapid pace of her heartbeat, see the fire flickering in her eyes. “But you charging in without backup, without knowing what we’re dealing with, isn’t happening. That’s not a plan either, that’s suicide. I won’t let you get yourself killed because you’re too damn stubborn to listen.”

She tilts her head, her lips curving slightly, and I know I’m in trouble before she even speaks. “Won’t let me?” Her voice isquiet, almost teasing, but there’s steel beneath it. “That sounds a lot like a challenge, Ranger.”

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