Page 32 of Ranger's Justice

I drag my thumb over her bottom lip. “Good. Because this isn’t one.”

Cassidy’s breath catches, her pulse kicking up beneath my fingertips. She’s fighting this, fighting what’s between us, but I can see the cracks forming.

Her voice is softer when she speaks. “This is… too much.”

I nod, because she’s right.

“This is dangerous.”

Another nod.

She licks her lips, her eyes searching mine. “Then why does it feel like I already lost?”

My gut twists. Because she has. Because I’ve won—she just doesn’t know it yet.

I press a kiss to her forehead, lingering there, inhaling her scent, letting it brand itself into my bones.

“You should sleep,” I murmur.

She lets out a shaky breath, but for once, she doesn’t argue. I lie back down, pulling her against me. She stiffens for a second, then relaxes, tucking herself into my side like she belongs there. And that’s when I know—she does.

I stroke my hand down her back, feeling the soft, steady rhythm of her breathing. She thinks this is temporary. She thinks this was just a mistake, a moment of weakness, something we can walk away from.

She’s wrong. She doesn’t know it yet, but I’ve already decided to make her mine—utterly and completely.

A while later, there’s a gentle knock on the door. I call for whoever it is to come in. The door swings open behind us, and I cover up what’s mine. The team may share a lot of things, but she isn’t one of them.

Gideon strides in, his gaze flicking between us before settling on me. “Truck’s ready. If we’re doing this, we need to move now.”

Cassidy glances at me, something unreadable in her expression, before nodding at Gideon. “Then let’s go.”

I nod.

“I’ll tell the others,” says Gideon.

As soon as the door is closed, Cassidy tries to get out of bed. I reach out, grabbing her arm before she can take another step. She looks at me, defiant as ever, and I keep my voice even, controlled. “Stay close. No heroic shit.”

Her lips quirk. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

Liar.

I release her, watching as she dresses and then joins the others. I drag a hand down my face, willing my damn body to cool down as I get dressed and head into the other room.

Dalton claps a hand on my shoulder, grinning like the asshole he is. “You gonna survive this, boss?”

I glare at him. “Shut up.”

He just chuckles, shaking his head as he follows the others outside. I take a breath, steadying myself before stepping out after them.

CHAPTER 9

CASSIDY

“Cassidy, you’re with Dalton and Gideon, Deacon and Gage, you’re with me.”

I stop dead in my tracks, crossing my arms over my chest, glaring at Rush like I can somehow will him to change his mind.

“I’m going with you,” I say, firm, unwavering.

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