Page 35 of Ranger's Justice

Dalton turns fully in his seat, his hazel eyes flicking over me like he’s trying to gauge just how much I can take. “You’re not being handled, sweetheart.”

I shoot him a glare. “Don’t call me sweetheart when you’re clearly keeping something from me.”

Dalton chuckles under his breath, but it’s forced. “You really don’t enjoy being left in the dark, do you?”

“No, I don’t. So stop stalling and tell me what the hell is going on.”

Gideon’s jaw tightens, his expression unreadable. “It’s not our call.”

I throw my hands in the air. “Of course it’s not. Because everything in my life lately has to go through Rush first, right? The man who’s apparently incapable of giving me a straight answer.”

Dalton leans back, stretching out his legs, completely unbothered. “You ever think maybe he’s trying to protect you?”

My stomach clenches. I ignore it. “I don’t need protecting.”

Gideon makes a quiet sound—almost a scoff, though he never loses his cool enough to outright mock anyone. “You have no idea what you need.”

That stings. More than I want to admit.

I square my shoulders. “Try me.”

Dalton exhales, running a hand over his face. “Look, Cassidy, it’s not that we don’t trust you?—”

“That’s exactly what this is,” I snap. “You’re keeping things from me, and I don’t like it.”

Gideon tilts his head, considering. “You weren’t supposed to be involved.”

I let out a sharp laugh. “Yeah, well, tough shit. I am involved. So tell me—why do I feel that whatever I just uncovered is only scratching the surface?”

Neither of them speaks.

The silence stretches, the only sound the steady hum of the SUV’s engine. I clench my jaw, barely resisting the urge to slam the laptop shut again just for the sake of doing something.

“I know about the wolves,” I finally say, watching their reactions closely. “I know about Rush.”

Dalton’s grin fades just slightly, his fingers drumming against his knee. “Do you?”

I narrow my eyes. “I saw him shift, or transform, or whatever you want to call it.”

Gideon’s eyes flick toward the window, scanning the perimeter, his body still as stone. “And?”

I shake my head. “And I don’t know what that means. But you do.”

Dalton sighs, rubbing a hand along the back of his neck. “This really isn’t our call.”

I glare. “You already said that.”

“Because it’s true,” Gideon mutters.

I huff out a breath, pinching the bridge of my nose. “You’re telling me you work for a secret unit of Texas Rangers who are also wolf-shifters, and that’s not something you think I should have some basic information on?” I throw my hands up. “You have actual fangs, Dalton.”

He winks. “Some women like that.”

I groan, leaning back against the seat. “I cannot stand you.”

Dalton grins, but Gideon interrupts, his voice quieter, more measured. “You saw him shift. You know there’s more to us than what you thought.”

I nod. “Yeah, no kidding.”

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