Page 43 of Ranger's Justice

Rush exhales slowly, setting his beer. “Cassidy?—”

“No.” I shake my head, my nails digging into the wood of the chair. “I knew he was corrupt. I knew he was laundering their money. But this?” My voice cracks, and I force myself to swallow it down. “My father worked beside that man for years.My mother married him. How the hell did we never see him for who he was?”

Rush moves toward me, but I take a step back. I can’t let him touch me right now. If he does, I’ll break.

“Cassidy.” His voice is firm, steady. “This isn’t your fault.”

I let out a hollow laugh, shaking my head. “You don’t get it. My dad trusted him—trusted him and Hollister had him murdered for it. And my mom? She married that monster. She let him into our home. Into our lives.” I press my palms against my eyes, my breath hitching. “How the hell did I not see it?”

Rush’s gaze darkens. “Because he didn’t want you to.”

I lower my hands, meeting his eyes. “That’s not good enough.”

His expression hardens. “It’s the truth. You think you’re the first person to be fooled by a man like him? You think you’re the only one who didn’t see what was right in front of them?” He steps closer, his voice low, fierce. “People like Hollister are predators, Cassidy. They’re masters at playing the part. Hiding in plain sight. Making people believe they’re someone they’re not.”

I shake my head, wrapping my arms around myself. “My father worked with him for years. I think my father was beginning to figure it out when Hollister had him killed.”

Rush’s fingers flex like he wants to reach for me, but he holds himself back. “You got out. You started asking the right questions. That’s more than most people ever do.”

I let out a shaky breath, looking past him, my vision blurring. “What if I’d started asking sooner?”

Rush’s expression tightens, and for a long moment, he doesn’t speak. He enters my personal space, forcing me to tilt my head. “You can drive yourself crazy with what-ifs, but it won’t change a damn thing.” His voice is quieter now, but no less intense. “What matters is what we do next.”

I scrutinize his expression, seeking solace, yet find only resolute composure. That dominance stems from his character, not arrogance.

A man who doesn’t flinch when faced with monsters.

A man who I am quite certain will burn the world down to stop them.

Something in me settles, just slightly. “What are we going to do next?”

Rush’s jaw sets. “We’re going to end this.”

The finality in his voice sends a shiver down my spine. Because I know he means it. There’s no hesitation, no doubt.

Hollister made a mistake. He thought he could play the game, move his pieces, and never get caught. His calculations failed to include the Rangers, Rush, or me.

I straighten my shoulders, my pulse steadying. “Then let’s make sure we don’t miss.”

Rush watches me for a long moment, something unreadable flickering behind his eyes. Then he nods, once.

“Damn right.”

Rush is still watching me, his gray eyes dark, unreadable. The air between us feels heavier than before, charged with something I can’t name. Maybe it’s the rage still thrumming through my veins. Even amidst this, my body remains acutely aware of his presence.

Or maybe it’s the way he’s looking at me—like he sees everything I’m trying to keep locked away.

I swallow hard, trying to hold on to my anger, trying to hold on to the frustration and guilt that are the only things keeping me upright. But it’s slipping. Fast. And the way he’s standing there, so damn steady, isn’t helping.

His jaw tightens. “You think you should have seen it, that you should have done something sooner.”

I scoff, looking away. “Do you think I’m wrong?”

Rush exhales sharply through his nose. “No, but for the record, I’d have been just as wrong.”

His words slam into me harder than I expect. I shake my head, gripping the edge of the counter behind me to keep myself from breaking apart. “I should have known.”

Rush moves. I don’t even hear him cross the space, but suddenly he’s there, right in front of me, towering over me, his presence wrapping around me like a damn vice.

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