Page 47 of Ranger's Justice

“Deacon, get with our contacts. See if we can get any names on potential buyers.”

“On it.”

I turn to Dalton and Gage. “Get the gear ready. We’ll need everything.”

Dalton grins. “Now you’re speaking my language.”

I look around the room, meeting each of their eyes. “This is it. We end this.”

There’s no hesitation. No doubt. Every man here is ready.

I should feel satisfied. Should feel like we’re finally gaining ground, but my mind keeps circling back to the woman in my bed—to the way she clung to me, the way she let me take her, the way she looked at me, even after, like she knew, like she felt it too. Mine.

The word echoes through me, settling deep in my bones.

I push it down. Focus. There’s work to do.

I’ll deal with Cassidy later.

The meeting breaks, but Gideon doesn’t move. He just watches me, his arms crossed, that sharp, assessing gaze locked onto mine like he’s trying to decide how much shit he wants to give me.

I’m not in the mood.

“Say whatever you need to say,” I mutter, rubbing a hand over my jaw. “I know you’ve got something.”

Gideon leans against the edge of the table, his fingers tapping once against the wood. “You think I enjoy calling you out, boss?”

I give him a flat look.

“Fine,” he sighs, his jaw ticking. “Then let’s not dance around it. You know your wolf is dying to claim her.”

I stiffen. “This isn’t the time.”

“It’s exactly the time.” His voice, though low and steady, held a sharper edge. “You think the cartel doesn’t have eyes on us? You think Hollister doesn’t know who you’re protecting?”

A growl rumbles in my chest before I can stop it. I hate hearing Hollister’s name anywhere near Cassidy’s. Hate even more that Gideon is right.

He doesn’t flinch. He never does. He just keeps watching me, reading every twitch of my muscles, every flicker of my control.

“Rush,” he says after a long moment, quieter now. “If they realize what she is to you—what she’s becoming—they’ll use her. And I’m not talking about the wolf part; they know nothing about that, but the connection between you…” he pauses as if searching for words “… it’s almost palpable. I envy you that.”

I grind my teeth, clenching my fists at my sides. “You think I don’t know that?”

“I think you’re trying to ignore it.”

I push off the table, shoving a hand through my hair, pacing once before turning back to him. “I’m keeping her out of this. She’s not part of the mission.”

Gideon raises an eyebrow. “Yeah? You tell her that?”

I scowl.

“That’s what I thought.” He exhales slowly, shaking his head. “This isn’t just about keeping her out of the mission, Rush. Your wolf isn’t backing down. He’s already decided.”

I don’t respond, but I don’t need to. We both know the truth. It’s not just the wolf. It’s me. From the moment I first laid eyes on her, something locked into place. Something profound, unrelated to reason, strategy, or logic. She’s under my skin, in my blood, tangled in every instinct I have. She is my fated mate.

And tonight? When I finally took her, finally let go of the leash I’ve been holding so damn tight? There’s no undoing that.

She’s mine in a way that defies reason, mine in a way that makes my wolf claw at me every second I’m not touching her.

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