Page 7 of Lyon

“Thank you.” Her voice was softer than usual. “I don’t know what I would’ve done if you hadn’t told me what to do. I’ve never seen anything like that before.” She paused, her gaze meeting mine. “And… thank you for blocking the sand and protecting me.”

I shrugged. “I’m a protector. That’s what I do. You did great.”

She frowned slightly. “What do you mean, you’re a protector?”

“We’re all former soldiers,” I told her. “When we retired, we started a business together. We don’t just rescue people—we guard them with our lives.”

“That’s… really amazing.”

I nodded toward the door. “I’ll step out so you can shake out your clothes.”

Outside, I walked over to the Jeep and ran a hand along the hood, grimacing. “Is the Jeep going to start?” I asked, peering under the hood. “Look at all this sand.”

“That’s why they use Jeeps here,” Raven said. “It’sallsand. We just have to brush it out. There’s a brush in the back—I’ll grab it. We’ll clean out the engine and cross our fingers.”

I turned just in time to see Niki step out of the shed, carrying the robe over her arm.

“Let me see that,” I said, reaching for it. “I’ll put it back on you.”

She hesitated.

“You shouldn’t be walking around outside without boots,” I added. “There are scorpions all over the ground.”

She huffed but handed it over. I helped her into the robe, adjusting it over her shoulders.

“Now, let me do your hair,” I murmured. “There, that wasn’t so bad, was it?”

She sat on the back of the Jeep, watching me.

“I can put my own boots on,” she said, a sharp edge in her voice. “And I know how to put my own robe on. Are you always this… what’s the word? Controlling? Or is it that you just feel the need to take over everything? You’re a people-pleaser, aren’t you?”

I smirked. “Believe me, I amnota people-pleaser. Most of the time, people can’t stand being around me. I’m just trying to help you. If you want me to back off, all you have to do is say so.”

She tilted her head, watching me. “Please let me do everything on my own. Unless, of course, we get caught in another sandstorm.”

I grinned. “You got it.”

With that, I turned my attention back to the Jeep and got to work.

4

Niki

I could never liveout here in this sand trap.

I scanned the endless stretch of desert, my thoughts running wild. Jeez, there’s nothing out here—just sand.

Or maybe we were just in the hills where it was like this. Surely, it wasn’t all the same. There had to be cities and neighborhoods where kids played, where grass grew, and where trees offered shade.

It couldn’t all be like this.

And these poor women… Do they have to ask their husbands before doing everything?

After an hour of work, the Jeep finally started. Relief flooded me, and I had to resist the urge to clap my hands.

“Maybe we can find a cold soda somewhere,” I said, climbing into the back seat. “Maybe even a taco stand—get something to eat.”

Lyon turned to me with an incredulous look.

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