Page 12 of Torgash

I wait three minutes by my watch. Let her get settled. Let my blood cool. Let the beast that rose at the sight of Santos's hand on that door crawl back into whatever hole it came from.

Keep it business-like. Keep it about strategy. That's how this has to go.

Bullshit. But I'm good at swallowing bullshit when I have to be.

I slip in the back door, staying against the wall. The place is packed—standing room only, bodies pressed shoulder to shoulder. Everyone wants a look at the new sheriff, the outsider sent to clean up Shadow Ridge.

She sits at the front table with the council members, back straight, hands folded. She looks contained and controlled. Nothing like the woman who looked at me in the diner like I was shit on her shoe or faced me down in that parking lot with fire in her eyes and a gun that never wavered.

I scan the crowd. Savvy's here with Vargan, his massive frame making the wooden chair he in look like dollhouse furniture. Helen's near the front, notebook in hand—town gossip disguised as meeting minutes. Familiar faces from every corner of Shadow Ridge, all here to size up Nova Reyes.

Acting Mayor Reb Bartlett taps the microphone, clearing his throat. "Folks, let's get started."

The crowd settles. Reb taps the microphone.

"As you all know, we're here to welcome our new sheriff officially." Reb gestures toward Nova. "Sheriff Reyes comes to us from Atlanta PD with an impressive record. We're fortunate to have her experience in Shadow Ridge during this rebuilding period."

Nova stands, and the room shuts up. Her eyes sweep the crowd, then lock on mine.

Fuck.

She's looking at me like she's deciding something. Something that's going to leave marks.

"Thank you, Mayor Bartlett." Her voice cuts through the room. "I appreciate the welcome I've received from most of Shadow Ridge."

She doesn't smile, but her face relaxes a fraction.

"I won't waste your time with speeches. You've heard plenty of those from people who didn't keep their promises." She pauses, letting that sink in. "I'm here to enforce the law. Protect the vulnerable. Help rebuild trust in local government. That's it."

Her shoulders are tight. Her fingers press harder against the table. I can smell the stress on her—sharp, metallic. Her breathing's faster than it should be.

Every muscle in her neck stands out in rigid lines. Her jaw works once, twice, like she's grinding down words that want to escape. The slight tremor in her left hand—the one not gripping the table—gives away what her voice won't admit.

All these people staring at her, waiting to see if she's worth a damn.

All these people, except me.

Because she's still holding my gaze, and I realize she's using me as an anchor point. My beast goes completely still. She'snot watching me as a threat. She's steadying herself against my presence.

She picked me. Out of everyone in this room, she's drawing strength from the most dangerous bastard here.

That shouldn't heat my blood. It shouldn't make me want to step closer.

But it does.

I don't move. I don't give her anything that might spook her. Just hold her gaze and let her take whatever she needs.

She takes a breath, then looks away, turning back to the crowd.

"I know what Victor Hargrove did to this town," she continues, her voice gaining strength. "How he used his power to take what wasn't his. How he manipulated the system to hurt those who stood against him."

People shift in their seats and start whispering. Nobody says Victor's name out loud anymore. Too many people are still scared of the bastard.

"Some of you have questions. Concerns. Maybe even fears about what my presence here means." She scans the room again. "That's fair. I haven't earned your trust yet. But I will."

Old man Jones stands up, leaning heavily on his cane. "What makes you different from Dawson? He promised to clean things up, too, then took Victor's money like everyone else."

Nova doesn't even blink. "I don't have ties here. No favors owed. No hands in my pockets. And a documented history of refusing bribes that cost me promotions in Atlanta."

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