Page 75 of Jasper

She’s radiant. Alive in a way I don’t think she’s ever been before. And for that alone, I’d put myself in the middle of ten more places like this.

Cassian elbows me in the ribs. “You gonna blink sometime tonight or just keep staring at her like a lovesick dog?”

I grunt, not bothering to look away. “I’m not here to have fun. I’m here for her.”

He follows my gaze and smirks. “She looks good. Happy.”

“She is. And quit fucking looking at her so closely. Get your own girl.” I take a long sip of my drink, scanning the dance floor for any signs of someone getting too close.

Cassian laughs and shakes his head, mumbling something about me being a possessive asshole. Hell yeah, I am. She’s mine.

“Once she starts that job, one of us needs to be that coffee shop every shift. Eyes on her.”

Cassian doesn’t hesitate. “Done. We’ll all help with keeping her safe. You know that. I’ll install a discreet camera system at the café. She won’t even know it’s there.”

Relief hums low in my chest, even though my shoulders stay tense. I nod once. “Thank you. And even though I hate that she’s going to be leaving The Ranch on a regular basis, thanks for helping her find a job. It’s important to her, so it’s important to me.”

My brother nods back and scans the crowd with me.

A moment later, Theo saunters up, a beer in each hand, and passes one to me. “Jesus, you look like you’re casing the joint.”

“I might be.” I take the beer and mutter, “Depends on who touches her.”

Theo snorts. “You know, we made up. Ariana and me. She even said we could be best friends.”

I shoot him a glare sharp enough to cut steel. “Over my dead body.”

He raises his hands, grinning. “Relax, caveman. She’s still yours. I’m just the comic relief.”

“Keep talking and I’ll relieve you of your pretty fucking face.”

Theo just laughs, clearly enjoying himself.

Rylan strolls over, eyes flicking toward the dance floor. “Cage, ease up, man. You’re scaring people. You’ve been glaring at that guy who looked in Ember’s direction for ten minutes straight.”

Cage doesn’t even blink. “He breathed too close to her.”

Rylan raises his eyebrows. “Okay, noted. Apparently, oxygen is off-limits too.”

Cassian chuckles. “You’re going to get clocked, Rylan.”

“Worth it if it gets Cagey all riled up.” Rylan shrugs with a grin.

The banter circles like it’s our love language. My brothers, each of them dangerous in their own way, but loyal to the core. We would all die for one another.

My eyes drift back to Ariana.

She’s leaning her head on Ember’s shoulder now, laughing so hard she nearly doubles over. The light catches her face just right, and for a moment, everything else fades.

I let out a slow exhale and take another sip of beer.

She’s my girl.

And I’ll burn this place down ifanyonedares to take her from me.

But for now, she’s safe.

She’s smiling.

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