Page 196 of Rangers Mountain Rescue

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79

Aspen

The Tavern isn’t calm anymore.

It’s alive.

Boots pounding.

Voices sharp.

Weapons clicking into place.

Danger.

Real.

Close.

I sit on the edge of the bed, Dylan pulled against me, his small body tucked into my side as he finally starts to wake.

“Mom?” he mumbles, blinking up at me.

“I’ve got you, sweetie,” I whisper, smoothing his hair back. “You’re okay.”

Even if I’m not sure that’s true.

Even if everything inside me is still shaking from the gunshots.

From the look on Havoc’s face when he burst through that door.

I’ve never seen anything like it.

Not fear.

Not exactly.

Something darker.

More controlled.

More dangerous.

Like whatever just happened flipped a switch inside him.

Dylan shifts, sitting up now, eyes wide.

“Was that thunder?”

I force a small smile.

“Something like that.”

A knock comes at the door—quick, controlled.

“Clear?” a voice calls.

Havoc.

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