Page 215 of Rangers Mountain Rescue

---

Moved.

Taken.

Rage builds—slow and controlled.

Good.

I use that.

“They went this way,” I say.

Ace nods.

“Vehicle?”

“Maybe,” I reply. “But not yet. Too close to the house.”

Which means they’re on foot.

Which means—

We’re not far behind.

I glance at Aspen.

She’s staring at the tracks.

Breathing hard.

But she doesn’t break.

Doesn’t fall apart.

She squares her shoulders instead.

Lifts her chin.

And nods.

Like she’s ready.

Like she’s not going anywhere.

Damn right she’s not.

I step forward.

Follow the trail.

Into the dark.

And I make one thing very clear in my own head—

They can take a lot of things from me.

They can try to break a lot of people.

But they don’t get him.

Not the old man who can’t defend himself.

Not Tank’s grandfather, who she loves.

Not on my watch.

Because if they even think about hurting him—

They won’t survive it.

And I won’t feel bad about that.

---