Page 248 of Rangers Mountain Rescue

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Messier.

And a hell of a lot more dangerous.

Behind me, I hear Aspen moving.

Soft.

Careful.

I turn slightly.

Just enough to see.

She’s kneeling beside her grandfather again, adjusting the blanket someone draped over his legs.

Dylan is next to her now. Buddy hasn’t left his side. Stopping every now and then to growl. I don’t blame him I’m doing the same thing.

Dylan is wide awake.

Watching everything.

Too aware for a kid his age.

Too quiet.

My jaw tightens.

Because this is exactly what I didn’t want.

This family, in the middle of something like this.

But here we are.

And now?

Now I don’t let anything else happen to them.

Not a damn thing.

One of the agents starts moving in their direction.

Wrong move.

I step into his path before he gets within ten feet.

Not fast.

Not aggressive.

Just… there.

Blocking.

He stops.

Looks at me.

Annoyance flickering across his face.

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