Page 366 of Rangers Mountain Rescue

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Behind me—

“Is that him?” grandfather asks.

I laugh softly.

“Yeah,” I say. “That’s him.”

Havoc glances past me.

Takes it all in.

Grandpa sitting on the front porch of the tavern.

Dylan and Buddy running around in circles.

The life waiting here.

Then he looks back at me.

And something shifts.

Not the fighter.

Not the soldier.

The man.

“I’m not going anywhere,” he says quietly.

My breath catches.

Because that?

That’s bigger than anything else.

“Good,” I whisper.

He leans in.

Kisses me.

Slow.

Real.

Unhurried.

Like we’ve got time now.

Like we’re allowed to have this.

And for the first time in a long time—

It feels like we do.

I rest my forehead against his.

Close my eyes.

And breathe.

Because this?

This is what we fought for.

And whatever comes next—

We’ll face it.

Together.

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