Page 106 of Boss and Brat

Carter nodded once. “Yeah. I do.”

Ethan’s breath hitched, and then he let out a nervous laugh—half disbelief, half relief. “Carter… I’m dangerously in love with you.”

Something warm settled deep in Carter’s chest. He squeezed Ethan’s hand. “Yeah. I figured.”

They finished eating their cupcakes slowly after that, talking in softer voices, the kind that only came out when the worst was behind them. When they cleaned up, Ethan kept brushing against him with small touches, accidental or maybe not. Carter didn’t mind. He enjoyed knowing Ethan was close.

Ethan had just finished drying the last dish when Carter’s phone buzzed on the counter.

Mr. Evans.

Carter’s stomach stiffened. “Yeah?”

Mr. Evans didn’t waste time. “We got the surveillance footage.”

Carter straightened. “From the house?”

“Yes. And you’re not going to like what I’m about to tell you.” There was a pause, a heavy one. “It was those same two boys, Alexander and Mateo. The ones who bullied Ethan for money.The same ones I paid off after he burned the bikes. And Tomás González joined them.”

Carter clenched his jaw. Hard. The anger rose fast and hot, but this time it wasn’t at Ethan. “It figures it was those same thugs. Not surprised about Tomás joining them either.”

Ethan, who had been wiping the counter, froze mid-motion, eyes locked on Carter’s face.

Mr. Evans continued, voice grim. “They broke in. They were looking to destroy Ethan and everything important to him.”

Carter’s grip tightened around the phone. “What did Officer Duarte do about it?”

Ethan swallowed, fear flickering across his face.

“He arrested them. They are in jail awaiting trial. My attorney says we have a tight case.”

“Duarte finally did his damn job instead of blaming Ethan.”

“He has a history of hating my son.”

“I saw his hate and Ethan felt it.”

“There’s no threat now. And I need you back at the ranch as soon as possible.”

“We’ll leave in the morning. But Ethan and I want to have a meeting with you at the cabin.”

“Call when you’re home. I’ll come straight away.”

“Will do.”

Carter ended the call and set the phone down slowly, like he needed a second to steady himself. His pulse was still running hot from the news, but when he looked over at Ethan—wide-eyed, tense, trying to read his face—everything in him softened. Ethan always did that to him. Pulled him back from the edge.

“I knew it was those assholes,” Ethan said.

Carter nodded. “Yeah. And they’re not touching you. Never again.”

Ethan’s eyes softened, but there was fear there too.

Carter stepped closer, sliding a hand to Ethan’s back, fingers brushing circles. “Hey,” he said. “Look at me.”

Ethan did, and Carter could see the worry there—deep, old, the kind that didn’t go away easily.

“You’re safe,” Carter said. “Do you hear me? You’re safe with me.”