Page 225 of Ranger's Wildflower

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Because I don’t have time to carry her.

I need her sharp.

We break through the tree line.

The SUV comes into view.

Blaze is already inside, tracking.

I yank the door open. “Status!”

“One inside,” he says. “Moving. Slow. Controlled.”

Not panicked.

Not random.

That’s worse.

“Armed?”

“Unknown.”

Perfect.

“Let’s go.”

The driveback stretches too long.

Every second pulling tight.

Every turn not fast enough.

Tessa sits beside me—silent, focused.

Ready.

I glance at her once.

She’s locked in.

Not the woman from earlier.

Not shaken.

Not uncertain.

This version of her?

She’s stepping into the fight.

My hand finds hers for a second.

Squeezes.

She squeezes back.

Then we’re there.

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