Page 244 of Ranger's Wildflower

“For her,” I say coldly to him. “That’s the only reason you’re still standing.”

I adjust my stance.

Not kill.

Control.

Harder fight.

“Drop it.”

Slowly—

He raises his hands.

Too easy.

I don’t trust it.

“Trigger.”

“On it.”

Trigger moves in. Beast closes from the other side.

Boxed in.

No exits.

Tessa steps forward.

Too close.

I tense—but I don’t pull her back.

Not this time.

“Who was she connected to?” she asks.

He watches her.

And something shifts.

Interest.

“Better,” he says softly.

I shift closer to her.

Warning.

She doesn’t stop.

“Answer me.”

He exhales slowly.

“Your friend wasn’t just in the wrong place,” he says. “She was moving money.”