Page 52 of Beyond Redemption

Trenton perched his hands low on his hips and nodded, nearing the end of his rope. “We’re leaving. Olive’s coming home with us. If you can put an undercover whatever on Falyn, you can do it for Olive. End of discussion.”

Olive blinked. “I just think—”

No one listened. Voices overlapped. Egos flared. Old wounds surfaced, feeding the chaos. Too many men trying to assert control over a situation none of them actually owned.

“No.”

The word cut through the room like a blade.

Bodhi stepped forward from the back, nearly a full head taller than anyone else in the room. Every gaze shifted to him.

“No,” he said again, louder now. “You’re not taking her anywhere.” He reached for her, and she stood, joining him.

Trenton’s brows lifted, surprise flickering across his face before it transitioned into appraisal and then respect—whether he liked it or not.

“You can come, too,” Trenton offered. “If that makes it easier.”

Bodhi scoffed. “Ican? Unless she says otherwise, Olive doesn’t go anywhere without me. And she’s not leaving this compound until it’s one hundred percent safe. I don’t care who you are to her, it’s not happening.”

Trenton took a step toward him. “You don’t care who—”

Bodhi angled himself protectively in front of Olive.

Trenton’s face twisted into disgust. “You’re shielding her from me now? Are you fucking joking?”

“Trent?” Olive said, stepping out from behind Bodhi, one hand still on his arm.

Trenton’s eyes landed on her. She was a woman now, no longer the little girl he remembered.

Olive met his gaze without flinching. “Enough.”

Trenton’s mouth snapped shut. He blinked once, then several times, his shoulders easing as his posture slowly relaxed.

“It’s my choice,” Olive said. Her voice didn’t waver, even if it was smaller than the others in the room. “I’m staying. You should consider staying, too. We can all go home when it’s safe.”

For the first time since they’d arrived, the room wasn’t pulling in opposite directions. I watched recognition settle across their faces, followed by reluctant acceptance. Olive wasn’t a child anymore. She’d made her decision and stood by it, backed by a man who loved her as much as any of us.

Trenton looked like he’d just lost her twice, but he didn’t argue.

Thomas moved to my side. “Marcel has offered accommodations here in the Longhouse. Liis, Stella, Olive, Bodhi, and I are staying at a private residence further into the compound. Olive,”—I gestured to her—“is it safe to say you’ll be back here to visit more with the family after breakfast tomorrow morning?”

“With Bodhi,” she responded.

“Olive…” Trenton began.

Olive left Bodhi’s side then slid her arms under Trenton’s, resting her cheek against his chest. “It’s going to be okay, Trent.” She leaned back and looked up at him. “I promise. I’m just glad you’re here.”

Trenton’s lower lip trembled. “I can’t believe I get to hug you again, kiddo.”

She smiled. “See you in the morning?”

He nodded.

Olive hugged Falyn, and then the rest of the family, goodbye. Bodhi shook hands, finding a new respect among my brothers.

We stepped out into the night air, releasing a collective sigh.

“You weren’t kidding,” Bodhi said. “They love hard.”