Page 123 of Reins

I tighten my arms and let out a low laugh. “Looks like mama bear has already found her way out.”

She sniffles. “You taught me how to be brave.”

“I wish. All I could show you was the motions. That part? That came from inside of you.” I brush her temples with my lips, then lean back to look at her. “I need to get back in. I love you. Things are going to get really hectic now. Do you want to wait upstairs or watch the chaos?”

“I—” She squeezes her eyes shut. “I want to stay near you.”

I grip her shoulders until she meets my gaze. “Okay. Come inside and sit on the couch. Don’t go anywhere near her or talk to her anymore. Deal?”

She nods and follows me back inside.

“I called Wade,” Pete grumbles. “He’s sending the ambulance out and should be here any minute.”

“Pete? I dropped your bourbon. I’ll need to make another store run for you.” I sheepishly start picking up the canned goods scattering the floor.

“Shit. After this, all I’d do is drink it anyway.” He grins from where he’s slumped into his chair.

“I’m suing you for this.” Paige rolls to her side, folding herself to look at her leg. “I’m fucking bleeding!”

“Looks like I need a new housekeeper.” Pete rolls his eyes.

“We’ll get it all cleaned up.” I grab the last of the dropped food and deposit it in the kitchen as the sirens start to get louder.

They divide into three when they turn into the driveway. Wade follows the medics, with a deputy rig behind him.

But he gets out first and storms past me directly inside.

Then he stops, towering over the woman on the floor.

“Why in the fuck am I not surprised, Paige? You’re like a bad apple rotting your way up from the bottom of the barrel.” His scowl mottles his features when he turns.

“She tried to attack Rosalyn,” Pete says calmly from his seat.

I flick my focus to Ros to make sure she stays quiet. The fewer people who need to carry the truth, the better.

“That fucking figures.” Wade sounds more like a beast than ever.

He takes over directing the EMT’s and his deputy to ride with her.

After Paige is hauled off, Wade turns to me. “I got the team gathering. We’ll be at her place within an hour.” Then he squints. “Are you coming with me?”

I don’t know the answer to that until I see Rosalyn nodding behind him. “Yep. Both of us.”

His arms cross and his scowl deepens. “Then your ass stays in the car. One look at you and those fuckers would launch a nuke as their Hail Mary to take you out.”

“I’m fine with that.” I know I can’t move fast enough to handle another fight with Eli. Time to send in the big guns.

“On another note—” Wade’s brows lift and his thumb jerks towards the door. “—do you think every one of those bottles of liquor broke?”

With a laugh, I clap him on the shoulder. “I’ll go check.”

Chapter 59 - Rosalyn

He squeezed me so hard before we got in the truck I thought he would crush me.

But it still wasn’t enough to get the shakes out of my system. When all that was left was the bloodstain on the floor, it felt like every molecule of energy in my body just exited.

“We get the easy job now, baby.” Cade grips my hand. “We stay back out of danger.” His thumb rubs along my wedding band as he stares out of the windshield. “Did I mention how proud I am of you?” The corner of his lips rise. “You’re my hero.”