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CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX-CASEY

I don’t realize how tense I’ve been until the moment Max said the words, “You’re Crew now, and we protect Crew.”

Something inside me just lets go.

I’m not alone anymore.

Every single person on the Motley Crewd Ranch knows the truth now—about Michael, about what he did to me, what he still wants from me—and not one of them flinched.

Not when I told them how I had to sew up a bullet wound at gunpoint, not when I admitted I’d run with nothing but my phone and my wallet.

No judgement. No fear.

Just support. Immediate. Fierce. Uncompromising.

And then there’s Zeke.

Always Zeke.

His hand never leaves mine as we say our goodbyes, as Max claps him on the back and tells him to keep me close. He keeps it there still even as Penny and the other women all hug me tight and promise to help me make a fresh start.

When we’re finally alone, Zeke loads me into his truck again and takes me—not to a safe house or someone else’s place—but home.

His cabin.

Our cabin.

“You’re home now, Petals,” he says as we pull into the gravel drive. “You’re safe. And I don’t just mean because I’d go full Dragon and torch anyone who looked at you sideways.”

I smile, because I believe him.

He parks and cuts the engine, then leans toward me.

“For your peace of mind, I thought I’d explain we’ve got a full Draco Fortis system. It’s a magical and technological security system unlike any other, and we have it set up, protecting every inch of this place. The security feeds go directly to a cloud that every member of the Crew has access to. Plus, most of us have supernatural senses. If a mouse farts near this property line, we’ll know.”

That earns a laugh out of me, and it feels good to laugh.

He walks me to the door like I’m precious cargo, one big hand at the small of my back.

Inside, everything smells like smoked cedar and citrus and him.

Warm. Clean. Safe.

And then I realize I’m crying. Just a few silent tears.

Zeke notices immediately. “Casey?” His voice is gentle but urgent. “You okay?”

I nod, my bottom lip trembling.

“I just, I’m used to being independent. It’s how my parents raised me. I mean, they care, but they had me when they were older and they both had active careers, so I was like a latchkey kid, you know? Always taking care of myself. But now, well, I’ve never felt this before.”

“Never felt what, Petals?”

“Never felt like I had a partner. Like there was someone looking out for me. You’ve given me so much, Zeke. How can I repay you?”

Something flares in his eyes.

Possessive and proud.