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Emotion burns my throat and it’s so hot that I can’t stand it.

In the middle of the night, despite having a toddler at home and an early start to his workday tomorrow, Cade came to do a task that I’d never be able to complete, no questions asked.

I truly have the best friends in the world.

“And I assume you ratted me out to Bobby, too?”

“Hell yeah,” Cameron confirms.

I manage a weak smile. “Thanks for being here.”

“Wouldn’t be anywhere else.”

We make our way back to the main house and find Brad waiting by the front door for us.

“How come you’re not in bed?” I ask.

“Wanted to make sure you guys were okay,” Brad replies gruffly. “I woke your dad up to let him know what’s going on.”

“Thanks, Brad.”

“Did you find him?”

“No. But I will.”

Brad has been a second dad to me for years, and I appreciate him keeping my real dad in the loop. It’s something I should have done, but I couldn’t waste any time. My phone has been vibrating non-stop, and I can only imagine the messages waiting from Bobby and Cade.

But I don’t want to talk to anyone except my girl right now.

“I’m going to check on Ashley,” I say. “Thanks for everything, guys. Appreciate you both so much. I’ll see you in the morning. Well… I guess in a couple of hours from now.”

“Take the day off,” Cameron suggests. “We’ve got it covered. You’re grieving, Ashley is probably scared, and you could use a day to do nothing.”

“I’ll think about it.”

Dad is waiting for me at the kitchen table, and he immediately stands up to hug me. We’ve always been an affectionate family and never scared to say, I love you. It was important to Mom that she didn’t raise – or marry – emotionally stunted men.

“I’m so sorry, son.”

“I feel so terrible that I wasn’t here to protect him. He must have been looking for me outside.”

Scout was supposed to be in the main house, but if he wanted out, my parents wouldn’t have thought anything of it. He always wore a remote collar that let him get into my place through a doggy door, and they must have assumed he wanted to go home.

And he did.

But I wasn’t fucking there.

“None of this is your fault,” Dad says.

I wonder if he’s going to suggest that Ashley leaves, and I couldn’t blame him if he did. There’s danger surrounding the ranch now, and there’s no question it’s because of how people are reacting to my decision to be with Ashley.

But it’s none of their fucking business.

Her dad went to prison and now he’s dead. What more do they want?

When Dad speaks again, I’m proactively bracing myself because I really can’t deal with any more conflict tonight.

“Ashley is still awake,” he says. “Mom’s with her and they’re having tea.”