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Not now. Not ever.

“You with me?” I finally murmur against her hair.

She nods.

I shift back slightly and ease her onto her side, guiding her to face me. Her eyes are heavy and her lips are swollen. “You don’t have to say anything,” I tell her. “I’ve got you.”

Her throat works as if she might speak, but she just presses closer, tucking her face into my chest. Her body molds to minelike it belongs there. I run my hand down her back, holding her steady.

Minutes pass. Maybe more. I don’t care. She needs this. Hell,Ineed this.

When I finally speak again, my voice is low.

“You belong to me,” I whisper. “To us.”

She doesn’t move.

I kiss the top of her head and say it again, softer this time.

“I’m not letting you go. Not now. Not ever.”

I don’t tell her I love her. I think it’s too soon, but I feel it all the same.

I don’t just want her. Ineedher.

And I’ll burn the fucking world down before I let anyone take her from us.

Chapter 26

Jonah

Boone has Ani tucked away at the station.

It makes sense. She’s safe there. The firehouse is fortified and easy to monitor. Boone won’t let anyone through without a fight.

And her absence keeps Mae safe for now. Even if I fucking hate it.

Still, I can’t sit still.

I move through the cabin checking every lock and every window. I reset the perimeter sensors. I walk the full line of the property twice before the sun finishes rising. Nothing’s out of place, but that doesn’t mean we’re safe.

And these assholes have already snuck past our checkpoints twice. I can’t let that happen again.

Finn’s in the back bedroom with Mae. He’s trying to keep her distracted with coloring books, cartoons, and building a pillow fort. It helps. A little. But even Mae knows things aren’t right. And she hates Ani’s absence almost as much as I do.

I pass through the kitchen again. Glance at the camera feed. Three screens, all clean. Nothing moves.

I walk through the house again, slower this time. I stop in the front room, resting my hand on the window frame. I glance outside. Still no movement.

But it’s coming.

I can feel it in my body. They’re circling, waiting to strike when we least expect it.

I wait until the sun goes down before I make the first call.

Mae’s asleep, and Finn’s dozed off beside her with a book open on his chest.

I slip quietly out the back door to make sure I don’t wake them. I don’t go far–just to the edge of the tree line, where I know our signal is still good.