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The 75thRanger Regiment I once belonged to had a creed.Rangers Lead the Way. And somehow my boy had done that. He’d taken me straight to Cam and led the fight by taking down Pauly. He deserved a Medal of Honor.

Debbie pushed through the surgery doors. I stood and braced myself to receive the news.

“Come through,” she said, and ushered me into the consultation room. “One tough dog you’ve got there, Ethan,” she said, stripping the surgical mask from her face and resting her hands on her wide hips. “He’s not out of the woods yet, but he’s stabilized for now.”

I bowed my head in relief. “He’s a stubborn beast like his old man. Can I see him?”

“Of course.”

I followed Debbie to the surgery where Ranger lay sedated. A machine beeped. The repetitive sound of his steady heartbeat comforted me. Ranger’s wound was bandaged with clean white gauze. It seemed like a miracle he no longer leaked blood.

“Even if his recovery goes well, he’ll still need to stay with us for a week, maybe more,” Debbie said.

I nodded, but didn’t mention that it was for the best. I needed to get Cam somewhere safe and couldn’t be nursing an injured Ranger back to health. But it sucked leaving him here, not knowing when I’d be able to return.

Debbie left the room to give us privacy. I crouched next to my boy and ran my hands over his head and neck.

I kept my voice low. “You trying to upstage me, huh? Saving my girl out from under me?” I swallowed against the lump in my throat.Fuck, hold it together, man. “You did, you know? You saved her life. Don’t go getting all cocky about it. You’re still a goddamn pain in my ass. But I promise we’ll go hunting again once all this is over. Just get yourself better.” I pressed my forehead to his. “Love you, boy. Hang in there.” I stood and moved back. I couldn’t stay in here any longer.

As I turned to leave, Debbie appeared at the door.

I cleared my throat. “I have some urgent… business to deal with. I’ll be gone for a few days, but I’ll call and check in on him when I can.”

She nodded. “I’ll look after your boy.”

I made for the door.

“Ethan?”

I spun and caught the bullet Debbie tossed to me.

“Thought you might want to keep that.” She folded her arms. “You and I both know that didn’t come from a rifle. This was no hunting accident.”

Should’ve expected a country girl like Debbie would know her ammo.

I glanced at the bullet, rolling it between my thumb and forefinger, then met her eyes.

“I know how much Ranger means to you, so I hope you’ll make sure whoever’s responsible for this is held accountable.”

“Yeah. I’m on it.” I nodded and headed for the door.

I found Cam curled up in the rear seat, arms wrapped around her knees while rocking back and forth. Her vacant stare broke when I opened the door.

I didn’t keep her waiting for the news she’d be desperate to hear. “He’s alive. Stable for now, but he should pull through.”

One hand flew to her mouth as she let out a relieved sob. “Thank God!”

I sat next to her and flipped the jacket hood down to get a better look.Christ. Soaked through, eyes red and puffy, blood everywhere, although I was pretty sure none of it was hers. Disturbing, striped bruises marred her slender neck.

I clicked my tongue. “Fuck, darlin’.” I skimmed my fingertips over the purple marks and tried not to let Cam see the anger raging inside me. I’d never found pleasure in killing, but I wished I could have taken more time to end Pauly and Lopez. Make them pay for what they did to her, and to Ranger.

She cupped my cheek, bringing my eyes back to hers. “I’m okay.”

Her reassurance settled me enough to remember to breathe. I leaned into her open palm, then kissed the inside of her wrist. “I don’t like leaving Ranger like this.”

“Me either. But he’s tough. He’ll be all right, Shep, I know it.”

We both had to believe that, because abandoning him at the vet felt so wrong, but we had to move.