Page 215 of Hymns of the Broken

“What do you think it is?” I ask, keeping my tone even, because one of us has to.

He shakes his head. “No idea. But I don’t like it.”

I shrug, nudging him with my shoulder, trying to break the tension. “Hey. Whatever it is, we can handle it.”

He cracks the smallest smile, finally looking me in the eye. “I’m more worried about her, but she’s tougher than both of us, you know.”

I smirk. “You aren’t kidding.”

That gets a short laugh out of him, the sound low and warm. “She’s braver than I ever gave her credit for.”

“She’s brave as hell,” I agree. “And she’s ours. You see the way she walked down here? Head high, not a single fucking flinch. Makes me wanna ruin every man who ever doubted her.”

Jasper nods, eyes softening. “She’s gonna be okay. We’ll make sure of it.”

We stand there, side by side, listening to the muffled sounds from behind the door—ready for whatever comes next. And I think we both believe that she doesn’t need saving anymore, but we’re more than happy to get to be the ones standing beside her while she lights the matches.

I turn around just enough to peer through the half-open door—

And what do I see?

Sawyer, standing next to Blake, swinging a goddamn baseball bat with the kind of fury that’d make any major league scout weep. The crack of wood on bone echoes up the stairs, and Blake howls, cursing, writhing in the chair.

I grin widely, can’t help the pride that flares in my chest. “You gotta see this, Reign,” I call over my shoulder, voice full of wicked glee. “Our girl’s channeling Negan down there.”

Jasper moves in beside me, eyebrows raised. We both watch as Sawyer lifts the bat for another swing, her hair wild, cheeks flushed, looking more alive than I’ve ever seen her.

Jasper exhales—half laugh, half awe. “Remind me never to piss her off.”

I shake my head, still grinning. “I think Blake finally figured out who the real monster is.”

And honestly? I’ve never loved her more.

Sawyer finally lets out a ragged breath and hurls the bat to the ground, letting it clatter across the basement floor. She doesn’t look back at Blake as she stalks towards us, eyes blazing as she heads up the stairs without a word.

I whistle low, glancing at Jasper. “Fuck, I’m hard now,” I say, not bothering to lower my voice. “You see the blood splatter on her? That’s some real top-tier shit.”

Jasper shakes his head, lips twitching with a smirk he can’t hide. “Yeah. Remind me to buy her a Louisville Slugger for her birthday.”

We trail after her towards the kitchen where she’s already got a glass under the tap. I grab one for myself and lean against the counter, watching her as she gulps half the glass in one go.

“So…” I ask, wiping a bead of sweat from my brow, still feeling that thrum of adrenaline. “Did you get anything outtahim? Or did you just beat the crazy out of him for fun?”

Jasper arches a brow, waiting too.

Sawyer finally cracks a slight, wild grin. “He’s still not feeling very talkative, but I feel a hell of a lot better.”

Jasper grins, stepping in to tuck her hair behind her ear. “That’s all that matters.”

I chuckle, knocking my glass against hers. “Next time you wanna blow off steam, call me so I can come watch. I saw you hit him with a bad and I was instantly hard. I’ll even bring popcorn.”

She laughs this time, the sound a little raw but so goddamn alive it makes my chest ache.

That’s my girl.

SAWYER

I’m still finishing the last of my water when the back door swings open and heavy boots thud against the floor. Silas appears first, carrying two battered file boxes stacked so high I can barely see his face. Micah follows, lugging another one, his shoulders tense, jaw set in a way that makes something uneasy ripple through my chest.