Page 69 of Shadows of Obsession

Another sigh, then a pause. "Fine. But if I hear anything else, I'm coming back. Take care of her, Jaxon."

"I will," Jaxon said, glancing down at me with a soft smile. "You know I will."

After the call ended, we remained on the couch, my body still nestled in his lap. He rubbed my back gently, and my breathing slowed into a steady rhythm. My grip on his shirt loosened as exhaustion finally took over.

The last thing I registered was the warmth of his chest beneath my cheek and the steady beat of his heart.

Jaxon

I watched Anna drift off to sleep in my arms, her breathing finally steady after the emotional storm of the afternoon. A strange peace settled over me as I held her, feeling the weight of her trust in the way she relaxed completely against me. She felt safe with me.

Eventually, I knew I needed to move. With slow, deliberate motions, I rose from the couch and carefully laid her down, pulling the knitted blanket over her. I brushed a strand of hair from her face, my fingers lingering on her cheek for a moment before I pulled back.

In the kitchen, I sat at the table, a cup of coffee warming my hands as I replayed the day's events. I took a deep breath, letting the scent of freshly brewed coffee calm my nerves. The quiet of the early afternoon was broken only by the faint sound of birdsong in the distance.

I carried my coffee to the porch and settled into a chair overlooking the ranch, basking in its calm. Inside, I'd left Anna to rest after her flashback. The things she'd shared made my blood boil. The thought that there was more to her story, and that she had run for her life, spoke volumes about how bad it had been.

I sipped my coffee, my thoughts darkening. The idea of anyone screaming at someone as kind and gentle as Anna, let alone hitting her, fueled a rage that simmered just beneath the surface. My grip tightened on the cup, knuckles whitening as the image of Anna in pain burned in my mind.

He hit her. Screamed at her. Made her feel like she had no right to leave the house.

The thought of what Daniel had done, what he might still be capable of, ignited a deep need to protect her. If he showed up at the ranch, I knew without a doubt what I'd do. I would kill him without hesitation.

Closing my eyes, I tried to rein in my anger. I didn't want Anna to see me like this—consumed by rage and violent thoughts. I needed to be her calm, her safe haven.

But the idea of Daniel coming near her, of even speaking to her, sent a shiver of pure hatred down my spine. If he shows up here, he's a dead man.

As the sun began to set, casting a soft glow over the ranch, I marveled at its beauty and stillness. I wanted to preserve this sanctuary for Anna, to keep Daniel from tainting the refuge she'd found here.

With a deep breath, I took another sip of coffee, letting the calm of the ranch temper my anger.

But my resolve stayed firm. If Daniel ever showed up, I'd do whatever it took to keep Annasafe. No matter the cost.

CHAPTER 21

Jaxon

Istood in the den, the familiar sounds of a cooking show providing a comfortable background as I waited for Anna to finish her shower. Time seemed to slip by unnoticed, my thoughts drifting between dinner and the events of the past few days.

The ranch had been quiet today, a welcome reprieve after yesterday's chaos. Anna had thrown herself into work with the horses, and I'd given her the space she needed to process everything. Sometimes that's all you could do for someone. Just be there without crowding them, let them work through it in their own way. She's tougher than she gives her credit for, I recognized.

My throat was dry, so I headed to the fridge for a beer. But as I reached for the handle, something outside caught my eye through the kitchen window.

I froze.

Smoke.

At first, it was just a thin wisp, barely noticeable against the setting sun. But as I stared, it thickened, curling up into the sky from somewhere on the property.

My heart skipped a beat. That wasn’t right.

I knew this land well, Connor's property, every corner of it. There shouldn't have been any smoke, not from any direction I could see.

I bolted.

Without another thought, I rushed for Connor's home office. I needed one of the radios we used to communicate across the ranch. The smoke was thickening fast, and I had a bad feeling. Calling Denny was my best shot at figuring out what was going on.

I grabbed a radio from the charging station, switched it on, and pressed the button. "Denny, this is Jaxon. What's going on? I see smoke."