“Is that official Shadow Division advice?”
“No.” His mouth barely twitched. “That’s survival advice.”
Then he looked at Hersh.
The entire air changed between them instantly.
Warriors recognizing each other.
“You call if Shepherd resurfaces.”
“I won’t need to.”
Rook studied him for one long second.
Then nodded once.
Like he understood exactly what Hersh meant.
If Shepherd came back?—
he wasn’t leaving alive.
The SUVs disappeared down the long dirt road minutes later.
And suddenly the ranch felt quieter.
Smaller.
Just us now.
Wolf clapped his hands once loudly.
“Alright boys, let’s turn this creepy horror movie ranch into a fortress.”
Trigger snorted.
“That narrows it down none.”
For the first time in hours, a tiny laugh escaped me.
Hersh looked down at me instantly when he heard it.
The intensity in his eyes softened immediately.
That look?—
I was starting to understand it now.
Every time I smiled, it affected him.
Deeply.
Like after years of darkness, he couldn’t quite believe something good still existed.
And honestly?
That feeling went both ways.
