Page 167 of After the Burn

Wren shrugged. “Most of them will recognize me.”

“No.” Taryn protested. “I’m not letting anyone else follow me into danger after what happened with Lila.”

“That’s not your call,” Wren said, meeting Taryn’s gaze. “It’s mine.”

“Still no.” Taryn wasn’t budging. “You —”

“They used to want me.”

That stopped Taryn.

Wren pointed toward the compound. “The guy near the garage? He came to Gideon’s town once. The older one near the tanks came twice.”

Colson’s eyes moved to both men, memorizing them.

Wren was a beautiful woman. I was so in love with Taryn that it made me stupid, but I wasn’t blind.

“I made sure they realized how much trouble I’d be,” Wren smirked. “It didn’t take much convincing after Gideon told them how crazy I was.”

Colson pulled her into his arms. “All of them are dead.”

Wren laid her head on his chest. “We should have stayed together after that romantic night we shared in Argentina.”

The big guy looked confused for a minute, then just went with it. “Yes, we should have.”

He was truly perfect for her.

“I still don’t want you to go.” Taryn crossed her arms over her chest.

“They’ve already decided I’m not worth the trouble. That makes me useful.” Wren assured Taryn. “And mostly safe.”

Unfortunately, she was right.

“I’ll walk up to the gate with you in cuffs,” Wren waggled her eyebrows.

“But why would they believe you’d hand me over to them?” Taryn questioned.

“Because you pissed me off?" Wren smirked. “And because they know Gideon’s town was destroyed and I have nowhere else to go.”

Taryn still didn’t look convinced.

“And if they ask why I’d turn in another woman…” Wren shrugged. “I’ll just say it’s not like this chick is my sister or anything.”

Taryn stared at her, then let out a short, sharp laugh. “You’ve got problems.”

Wren smiled. “Yep.”

Colson grabbed Wren’s chin and looked into her eyes. “Don’t go.”

Her expression softened. “I have too. I can’t lose Robin again.”

With a low growl, Colson said, “I can’t lose you.”

Wren rubbed her hand down his muscled arm. “They won’t watch me as closely as they watch her.”

He looked toward the compound, then back at Wren. “I hate this.”

“I know.” She rose onto her toes, and he bent down so they met halfway for a slow, lingering kiss.