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My heart hammers against my ribs. "I'm scared, JD. Scared I'll be your downfall."
"Never," he swears, dark eyes unyielding. "No one will come between me and the woman I love."
"Love…" The word hangs between us.
"Love," JD confirms, as though saying it once wasn't enough to convey the depth of his conviction. "And nothing stands a chance against that. Not the Defiant Men, not your fears, not the ghosts of your past."
I nod, the tension unspooling from my shoulders as his promise wraps around me. Maybe with JD, I can find the courage to ride into whatever future we're brave enough to chase. Together.
"Okay," I whisper. "Okay, JD."
"Okay," he echoes, and his lips meet mine in a kiss.
Chapter Nine
JD
Six months. That's how long it's been since Cheree, and I ditched the city's chaos for these endless starry nights. The kind of skies you don't get in New York or the built-up areas of Texas. Here, it's just the crackle of the fire, the whisper of the wind through the pines, and the steady rhythm of our new life beating far from the old one.
The fire before us snaps, a log breaking under the heat, sending a shower of sparks up the chimney. Cheree's eyes catch the light, a dance of flames in those deep green pools that see right through me. Her hand finds mine in the dark, a silent testament to a bond that doesn't need words anymore. I give it a reassuring squeeze, feeling her warmth against the chill of the mountain air.
"JD?"
"Right here." I thumb the screen of the burner phone, the only tie left to what we walked away from.
I can feel that old itch, like muscle memory, as I dial Grim's number. I've kept my promise but it’s time to call my friend. He’s expecting my call, I texted him and said I’d be phoning him tonight. There have been no traceable patterns, no lingering connections. I’m sure he’s been worried about me.
"JD," she whispers, her breath warm on my neck, "be careful."
I nod, not because she needs it, but because she deserves it. I'd burn the world before I let it touch her again.
The line clicks, and then there's that gravelly voice, the one that's commanded men and twisted destinies. "JD," Grim says, and the relief's thick enough to choke on. But we don't do emotions out loud. Not him and not me.
"Hey, Grim," I say. "It's quiet out here. No trouble."
"Good," he says, and I can picture that bear of a man leaning back in his chair. "You two alright?"
"Better than," I reply.
It’s the truth because what we have now is more than alright. It's everything.
"Good," he repeats.
Cheree leans closer, a silent shadow in the glow of the dying fire. Her fingers trace patterns on the back of my hand, a language of comfort and courage that speaks louder than any promise.
“Cheree is here with me."
"Thank God," he breathes out, and the relief in his voice wraps around us like a warm blanket. "I've been worried sick about you two, with everything going on... You two deserve some peace after all that hell."
"Yeah, we do," I agree, squeezing Cheree's hand back.
The flames crackle, throwing shadows that dance across Cheree's tense face.
"JD, Cheree," Grim's voice rumbles through the speaker, "I've got something you need to hear."
"Spit it out, brother," I urge, my gut clenching like it already knows the weight of his words.
"Viper's got nabbed up in New York," he says, and it's like the night holds its breath around us. "They found him with a piece, the same damn one used to put down Cheree's ma."
