Page 50 of Protecting What's Mine

“I am now,” he says, his voice hoarse. He looks at Tory, his gaze softening, and then his eyes flick to me, and for a moment, we just look at each other. Then he nods, his expression somber but genuine. “Thank you,” he says simply. “You saved us.”

I nod back, unable to find the right words.

“I should tell you something,” Tory says, her voice soft but steady. She looks at her father, her hands still clutching his. “I’ve fallen in love with him.”

Her father’s brows lift in surprise, but after a moment, he smiles faintly. “Well,” he says, his voice warming, “if anyone’s going to keep you safe, I suppose it’s him.”

Before I can respond, paramedics rush in, ushering Tory and her father to a corner of the room for medical evaluations. I hover close, watching as they’re checked over. Tory keeps glancing back at me, her eyes never straying far, and I give her a small nod to let her know I’m not going anywhere.

A familiar voice pulls me from my thoughts.

“Ranger.”

I turn to see Dean walking into the room, his expression unreadable as he surveys the scene. “Nice work,” he says, his tone clipped but approving.

“They’re all secured?” I ask, nodding toward the Earth’s Bounty members now in cuffs and surrounded by Bravo team operatives.

“Every last one of them,” Dean confirms. “The merry band of idiots are headed straight to federal custody. And with the evidence we’ve collected here, they won’t see the light of day for a long time.”

“Good,” I say, the weight in my chest easing slightly.

Dean’s gaze shifts to Tory and her father, his expression softening just a fraction. “They okay?”

“They will be,” I reply.

Dean claps a hand on my shoulder. “You did good, Ranger. Real good.”

I nod, but my focus is already back on Tory. She finishes with the paramedics and walks toward me, her steps unsteady but determined.

“I’m not letting you out of my sight again,” she says, her voice trembling slightly as she reaches me.

I pull her into my arms, holding her close. “You won’t have to,” I promise, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

The chaos around us fades into the background as I hold her, my world narrowing to just this moment. She’s safe. Her father’s safe.

And for the first time in a long time, I feel like I’ve found something worth holding onto.

Forever.

Epilogue

Tory

Life has changed in ways I never could have imagined since I met Ranger. Sitting at my worktable, I carefully string tiny crystals onto a delicate silver chain, the sunlight streaming through the window and making the stones sparkle. It’s peaceful here, a perfect balance between the life I had before and the one I’m building now.

My dad and I are still close. He’s traveling and calls every other day to check on me. I still help him as much as I can, diving into data analysis or proofing his presentations, but now it’s on my terms. I’m no longer tethered to his world twenty-four-seven, and he’s more than happy about that. He says every time we talk how grateful he is that I’ve found someone to love—someone who brings out the best in me.

And Ranger… Ranger is everything.

I glance over at the small picture on my desk. It’s of the two of us on the beach, his arm around me, my head tilted against his shoulder. We both look so happy, so in love. And we are.

I smile to myself, thinking about our plans. I’ll be moving in with him soon, officially trading in my dad’s little apartment for the cozy beach house he’s made into a home. It feels right—like every piece of my life is finally falling into place.

It’s not just my personal life that’s blossoming, either. My jewelry business is finally taking off. What started as a hobby to pass the time has become something bigger than I ever thought it could be. People actuallywantto buy my designs, and the little online shop I opened has been busier than I ever expected.

The thought fills me with pride. Every time someone purchases a piece, it’s like a little reminder that I’m capable of creating something beautiful—something meaningful.

I finish the necklace and hold it up to the light, admiring the way the crystals catch the sun. It’s simple but elegant, and I can’t wait to send it off to its new owner.