Page 156 of Ransom

"It'll be different," I admit. "But different doesn't mean worse."

"We've been talking about expanding anyway," Nick adds. "Maybe this is the push we needed."

"Actually..." Cadence's voice is soft, hesitant. "I've been dreaming about building another rescue out there. Something bigger. With room for training and more animals. Something to make a bigger difference."

Maverick clears his throat. "Funny you should mention that. I may have spent last night looking at property listings in Badger Falls."

Ransom’s eyebrows wing up as Maverick pulls out his phone. "There's this old farm just outside town. It needs work, but it's got everything you'd need for a rescue: barn, paddocks, plenty of land."

"Show me," Cadence breathes, moving closer to see his phone.

Bree shifts on the bench, exchanging glances with Cara and Nick. She twists her hands in her lap before taking a deep breath.

"I've been thinking..." Bree's voice is soft but steady. "Someday, when Nick and I have kids, I want them to grow up in a place like Badger Falls."

"What?" The word bursts out of me before I can stop it. You think you know someone, and bang, they just start dropping bombs all willy-nilly and shit. Suddenly everyone’s leaving?

"I want them to know their neighbors," Bree continues, her eyes bright. "To be able to ride their bikes to the park or get ice cream in town without us worrying. Like I did growing up."

Cara reaches over and squeezes her sister's hand. "You never told me you missed that."

"It's been on my mind, but right now, there's no panic. But someday." Bree glances at Nick. "Seeing all those kids playing in their yards, that town square..."

Nick wraps an arm around her shoulders, completely unsurprised by this revelation. "We've talked about it a few times," he admits.

"You knew?" I ask him.

"Course I did." Nick kisses Bree's temple. "We talk. A lot. In between doing other things." He gives us a smug look, and Bree snorts, slapping his stomach with the back of her hand. I glare at him, then point to my ring finger. Little fucker grins and winks.He better get on that. He's got to lock that girl down. Not that I think she's going anywhere, but it's the principle of the thing.

Bree nods. "Not right away, obviously. But in a few years..." She looks around at our gathered family. "I want our kids to have space to run and climb trees. To catch fireflies in mason jars and know the name of every dog on their street."

Ransom's eyes sweep across our faces, Noah still nestled against his chest. The weight of everyone's confessions seems to hit him all at once. His shoulders slump slightly.

"I had no idea you all felt this way," he says quietly. "Have I been... have I been keeping you trapped here?"

"Don't be a fucking idiot," I jump in immediately. "That's not it at all."

"Not even close," Bree adds firmly. "This family, what we have here—it's perfect. Like a protective bubble against all the shit in the world."

Nick nods. "We're not looking to leave, Ran. We just want... more. To grow what we already have."

"Like branches from a strong tree," Maya offers. "The roots stay exactly where they are, but we can stretch out, reach further."

I watch Ransom absorb this, see the tension ease from his face. "You're sure?" Good. He’s finally getting it. We’re not going anywhere.

"Positive," Bree says. "It's not an either/or. Hell, you guys are so rich, you could buy up land around that town and build your own little compound. We could put a helipad in the middle, and you guys could come and go anytime you wanted." She laughs, like she's joking, but Jonas and I lock eyes. He's not taking it as a joke.

Neither am I. It’s fucking genius.

Ransom’s eyes widen when Bree says the word "compound." Of course he’s interested, 'cause it sounds fucking awesome. All my brothers trade glances, slow smiles dawning.

"We're building a fucking compound, aren't we?" I ask.

Kade clears his throat. "That's jumping the fucking gun, don't you think? Shouldn't our first fucking priority be getting Ransom and Blair together?"

"Oh. Right. Yeah, that's important too. I guess we could wait a while, right?"

Everyone nods, but on more than one face, I see a whole lot of scheming. We're not going to wait, but Ransom doesn't need to know that. Let him focus on getting his woman.

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