Page 77 of Rescued Hearts

As Honor brought her tea to her lips and took a sip, the earthy flavors grounded her. It felt like something to grab on to when everything else cracked.

She lowered the mug and whispered, “Thank you.”

Gray gave her solemn nod. “It’ll help.”

She didn’t know if he meant the tea or the stillness in the room or getting away from the images of Felicity being dragged off by Sully. After a few minutes of quiet, one by one, the guys began to move around the space.

Colt got up and grabbed an apple from a basket on the counter. He took out a pocketknife and began slicing it into neatsegments. Carson rummaged in a cupboard full of snacks and brought a bag of sunflower seeds back to the table, where he stuffed his cheek full and sat munching them. Oaks fixed himself a sandwich piled high with deli meat and cheese.

She noted how each one glanced at their phone screens, the wall clock or their wristwatch, checking the time that seemed to be ticking by so slowly.

Willow sat back in her seat, sipping in silence and watching her brothers scarf down their food with a calm, sisterly expression.

Suddenly Honor realized what was happening. The shift in the room was a shift in mindset. They were coiling close, circling the wagons, prepared to defend one of their own.

They considered her—and by extension, Felicity—family.

Finally, Willow let out a shaky breath. When she turned her gaze to Honor, her eyes were stormy with tears. “I’m so sorry, Honor.”

She blinked at her new friend. Reaching across the table, she rested her hand on the back of Willow’s. She couldn’t believeshewas comfortingher.But it felt right.

“I’m sorry this happened to your sister. Did you ever suspect your ex was capable of doing something like this?”

She shook her head and retracted her hand to wrap it around her warm mug. “I’m just so glad to have all of you supporting me. I couldn’t do any of this alone.”

Willow jumped up to throw her arms around Honor. For a moment, she didn’t know how to react. The hug was so unexpected—yet so welcome right this minute—that she wrapped her arms around Willow and held on tight.

Her chest ached, but not from the squeeze. Then the tears began to flow. Up until this point, Honor had released a few furious tears and an angry one or two, but she hadn’t trulycracked. Now, clinging tight to Gray’s sister, she faced all her fears, all the fierce rage thundering through her like a freight train, and let the tears fall.

A tissue box appeared in her peripheral vision, and she plucked a few out for herself and Willow did the same. The sound of their sniffles filled the room. Honor mopped her eyes and stole a look at Gray.

She expected to find distress on his face, but instead she saw only the glow of love in his eyes. The rest of the guys seemed fine with the outburst, which made her wonder if they’d dealt with similar moments with their significant others. She wanted to meet them all—the entire Malone group. And spend much more time with the veterans.

She wanted to bring Felicity here and let her experience the big, warm Malone family too.

Willow stood to pour herself more tea, glancing at the wall clock for the tenth time. Suddenly, a hard knock reverberated through the entire house.

The room stilled. Grew silent. Instinctively tense.

Gray straightened in his seat. She watched him reach along his spine to the sidearm she saw him tuck there before they left the office. Colt and Oaks traded a look in silent communication.

Gray shot her a glance. “Stay here. Willow?”

“I’ll stay with her.”

The men were quick and stealthy as they left the kitchen. Colt lingered by the kitchen door, his broad back to her and Willow as if daring anyone to get to them.

Honor’s imagination took flight. It could be the cops. Or someone from town who wanted to report new information.

Or her ex.

The low male voices carrying from the front of the house made her adrenaline spike, and she forced her breaths to comeslow and steady. Her body screamed that everything wasall wrongand she had no business sitting here enjoying tea and a family connection while they waited.

A moment later, Colt stepped aside, and a tall man wearing a cowboy hat and dirt-streaked clothes filled the doorway.

Willow bolted to her feet like she knew something Honor didn’t.

“Dutch. Is Maisie still laboring?”

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