Page 34 of Mountain Protector

She nods, her eyes darting to Holloway. “He forced his way in.”

I pull her against my chest, one hand cradling the back of her head. “You’re safe now.”

She wraps her arms around my waist and I feel her trembling against me.

“That was quick thinking,” I murmur into her hair. “The elbow to the ribs.”

She gives a shaky laugh against my chest. “Self-defense class. Never thought I’d actually use it.”

My arms tighten around her. The thought of Holloway’s knife against her throat, of what could have happened if I’d been a minute later, makes me want to tear the world apart.

“Spike,” she suddenly gasps, pulling back. “He’s in the back room.”

“I’ll get him,” I say, reluctant to let her go but understanding her concern. “Stay where I can see you.”

She nods, moving to stand where she has a clear view of the back room door but is well away from Holloway and his men.

I find him in his travel terrarium in the office, seemingly unperturbed by the chaos. I carefully pick up the container, checking that the lid is secure before carrying it back out to Ruby.

“He’s fine,” I tell her, handing over the terrarium. “Not even stressed.”

Relief floods her face as she peers through the glass at her pet. “Thank goodness. I was worried they might have hurt him.”

“Looks like they didn’t make it back here,” I say, glancing around the office, which is untouched compared to the destruction in the main shop.

Sirens wail in the distance, growing louder. I straighten up, rolling my shoulders to release some of the tension.

“The police are almost here,” I tell her, extending my hand. She crosses to me without hesitation, fitting herself against my side, Spike’s terrarium clutched in her free hand. “Let me do most of the talking.”

She nods, her arm sliding around my waist. “Okay.”

The next two hours pass in a blur of police activity.

Officers secure the scene, paramedics treat the injured, and detectives take our statements. I keep Ruby tucked against my side throughout, refusing to let her out of my sight even when the female detective suggests she might want to speak privately. That suggestion earns the detective a firm refusal from Ruby, who grips my shirt tighter and declares she’s not going anywhere without me.

Holloway and his men are loaded into separate police cars, their injuries treated but my zip ties replaced with official handcuffs. I watch with grim satisfaction as Holloway is driven away, finally back in custody where he belongs. The FBI arrives shortly after, taking jurisdiction over the case and confirming that Holloway had escaped their surveillance just hours earlier. They’d been tracking him, but he’d managed to slip away long enough to come after Ruby.

Through it all, Ruby remains strong, answering questions clearly and concisely, never once breaking down despite the trauma she’s experienced. She keeps Spike’s terrarium close, occasionally checking on the lizard as if reassuring herself that at least one part of her world remains undamaged.

The shop door flies open, the bell jingling violently as Marcus and Lainey burst in, their faces tight with worry.

“Ruby!” Lainey rushes forward, stopping short when she sees the destruction—and Ruby tucked against my side. Her eyes widen, darting between us. “Are you okay? We saw the police cars and we came as fast as we could.”

“I’m fine,” Ruby says, straightening but not moving away from me. “Really.”

Marcus surveys the scene, his expression darkening when he spots the blood on the floor. “What the hell happened?”

“Holloway,” I explain briefly. “He came for Ruby himself. He didn’t get her.”

Lainey steps closer, her eyes fixed on the thin red line on Ruby’s throat. “He hurt you.”

“It’s nothing,” Ruby insists, unconsciously leaning back into me. “Clay got here before he could do any real damage.”

Lainey’s gaze shifts to me, assessing. Whatever she sees makes her nod slightly. “Thank you.”

I nod back, a silent understanding passing between us. She cares about Ruby. So do I. That’s all that matters right now.

“The shop,” Marcus says, looking around at the destruction. “Jesus, Ruby.”

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