Page 108 of Bad Cowboy, Tennessee

“I, uh, need to go back in and finish cleaning the taps?—”

“Max, I closed down the bar the moment we heard the shot,” Kane said.

“Right. Right,” I said, shaking my head.

My brain was so foggy I could barely keep track of time, now. Draven came back over, placing a hand at the small of my back.

“You’re safe,” he reminded me. Like he knew what I needed to hear.

My heart ached, like it was being pulled by a string in his control. He fuckingalwaysknew what I needed to hear.

“I think I should go home. Try to lie down,” I said.

“You’re not going home,” he said.

“Draven is right,” Kane said. “I’m going to go lock up the bar for the night and head back, but you should stay with him.”

Kane gave me another hug and went on his way.

I turned to Draven. My default was to protest when he tried to help me, and it came out, almost automatically.

“Draven, theygotthe guy. He’s with the police.”

“And what about the other one?” Draven said. “Reggie Sandlefield is still out there, and I’m tired of worrying about him.”

“Who?”

His expression darkened. “Rex67. The one with priors. Max, it doesn’t matter right now. You’re coming with us.”

It was another relief to hear that, honestly. For so long I’d thought Draven’s precautions were overkill, but right now, my world felt like it was shattered.

It had happened here.

Righthere.

I knew bad things could happen everywhere. I knew that in the big cities in Tennessee, worse crimes happened every day.

But in Bestens?

MyBestens?

I felt a tear break off down my cheek as finally, emotion cracked through me as the adrenaline slowly started to fade away.

“I didn’t think it could happen. I don’t want to feel unsafe here. This is myhome.”

Draven wiped away my tear with his thumb, cradling my head in his hands for a moment. “This should never have happened to you,” he said softly.

He leaned in, pressing a kiss to my cheek.

His lips were so warm. So soft. I wasn’t sure I’d ever been kissed so tenderly, and it was only on my cheek.

I pulled in a shaky breath, swallowing. “I’m not even scared, deep down,” I told him. “I just feel… violated.”

“Exactly,” he said. “One of the worst things a person can feel.”

Draven knew it all too well. My heart was heavy, not just for myself, for my town, but for realizing just how much he must have felt this, too. Every time his trust or his safety was violated.

It wasn’t fucking fair.

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