Page 147 of Fragile Sanctuary

“No onesaw the signs, Anson. Not Shep or the rest of the crew. Not Trace. Not me. No one. And it’s not any of our faults.”

Tears glimmered in Anson’s eyes. “I almost lost you.”

My throat constricted as I struggled to get words out. “Come here.”

Anson didn’t move.

“Come. Here.”

He took one step and then another, and then he was at my side.

I lifted my free hand and tugged him down to the bed, then pressed my palm to his cheek. “I’m okay. I’m here. Because you found me.”

Anson reached out, his hand ghosting over my face, then down the side of my neck before simply resting there. “I didn’t want to let you in. Didn’t want to care about anyone. It felt like such a risk.”

My heart hammered against my ribs as blood roared in my ears. Was this it? The time he told me he couldn’t do this? Couldn’t handle the pain a relationship could bring?

“But you stormed in anyway. You tore down every wall I put up. I didn’t want to love you. But I fucking do. With every part of me. It’s not a sappy love. It burns. Scars. It changed me. All in the best ways. I love you, Rho. And it killed that I was too scared to give you those words until now.”

Tears pooled in my eyes, spilling over and tracking down my cheeks. “I love you, too. I don’t want sappy love. I want the real kind. And that’s what we have.”

Anson leaned down, his lips ghosting over mine. “Even though I’m a broody asshole?”

I grinned against his mouth. “Yes.”

He kissed me again. “Even though I hate color?”

I chuckled. “I still think I’m going to get you into a pink shirt one of these days.”

Anson’s forehead rested against mine. “You know, I’d do anything for you. Even wear a damn pink shirt.” He cupped my cheek. “I love you.”

“With every part of me.”

52

RHODES

Trace,Kye, and Fallon all rushed forward as I stood from the hospital bed, all talking at once.

“Don’t move so fast,” Trace chided.

“Watch your arm,” Kye shouted.

“Let me help you,” Fallon said.

I gave them all an exasperated look. “Guys, I’m okay. Chill.”

With Anson finally being forced to leave the hospital for his interview with Deputy Hansen and the FBI, I’d thought I would get a break from the intense overprotectiveness. But that was not the case. My siblings had filled that role without missing a step.

The only one who hadn’t rushed forward was Shep. He stood in the spot he’d favored over the past twenty-four hours, in the corner, against the wall, his arms crossed. He’d barely said two words to me other than, “I’m so sorry.”

I was starting to worry that what had happened might’ve scarred Shep more than anyone. I understood it in a way. He’d hired Silas rightout of high school, worked with him every day for almost a decade, and hadn’t seen Silas’s darkness.

No matter what I said, it didn’t seem like Shep could let it go. Hopefully, that would change as he saw me doing fine. Or I’d eventually be able to get through to him.

“Give the girl a little breathing room, would you? She’s gonna suffocate.”

My head jerked in the direction of the voice. The move was too quick, and a wave of dizziness hit me, but I did my best to hide it. “Cope?” I choked. “What are you doing here? I thought you had a game.”

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