Chapter 44 Saint
Saint
Marco’s words don’t leave room for denial.
She’s building a chokehold.
I stand in the cabin doorway with my phone still in my hand.
Inside, Laney sits on the couch with the baby asleep against her chest.
She’s singing softly.
A quiet little tune I’ve never heard before.
The baby’s tiny fingers curl against the fabric of Laney’s shirt.
For one second, I consider lying.
Pretending everything is fine.
Pretending the storm hasn’t already arrived.
I don’t.
“She’s buying land near here,” I say.
Laney’s voice stops mid-song.
Marco’s voice remains calm in my ear.
“Not next door. Not obvious. But close enough to watch the roads. Utilities. Access points.”
I close my eyes briefly.
“How close?”
“Too close.”
The call ends.
I immediately key my comm.
“Wolf. Trigger. Havoc. We’re tightening everything.”
Laney looks up at me.
Her expression is calm.
But I can see the question behind it.
“Saint…”
“She’s not coming for you,” I say.
“She’s coming for control.”
Laney studies me for a moment.
“And what does that mean?”
“It means,” I reply quietly, “we stop pretending this is temporary.”
The words hang in the room.
Heavy.
Final.
I cross the room and kneel in front of her.
“Nothing changes about how you live,” I tell her gently.
“But everything changes about how we protect you.”
She nods slowly.
Brave.
Even though I can see the fear she’s trying to hide.
“I trust you,” she says.
The words land harder than any threat ever has.
Because now…
There’s no way I can fail her.