Guardian Ranger (Shadow Agents 2)

Jasper turned his head to meet Cale’s hard stare. The man hadn’t really changed that much in the past ten years. A fierce fighter, a loving older brother and a man who would kill in order to protect the ones he cared for in

this world.

The funeral service was over. The few mourners were turning away.

Jasper shifted his stance lightly. That bullet of Wyatt’s had come close to his spine. A little too close for comfort. He’d taken six hits before and been able to keep walking. But that one bullet had almost taken him out.

He’d been in the hospital for two weeks. Wyatt’s service had been delayed while Uncle Sam finished the investigation on the EOD murders.

The case was closed now, mostly, anyway.

“I still think she’s too good for you,” Cale muttered. He’d only been in the hospital for a day; the wound he’d received had been easy to patch.

“You’re never gonna think anyone is good enough for her,” Jasper said. But Cale’s words were true. Hell, Jasper knew he wasn’t good enough.

Veronica turned and smiled at him.

But I don’t care if I’m not good enough. She wanted him. Somehow, that woman actually wanted him.

“What kind of life will you give her?” Cale pressed. “Always running off on the next mission, leaving her behind. That’s what I’ve already done to her. Our parents left us. Then I left her, again and again, on the missions that called me.” His voice tightened. “Missions that I could have turned away, but I didn’t.”

Because the man was a soldier at heart. The missions had called, and he had answered.

Jasper had been like that once, too. But things were different for him now. In his missions, he’d always been looking for something...

Someone.

Veronica was walking toward him.

I found her.

“There won’t be any more missions,” Jasper said as he glanced back at Cale.

Cale frowned. “What?”

Instead of repeating himself, Jasper said, “I was wondering, are you interested in selling your part of the ranch?”

“What ranch? I never fixed the place up and it’s blown to hell now.”

Maybe. Or maybe it was just ripe for starting over. Maybe this town was the place that he needed. Veronica was the woman he needed.

She was right in front of him now. They hadn’t been able to talk alone yet. Too many doctors. Too many EOD agents.

But he’d have her all to himself. Soon.

“I was told there’s a briefing today,” she said, raising her brows. “Do we go to headquarters?”

Headquarters. That run-down building that the EOD had claimed. The new sheriff would need a better central location. The new sheriff in town would need a whole lot.

Jasper nodded.

He noticed that Jimmy was just a few steps behind Veronica. The kid had been shadowing her. Whenever he looked at Cale or Jasper, he turned ghost-white.

They’d be getting rid of his fear at that briefing. The EOD would share its findings, and the case would be over.

Jasper glanced over at the closed casket.

No more murders in Whiskey Ridge. No more fear.