Chapter 260
CMWMBB 61
AARON
The sun was already high when I stepped out of the car.
Afternoon light flooded the ridge road, bright and unforgiving, turning every detail too sharp to ignore. Dust hung in the air where tires had churned through the dirt, and the scent of hot asphalt mixed with the faint bitterness of gunpowder.
Connor stood near a black SUV, arms crossed, posture rigid. Two men sat slumped against the hood in handcuffs, their eyes heavy and unfocused. A third was being lifted into an ambulance, paramedics working quickly around the blood soaking through his sleeve.
Alive.
All of them alive.
Which meant Iris had been here.
My pulse hit harder.
I closed the distance between us quickly.
“Why are we still standing here?” I demanded. “Why aren’t you already out looking for Colton and Iris p>
Connor didn’t react to my tone. He rarely did.
“We are,” he said evenly. “Search teams are moving through the ridge. I stayed back to brief you p>
“And Gabby?” I asked. “Who the hell is Gabby p>
Connor’s jaw tightened slightly. “Caretaker. That’s what they’re calling her. According to these two”-he gestured toward the cuffed men-“she drugged them. Turned on Andrea’s people. Took Iris into the woods p>
I stared past him toward the tree line, sunlight slicing through branches, shadows shifting in the heat.
“She could still be working for Andrea,” I said quietly.
Connor didn’t disagree.
“We don’t know yet,” he said. “But we have a chance at locating Iris because of her p>
I didn’t answer.
Trust wasn’t something I handed out easily. Not anymore.
“We need to move,” I said. “If she’s running blind p>
Movement caught my eye.
Subtle.
A flicker of motion deep in the trees.
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CMWMBB 61
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Connor followed my gaze instantly, tension snapping through his posture. One of our men raised his weapon slightly, scanning.
And then-
Colton stepped into view.
Sunlight hit him first, outlining his silhouette before the rest of him emerged.
He looked rough-shirt streaked with dirt, hair disheveled, jaw tight-but upright.
And in his arms-
Iris.
My breath left me all at once.
She looked smaller than I remembered. Her curls tangled, cheeks smudged, clothes dusty. But she was alive. Awake. Holding onto Colton like she never wanted to let go.
Behind him walked a woman.
Dark hair tied back. Clothes torn at the sleeve. Hands raised slightly as if she already expected a weapon to be pointed at her.
Gabby.
I felt my body go still.
Colton slowed as he approached, eyes flicking between me and Connor like he already knew this wasn’t going to be a warm welcome.
Iris saw me first.
Her eyes widened.
She whispered something to Colton.
He nodded, crouching to lower her carefully to the ground.
The moment her feet touched dirt,
She ran.
“Daddy p>
The sound cut through everything.
I dropped to my knees instinctively, arms opening just as she collided with me. The force of her knocked a breath from my chest, but I held her tight, lifting her easily, burying my face in her hair.
“I’ve got you,” I murmured, voice rougher than I intended. “You’re okay. You’re safe p>
Her small hands clutched at my collar, fingers trembling.
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“I missed you,” she whispered.
“I missed you too,” I said quietly.
I pulled back just enough to look at her face, scanning for injuries.
“Are you hurt?” I asked.
She shook her head quickly.
“No. Gabby helped me p>
My gaze lifted.
Straight to the woman standing behind Colton.
She froze under the weight of my stare.
Connor stepped forward slightly, posture guarded. Our men shifted, tension rising instantly.
Gabby’s eyes moved between us, reading the room too quickly.
She swallowed hard.
“I know how this looks,” she said quietly. “And I know I don’t deserve trust p>
I didn’t lower my guard.
“You worked for Andrea,” I said flatly.
“Yes p>
The word came without hesitation.
Colton shifted beside her, watching me carefully. “She turned,” he said. “Shot one of Andrea’s men to get Iris out p>
“That doesn’t erase everything,” I replied.
Gabby nodded slowly, as if she had expected nothing less.
“I’m not asking for forgiveness,” she said. “I know I’ll probably go to prison. And… I accept that. I was wrong. Helping her, staying silent-none of that goes away just because I changed my mind at the end p>
Her voice wavered slightly, but she didn’t look away.
Iris shifted in my arms, pulling back to look at her.
“No,” she said suddenly, voice small but urgent.
All of us looked at her.
“She’s not bad,” Iris insisted, eyes wide. “Jail is for bad people. Gabby is good p>
Connor and I exchanged a brief glance.
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Colton exhaled slowly, running a hand over the back of his neck.
“Sweetheart,” I said gently, “sometimes good people still make bad choices p>
“She saved me,” Iris said fiercely. “She didn’t let them hurt me p>
Gabby’s eyes filled with tears she tried to blink away.
“Iris-” she started, voice breaking.
Connor stepped closer to me, lowering his voice. “We don’t have to decide everything right now,” he murmured.
I nodded faintly.
Colton moved forward then, placing himself subtly between us and Gabby.
“She’ll be with me,” he said firmly. “Until we figure out what comes next p>
I studied him for a moment.
Colton didn’t make promises lightly.
After a beat, I nodded once.
“Fine,” I said. “She stays with you p>
Gabby let out a breath she had clearly been holding.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“I didn’t say you were free,” I added quietly. “I said you’re not alone p>
She nodded again, understanding the weight behind that distinction.
Iris relaxed slightly in my arms, relief softening her face.
“Can we go see Mommy, George and Sabine now?” she asked.
A faint smile pulled at my mouth despite everything.
“Yeah,” I said softly. “We’re going home p>
Connor began issuing quiet orders to the men around us, shifting the operation from search mode to escort. The tension that had held everyone rigid started to ease, replaced by something heavier-relief.
I adjusted Iris against my shoulder, feeling her weight settle as exhaustion finally caught up with her.
She rested her head against my chest.
“Daddy p>
“Yeah p>
“I knew you’d come p>
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The words hit deep.
I kissed her hair gently. “Always p>
Colton guided Gabby toward the second vehicle, speaking to her quietly as they walked. She glanced back once, eyes lingering on Iris before she climbed inside.
Connor moved to my side again. “Andrea’s going to explode when she hears,” he said.
“She already has,” I replied.
He nodded.
As I carried Iris toward the car, sunlight warmed the back of my neck, the afternoon air thick but steady.
This time, we weren’t chasing rumors or shadows.
This time,
I had my daughter,
And no one was taking her from me again.
日
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Ruby Walker
Ruby Walker is a rising voice in the world of romance and spicy fiction. With a gift for weaving deep emotions, sizzling chemistry, and unexpected twists, her stories are a blend of passion and drama that captivate readers from start to finish. Ruby’s writing style is bold and irresistible—perfect for those who crave intense, addictive love stories.