Page 206

The meaning lands immediately. She isn't talking about Redwood Run. She's talking about Tom, the life he built around her, and the fear that's been following her for years.

Maggie stares down at their joined hands, blinking hard as though she's trying to stop herself falling apart too.

"You don't have to."

Maggie's eyes shine with fresh tears. "But Lucy..."

The name catches in her throat.

Laurel squeezes her hand tighter. "You didn't leave Lucy."

Maggie looks away. "You don't know how she feels."

"I do."

The conviction in Laurel's reply draws my attention. A month ago she would've approached this conversation by gathering facts and solving problems. Now she's sitting shoulder to shoulder with her sister, fighting for her with every word.

Maggie shakes her head. "If he finds me⁠—"

"He won't."

Briggs cuts in before she can finish.

Every head turns toward him.

He leans forward, massive forearms resting on his knees, looking exactly the same as he always does. Intimidating. "He won't find you."

Maggie studies him, searching for whatever makes him so sure.

Trust doesn't rebuild itself overnight. I can see that battle happening behind her eyes.

Briggs meets her gaze and shrugs slightly. "I know that's easy for me to say. Doesn't change the fact it's true."

The room settles around his confidence. Maybe it's because Briggs rarely speaks unless he means what he's saying. Maybe it's because every person here has already reached the same conclusion.

Tom White isn't getting another chance.

Maggie's attention shifts from Briggs to me, then to Torin.

She's asking a question she hasn't quite found the words for. What happens now?

I straighten in my chair. "We'll help."

Her expression flickers.

I glance at the papers spread across the table.

"We'll figure out the legal side. Protection orders, custody issues, whatever needs doing. I'll start making calls tomorrow," I say.

Briggs nods once. "And if your ex decides he wants to be stupid about it, he'll discover I'm a deeply unpleasant person to have as an enemy."

That earns the smallest huff of laughter from Maggie.

Briggs looks mildly offended by the reaction. "What? I was trying to be encouraging."

"You sounded like a warning label," Torin says.

"Same thing."