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“Appears to be gone.”

“And your bond? It’s gone.”

I look at Theo as he touches the split scar at his throat. “Yes.”

Scarlet’s face softens. Then she looks at Pepper again. “What did it cost?”

Pepper answers before either of us can. “A concussion assessment and an ankle X-ray apparently.”

The paramedic shines a light in her eyes. “Definitely the assessment.”

Pepper sighs. “Sometimes I would like to be wrong.”

Movement near the road draws everyone’s attention. Honey comes through the gate carrying a blanket, two paper bags, and a drink carrier balanced against one hip. Junie follows with another bag and a look of deep offense.

“I was told there were Saints in the cemetery and shots were fired,” Junie says. “I brought carbs because nobody invited me to the exciting portion.”

Honey takes one look at Pepper and hands everything to Junie. Then she opens her arms. Pepper’s face crumples. Theo helps her stand just enough for Honey to wrap her up. It’s not a careful embrace. Honey hugs her hard. Pepper folds into her warmth.

Honey holds the back of Pepper’s head and rocks her once. “You scared me.”

“I scared myself.”

“That’s not comforting.”

“I’m working with limited material.”

Honey pulls back only far enough to look at Pepper. “You are allowed to stop being clever for five minutes.”

Pepper’s mouth trembles. “I’m pretty sure if I do, I’ll fall apart.”

“So fall apart.” Honey hugs her again.

Scarlet wipes her eyes.

Junie offers me one of the paper bags. “Emergency pastry?”

“What kind?” I ask.

“Unknown. I grabbed everything that looked supportive.”

I take the bag. “Excellent selection.”

She looks me over. “You’re the disappearing one.”

“Formerly.”

“Congratulations?”

I shrug. “Yeah, that works.”

Honey carefully lowers Pepper back onto the bench and wraps the blanket around her shoulders. The paramedic begins examining her ankle.

Theo stays crouched in front of Pepper, and I take the seat on Pepper’s other side. We arrange ourselves around her. The way a pack should.

A sheriff’s SUV stops near the gate. Wes gets out with mud on his clothes and blood across one sleeve. Roman goes to meet him, and they speak briefly. Then they walk toward us.

“Hammer is in custody,” Wes says.