"He used to ride with Holt. Left about 6 months ago. Said he was done with all the killing. Now he's hiding out in a cabin about 20 miles from here trying to live straight." "You think he'd help us?" Garrick asked.
"I think he'd help me." Sihaya said. "He was close to my brother. He owes him." The plan we built over the next 2 hours was either brilliant or suicidal. Maybe both.
Rook Vatcher would be our way in. Our only way in. But first, we had to convince him to walk away from the quiet life he'd carved out for himself. "I'll ride out to him tomorrow." I said. "See if I can bring him in."
"We'll go." Sihaya corrected. "Rook knew my brother better than anyone. If we're going to convince him, I need to be there." Garrick frowned. "That's a lot of risk for both of you."
"If Holt's got men watching him." I said. "We'll deal with them." And I meant it. Something had changed in me since I met Sihaya. The cold, calculating gunman I used to be was giving way to something else.
Something warmer. But far more dangerous. A man with something to protect. As the night wore on and we sharpened the details of the plan, I couldn't help but notice how Sihaya filled the room. Not just because of her height.
But because of the quiet strength she carried. Garrick and Merrell respected her. And I understood why. It wasn't just that she was beautiful. She was commanding.
"Dax." She said later as we were getting ready to turn in. "Can I speak with you?" "Alone?" We stepped out onto the porch. The night air was cool, filled with the sound of crickets.
Above us the stars burned bright against a velvet sky. "You sure about this?" She asked. "Helping me go after Holt. You could walk away. Start fresh somewhere else."
I turned to her. Once again struck by how she could meet my eyes without ever needing to look up. In the moonlight, she looked like something out of legend. Beautiful. Fierce.
Impossible to turn away from. "I'm not going anywhere." I said. "Not without you." "Dax." "We've only known each other a day."
"I know." I cut in gently. "It's crazy. But I've spent most of my life running from things. And I'm tired of it."
I took a slow breath. For the first time, I found something worth staying for. She stepped closer. Close enough that I could see the starlight reflected in her dark eyes. "And what is that?" She asked.
"You." I answered. Plain and simple. She kissed me then. Soft at first. Unsure.
Then deeper as I pulled her close. She was strong. Warm. And felt like she belonged right there in my arms. And in that moment, I knew one thing for certain.
No matter what waited for us ahead. No matter what we faced with Varick Holt. I wasn't going to let anything happen to her. "I've never felt this way about anyone." She whispered against my lips. "Neither have I." I said.