257\u2013Time To Matters Into Our Own Hands\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeline:\u00a0<\/p>\n
By the next day, I had noticed a few patterns about her. She seemed very timid and meek.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Even though she was our age, it felt like she had never worked a day in her life.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I asked her about packs, and she said she had never lived in one, which confused me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I could not ask her many questions because she would break down often.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And of course, the sight of Baxter was traumatizing for her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
At the time, she was hesitant around anyone, and I understood why.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The only thing that seemed to cheer her up was Bodhi\u2019s interaction with her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He was taking care of her and making me proud. As for Elara and Gina, they were giving their father company.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After the woman decided to take a short nap, I stepped outside the shelter to speak with Baxter about a few things.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I noticed the ground no longer looked uneven. Baxter had been working on the base.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He had set thick logs into place, creating a solid surface to build on.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, how is she?\u201d Baxter asked, adjusting the support beam while crouching low.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShe is still pretty shaken up. I tried to ask for her name, but I do not think she is ready to open up about anything right now,\u201d I replied, helping Baxter as much as I could.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHold it there,\u201d Baxter instructed, guiding me to keep the log steady.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I planted my feet and held the log in place.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, she will be traumatized for a while. What they did to her is hurtful,\u201d Baxter continued, speaking with difficulty.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I knew why this topic was heavy on him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Baxter was crouched near the base, adjusting the log when I spoke again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSo I was thinking about why she is angry,\u201d I mumbled, watching him secure a peg into place.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stood a few steps away, my arms loosely crossed, after he gestured for me not to step back and showed me he had it handled.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The way she kept throwing fits and having outbursts came from the pain they had caused her, but also from the fact that she was not able to get justice.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is it?\u201d Baxter asked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is a lack of justice,\u201d I mumbled.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He stayed crouched for a moment longer, wiping his hands on his pants.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI told you I will look for them. They will not let them get away with it,\u201d he replied sternly, sounding confident.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I shook my head, shifting my weight.\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/2\u00a0<\/p>\n
257 Time To Mutters to Ora Dwn Hands\u00a0<\/p>\n
+25 Bonus\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, I do not think that is how it will work,\u201d I replied.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The tone of my voice made him go still. He turned fully toward me, giving me his full attention.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are you thinking, Madeline? Say it,\u201d he insisted, likely noticing the way I kept glancing at him, as if forming a plan in my head.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe should plan a trap,\u201d I said, then paused as the idea took shape.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOr we could do something else,\u201d I added, stopping again when I noticed Baxter standing firmly now, his jaw tight.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are you thinking about, Madeline?\u201d he demanded, his voice firmer this time.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI think if I wander around looking like a damsel in distress, they will show up,\u201d I said, then drew in a breath when I noticed the look on his face.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He shook his head and pointed a finger at me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo. I am not putting you in danger,\u201d he replied, stepping closer so he could look into my eyes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBaxter, you know I can take care of myself. I can defend myself,\u201d I said, then paused, choosing my words carefully.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat I mean is, if I am strong enough to take them down and you stay nearby, keeping a close watch, it will be easier for us to catch them.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I tried my best to explain, but his expression did not soften, which told me he was not convinced.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou think power and strength are all you need to protect yourself?\u201d he asked, his hands on his waist.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou need a solid plan. You do not know what kind of weapons they have. They know this place well. You do not, Madeline.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then he stepped closer and lowered his voice.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd do not forget you have three children here. What if we fail to catch them? They will come back for the children instead.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
When he said it out loud, I finally understood the tension in his shoulders and why he was so against the idea.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSo you want me to believe that once they are under your watch, they will escape?\u201d I asked, folding my arms over my chest, noticing the surprise on his face.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBaxter, once you are onto them, I do not think they will have much choice but to surrender. And what makes you think they will not come after my children? Do you really think that us not interfering will keep them at bay?\u201d I continued, pressing my questions.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As I spoke, I noticed he finally began to understand that we could not simply look for them. We had to lure them in.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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\u2019s writing style is bold and irresistible\u2014perfect for those who crave intense, addictive love stories.<\/p>\n
257\u2013Time To Matters Into Our Own Hands\u00a0 Madeline:\u00a0 By the next day, I had noticed a few patterns about her. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19458","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-no-daddy-novel-by-novelnozi"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19458","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19458"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19458\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19626,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19458\/revisions\/19626"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19458"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19458"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19458"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}