Liam's Anchor (Royal Pines #3) - Donna Michaels Page 0,1

with the sheriff and the search and rescue team, who’d been hiking to their location.

Beyond grateful to hand Peter over, Liam eagerly gave a rundown on the situation, what he’d done, his assessment and treatment of the idiot, then refused their care, insisting he was fine.

“If we head back to the vehicles, I can give you a ride to Royal Pines,” the sheriff said. His cropped hair, keen gaze, and purposeful gait spoke of prior military service.

Liam shook his head. He was bone weary. Done in. All he wanted was to get the hell out of there—without conversation. “Thanks, but we’re going to hoof it back. We need to work off the adrenaline.”

Understanding flashed through the sheriff’s eyes. “Roger that.” With a curt nod, the man walked away.

Relieved to leave the responsibility of Peter-the-whining-dick behind, Liam blew out a long, slow breath. Exhaustion and pain loomed, eager to take over. He kept most of it at bay, but his chest, shoulder, and upper arm hurt like hell where his shirt was sticking to his open wounds—courtesy of his first attempt up the gully. Jagged rocks had cut through his coat and layers of clothing and breached his flesh.

But right now, he didn’t care. The only thing that mattered was getting back to the ranch and putting this day behind him.

He glanced down at Trident standing by his side, still alert and attentive despite, no doubt, feeling as beat at Liam. “Hungry?”

The dog lifted his head, his dark gaze locked on his, unwavering. Even though Trident remained silent and still, Liam knew it was an affirmation.

A grin tugged at his lips. “Roger that.” Although eager to leave, he dug in his pockets for food.

His dog came first. Would always come first.

Trident had been assigned to Liam’s SEAL team, and even though Ramirez had been the handler, the dog had been everyone’s battle buddy. One of the team. A four-legged SEAL. For seven years, they’d fought together. Had each other’s six. So, when Ramirez had died two years after Liam had left, and Trident had been retired because of his age, Liam had immediately stepped up and started the long process of adopting the MWD dog.

They had seen and lived through most of the same things. Dealt with similar reoccurring shit. It’d been a no brainer.

Liam and Trident were part of the same pack.

“Aha, you’re in luck,” he said, digging out a lone granola bar.

At that, Trident licked his chops. Liam’s grin widened…and his stomach growled. Huh. He hadn’t realized he was hungry. Now that he had, though, he knew it was a good indication that his PTSD was a lot lower than it had been when he’d first gotten out.

Four years ago, he’d topped the charts. Lately, he’d been in the low range. The credit belonged to Trident. Since the adoption had gone through last year, Liam hardly had medium days. Helping one of his team went a long way to soothing some of his demons.

Now, if Trident could just help rid the damn restlessness plaguing Liam the past few months, that’d be great.

He broke the bar in three pieces and tossed two to Trident before eating the last piece.

Trident is always first.

Liam pulled two bottles of water from Trident’s backpack, opened one to pour slowly while the dog drank, then he downed the other in a couple of gulps. When finished, he shoved the trash in the backpack. That was food and drink taken care of…two of life’s creature comforts. All that was left was sex and sleep. He snorted as he straightened.

Sleep was possible. Sex? Not so much.

His choice.

Probably why he was so damn restless.

With a grunt, he set off in the direction of the ranch, Trident on his six.

He hadn’t been on a date since late summer. Just before Finn’s wedding, to be exact.

The day he ran into…her.

The blast from his past. The beauty who made him forgo duty, break rules…and pay the price with his buddies’ lives.

To be fair, Stacy hadn’t technically made him do a damn thing. It had all been on him. The crossing the line, brotherhood rule-breaking, it had all been Liam’s doing. He knew the consequences of dating another brother’s ex, and yet he hadn’t been able to resist her smile, her zest for life. Stacy was genuine, the real deal, and he’d been drawn to her like a damn magnet to steel.

Growing up with a father who had embraced all the political crap that went with running for D.A. then serving two