I don’t need to. Because Vic gets it. I can see it in how his entire body tenses, and his fists clench like he’s trying to hold back something dangerous. He exhales sharply through his nose, jaw tight, nostrils flared.

And then, he moves. Not aggressively. Not forcefully. Just intentionally.

He drapes his strong arm across the back of the seat, right behind me, while his other hand grips my thigh—not too hard, not too soft, but just enough to make me feel the comfort and security he’s offering. He turns his head just enough to look me in the eyes, and his voice comes out low, deep, and steady.

“I don’t care what he tried to take from you, Kerry. He didn’t win. Look at you,” He pauses, his gaze trailing over me like he’s seeing and adoring the deepest parts of me all at once. Like he’s daring me to see myself the way he does. “You’re still standing and still too damn powerful for any man who isn’t strong enough to be with you. And I swear to God, as long as I’m around, no man, especially not him, will ever make you feel small again.”

I swallow hard, and my heart nearly slams against my ribs as his eyes flicker to my lips before meeting my gaze again. I nod. And for a moment, we sit there, locked in a silence that feels heavier than words. I don’t move. He doesn’t move. But every feeling and emotion inside us does.

When the truck slows to a stop in front of the house, Vic exhales and drags his hand from my thigh with great reluctance. He steps out of the car, moving with the same quiet authority he always carries, rounds the vehicle, and opens my door before I can reach for the handle.

I stare at him with a pounding heart as he extends his hand toward me.

“Come on, Ms. Kind,” he murmurs, voice rough yet impossibly gentle. “Let’s get inside.”

I slide my hand into his, and he helps me out, steady and firm with his fingers lingering around mine even when my feet hit the ground.

“This isn’t just my home, Kerry. It’s yours. Your sanctuary. Your castle. Whether this is real or not, whether you want to believe it or not, this is where you reign, where you’re seen and cherished. Where no one will ever make you feel like less than the queen you are.”

Something unravels inside me, something deep, something fragile. My fingers instinctively curl around his, holding onto him, this moment, and his words.

Then, with one last lingering look, he gently tugs my hand. “Now, let’s go inside, where you belong.”