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“They were bad men,” Matty announced as he pulled back from me

“They were,” I said “But they can’t hurt you ever again, okay?”

Matty nodded and then looked overtowards us His shirt was covered in blood, but I kneasn’t his I was stunned to see Mav walking behind him And I knew instantly where the knife that had hit Buck in the wrist had come from

Hawke dropped to his knees beside ed Matty into his arms and buried his face in his shoulder

“I read your mind,” Matty announced when Hawke released him

“Oh yeah?” Hawke said, his voice thick and uneven He shifted his gaze to me and I nearly lost it when his hand went around my neck and he just heldI pressed up against his side as I focused on my son

Our son

“You were thinking about saving me and Daddy”

Hawke lifted his other hand to stroke Matty’s cheek “That’s exactly right,” he said

“And you knohat else?” Matty announced as he wiped at his tear stained face

“What else?”