[...]
Roni brought a cup of coffee and pushed it in front of Lauren.
Drink that, and I want your keys until you sober up.
-You’re not my mother.
Roni sighed.
-You’re right. I’d never be that much of a bitch. Your mom is the queen of mean, so thank you for saying I’m not her. Now, drink the coffee and behave.

[...]
Kade and his brothers were spies for the Alliance Intelligence Agency before tragedy turned them into drifters, stuck living on the road for the past five years, the guilt of what happened to the women in their family nearly eating them alive. Their parents were both dead, and they had very little family. To survive, they turned into mercenaries for hire if it was the right cause, which usually ended with them picking up one or two lost, victimized females with every job—until now.

[...]
-I heard you had to punch out a customer.
Chuckling, Roni sipped her drink.
-Yeah. He grabbed my ass. I punched him in the nose. He went down and stayed there. End of story. You’d think everyone around here would know better than to mess with me.
Laurel i Roni.

[...]
Lauren felt miserable.
-I thought you’d be sympathetic.
Roni reached over and gripped her hand on the table.
-I love you, Lauren. I always have. You’re the closest thing to a sister I’ve ever had. I hope this works out for you. I want you to be happy. Right now, you obviously aren’t, and if I thought it would help, I’d go find him and kick his ass just for you. You give me the word, and I’ll load a shotgun with salt rock to shoot into his ass.
Lauren grinned.
-I feel better already. Really? Salt rock in a shotgun ?
-Works pretty damn good - Roni arched an eyebrow at her.

[..]
-Yes, that night with you taught me that because I never felt with Brent the way I did with you. I realized there was so much more to marrying someone than having a few similar interests. I guess I didn’t get around enough. I didn’t know what a real connection with someone could be like until you.
-I’ve been around, and it’s never been like that with anyone else but you. What we have is special.- He shook his head, staring into her eyes.-“I can’t lose you, Lauren. I won’t lose you. I won’t survive if I do.