Chapter Nineteen
DOMONIC
An hour later I am still sitting on the couch. Draven fast asleep and wrapped in a blanket next to me. For some reason, I can’t stop touching her, even as she sleeps. I stroke her hip over the blanket as the rest of my pack crowds the room.
“What did you find?” I ask quietly, not looking up from her face.
“Nothing yet,” Logan answers, taking a seat on the armchair across from me. “She’s beautiful.”
My eyes shoot his way, and I swallow my initial anger by gracing him with a fake smile. “I know.”
“Rainier has got the entire department scouting for all black sedans with out of state plates in the vicinity. He should have a list for us soon enough.” James states, entering from the kitchen to stand and gawk at Draven.
“You can all stop staring at her now. It’s beginning to piss me off.”
“Right, Andrew says making his way toward the front door. “Well, I’m going to get some things from my place so that I can stay at the condo for a few nights.”
“You’re what?” I snap.
“She needs more protection than just you, Domonic. And I think I speak for everyone when I say, what happened tonight cannot happen again.”
I stand up. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?
“It means we’re all in this together,” Paul hisses, standing between me and the insubordinate asshole at my front door. “It means, worth our protection.”
she’s
I nod, “Right. Okay.” Glancing down at Draven, I say, “Quinn, you go and get some things too. You can stay in the guest room for a few days, while we figure this all out. Bartlett, go with him and fill him in on the extras while you’re out.”
“What extras?” Quinn queries, but I don’t answer him. I’m too ashamed.
How do I explain that I left me mate- who has been running from her abusive stepfather – all alone so that we could discuss her from four miles away? I can’t. So I don’t.
Logan edges in from the kitchen, I’d like to meet her, tomorrow. If I may. I mean, you are going to keep her, aren’t you?”
All eyes fell on me and I turn toward Draven.
God, I want to.
But, if I were to keep her, I’d have to tell her what I am, and if she doesn’t want me after find out? I don’t know that I could live with myself.
“You know I can’t,” I say,
“That’s bullshit,” Logan hisses.
I stand glaring down at Logan and say, “Whatever I decide to do, is what I decide to do. We all promised years ago, we weren’t going to
take any mates.”
1/3
Chapter Nineteen
“But that was before and we’re not the same as we used to be. We have better system than our dads did. And if she really is your mate, then she’s our queen, and you don’t get to be the only one to decide how we protect her.”
I chuckle, “Who the fuck do you think you’re talking to?”
“Think of it like this, Domonic. What if she meets someone else out there after you’ve let her go? Are you going to be able to stomach
that?”
I’m three seconds from knocking this idiot through the wall. “You don’t think I’ve thought of that? Fuck you,” I snap, “Get out.”
“Fine, but I’m going to be staying in the condo too. At least until we find out who tried to get in tonight.”
Before I can argue, Paul steps between us. “He’s right Domonic. Let’s just focus on her protection for now. We can talk about the other
stuff later.”
“I’m going to take her to bed. You sort the rest of these assholes out.” Then I lift Draven into my arms and carry her upstairs to my room.”
She doesn’t so much as stir. She must have been really scared for it to have drained her so badly.
Tucking her into my bed, I place a kiss on her forehead and head back down the stairs while dialing Rainier.
“What’s up?” He answers.
“Did you ever get that marriage certificate? We need that name.”
He groans. “Not yet. But I’ll check again once I’m back in the office. Maybe you should just ask her for it.”
“She doesn’t like to talk about it.”
“Well maybe it’s time that she does.”
“Right, I sigh. “Anything on the sedans?”
*Rental cars. I’m heading to the agency now to see if I can get some information on the few that we’ve found.”
“Good. Call me when you know something.”
I hang up the phone and look around at my living room. Quinn, James, Logan, Bartlett, and Andrew have all gone. Grant and Paul are whispering over a pot of coffee in the kitchen.
“What are you two cooking up?” I ask with a sigh.
“Logan’s right, Domonic,” Paul states. “You can try and fool yourself into thinking you’ll be able to make her leave, but I know it’s bullshit. You haven’t let her out of your sight since you found out she didn’t get on the train.”
I let out a frustrated groan. “What the fuck is your point?”
“My point, Paul taunts smugly. “Is that when we made that promise all those years ago, we were raw with pain from losing our moms. None of us really knew what we were thinking. Now, it’s been years, and maybe…”
“Maybe what? You want to put Draven in the same position our moms were in five years ago?‘ I snap. ‘We still don’t even know who lit that fire! And what if Draven doesn’t want me? Have you thought of that?”
He laughs. “Oh, she wants you. We both know it. That’s not the problem. You’re afraid she won’t accept what you are.”
2/3
Chapter Nineteen
“Shut up Paul. Go home. I’m tired and I don’t want to think about it right now.”
“Right, well, I’m going to head back to the bar and close things up for Bartlett, I’ll meet her tomorrow,” Grant says. “Unless she isn’t going to work there anymore.”
“Fuck no. She’s not working.”
“No, no, wait a minute!” Paul says, “Maybe that’s exactly what she needs to do. Because if the person who was here tonight was someone her stepfather sent for her maybe we shouldn’t be looking for them at all. Maybe we should be waiting for them to come looking for her.”
As much as it bothers me, he has a point. “Call Rainier. Tell him not to go to the rental agencies. In fact, let everyone know to stop looking so that we don’t scare them away. Because, if it is her stepfather, he doesn’t have a clue who he’s dealing with.” I smile. “Thank you for reminding me why I chose you for my best friend.”
Paul laughs, “Asshole.”
Grant nods. “This time when they come for her, we’ll be ready.”
Famous last words.
