Page 37 of Blood of Vengeance

“Yes.”

“You don’t look as old as him.”

“It’s the antioxidants in my bougie water, I wear sunscreen religiously, and my skincare regimen is on point. Self-Care fucking Sunday is my jam.”

She choked out a laugh, and I smiled, unable not to. This woman had me wrapped. Two days, and there was nothing I wouldn’t do for her. Nothing I wouldn’t give up. And someday, I would tell her that.

Lights suddenly shone through the window, and the sound of multiple motorcycle engines rolling down my driveway broke the moment. My smile immediately fell, and Locklyn looked up, her expression turning fearful.

I lifted a finger to her chin and turned her face my way, regaining her focus. “It’s the club coming to get me.”

“Why wouldn’t they just call?”

“They did.”

She frowned, that brow furrowing adorably. “You ignored them?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“You needed to calm down so you could eat.”

My mate did not seem convinced. “Pretty sure my dad never once ignored the guys for my mom.”

“Then she didn’t matter as much to him as the club.”

Locklyn scoffed. “Yeah, seems that way.”

Her irritation intrigued me. “Were they mated?”

“Who?”

“Chiggy and your mom.”

A simple lift of her shoulder was all the answer I needed, but she followed it up with a quiet, “I don’t know.”

But I did. “Then no.”

“Why? Does being mated matter?”

There was no way to answer that without giving myself away. No way to explain the whole fated mates ephemera in what little time I had. So I leaned in close, taking up space once more. Inserting my hips between her thighs and running my hands down her back as I whispered to her.

“A mated wolf would have never let their mate walk away. He would have chased her down and given up the world for her. He would have done anything to make her happy.” I backed away, sighing. “Are you going to be okay if I go?”

“Do you have a choice?”

I glanced at the front door as Cutter’s voice came from the other side. My likely new club president yelling for me. He needed me, but so did my mate.

“When it comes to you, I will always have a choice.” I leaned in closer, wanting so badly to kiss her but holding back. “We’re hunting for your dad’s truck, not partying. If it were anything else, I’d tell them to fuck off. But I want to know who killed Chiggy so I can return the favor. Your dad deserved that much. You do, too.”

She stared up at me for a long moment, contemplative. Anxiety gone and eyes once again fierce. “Then go find my dad’s truck. And whoever killed him.”

Decision made. I leaned in and dropped a kiss to her lips, unable not to. Keeping my tongue in my mouth like a fucking gentleman even as I pressed my hard dick against her.

“I’ll find it for you. You still got the money I gave you?” I murmured when we broke apart, stealing one more taste before taking a step back, grunting softly when she nodded. “Good. Get some rest—I’ll likely be gone most of the night, but there’ll be a man outside.”

I turned on my heel and headed for the front door, knowing I had only one shot at leaving. If she called my name, if I paused for even a second, I’d have her naked and underneath me for the night. There would be no hunt for Chiggy’s truck, no club business, that could take me from her. Not if I surrendered the way I wanted to.

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