Page 41 of In Another Lifetime

Day stared into Kale’s eyes. “Funny,” he said, echoing Biter. “That’s my sole mission, too.”

Twenty-Three

Dayton

Vale fidgeted in the seat beside me, even after I reached over and wrapped my fingers around her thigh. And it wasn’t sexual tension, though when we got home I had plans to distract her with plenty of lovemaking. I needed to hold her and ground myself with her. Tonight was… A lot, to say the least. More than I could have imagined, even in my boyhood dreams that had once been similar to Kale’s. Mine had led me to police work while his had led him to the military.

“You okay?” I asked, tightening my fingers in a tender, hopefully reassuring squeeze.

“Not really. After everything Kale told us about Dutch, the thought of going to my house, alone, even with bodyguards watching the place, puts me on edge.”

“Stay with me.”

“Really?”

“Of course.” Fuck, if I didn’t think it was too soon to move in together, I would have suggested it already. I wanted to be in bed with Vale every night.

“Okay. Thank you. I…” Her head cocked, her brows drawing together. “My brother has super powers,” she said as if she’d just realized it.

“I know.”

“I didn’t. You’re not freaked out by it?”

“A little,” I admitted. “You seem okay with it.”

She lifted a shoulder. “I’ve lived with them for five years. They’re just…them.”

“Five years?”

“I don’t remember anything of my life as Vale Corin before that.”

“The accident?” We hadn’t really talked much about it. I’d seen her scars. Some of them on her legs were vicious. And she’d mentioned being in a terrible car accident, but the topic made her uncomfortable, so I didn’t pursue it. I just showed her with my mouth and touch how undeniably beautiful she was to me.

“Yeah, the accident. Afterward, every one of those guys looked after me and helped me heal. They’re my honorary brothers.”

I was glad she added the last because the Neanderthal part of me had wanted to demand to know exactly how they’d looked after her. Not how I planned to take care of her tonight, thank God. Not because I expected Vale to have been a nun or anything. I just didn’t want to play nice with any ex-lovers.

“Brennan’s home,” she said when I pulled into my driveway.

“Good,” I said while I scanned the area. “I need to talk to him about arrangements before bed. If he’s up.” It had been decided that Brennan would stay at the club until things with Dutch were cleared up. When Vale had asked about some danger Kale had mentioned to her a couple days ago, he’d claimed that was cleared up—for now—and Brennan would be safe.

For tonight, Kale’s men would be watching my place and Vale’s, but Kale didn’t like splitting his forces that way for more than one evening.

“He’s eighteen,” Vale pointed out. “I’m sure he’s awake. He’s always been a night owl.”

“What?”

“As far as I know anyway,” she added quickly, at the same time as my question.

“You’re right. He is.” I opened my door. “Stay there while I come around.”

As quickly as possible, I hustled her inside almost wishing we were all going back to the club tonight. Not for me, but for her and Brennan.

“Do you want a drink before bed?” I asked.

“No.”

I nodded, feeling like an inexperienced teenager who’d snuck in a girl while my parents were out of town.

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