Page 84 of Brage & Dinah

The passenger door opened and Brage slid into the seat. She rolled her head on the cushion and looked at him.

"We need to stop meeting like this," she said.

"You said you were going down to eat. You weren't in the kitchen."

"I felt like coming outside. It's calm out here. Quiet."

"Mhm." He palmed his thighs and pulled at his jeans, getting more comfortable. "Elling keyed me in on where you were."

"Speaking of Elling..." She half turned in the seat so that she could look at Brage without turning her head. "Have you ever noticed how he starts to say something and then stops halfway through?"

Brage chuckled silently. "He's been like that ever since I've known him."

"I wonder what that's about?"

He shrugged. "Norwegian men don't make small talk just to hear themselves speak. He usually sticks to what's important."

Not knowing Elling as well as some of the other Slag members, she chose to keep the conversation about his past to herself and not share or question Brage about him.

"I'm scared," she whispered.

"I know you are, babe."

"I have no memory of my parents. I always thought that was strange since Brad and Tony told me our parents died when I was seven. I doubt they even have parents or any contact with them. There was never any pictures or proof that they existed."

"I want to ask you something, and I need you to be honest with me." Brage waited for her to nod. "Did the Reed brothers abuse you?"

"Wh—?" She frowned. "Why would you ask that?"

"Because I'm trying to figure out their motive behind taking a child, a young girl, and raising her to believe she was their sister. They alienated you from having a normal childhood." He looked out the windshield, but the only thing outside was the brick wall of the back of the bar. "Then, I'm going to kill them."

She opened the door, stormed around the vehicle, and stood at the passenger side beside Brage. Fury wrapped around her brittle heart. "Get this straight. I don't give a damn about Brad and Tony. For all I care, I hope I never see them again in my life. But, if you kill them, I will never forgive you. I will be gone, and you'll never see me again."

Brage's eyes narrowed. "You still care about them."

"No, you idiot." She fisted his vest and shook him. "I care about you. I love you."

His gaze intensified as his mouth softened. The fight in her waned. She threw her arms around him and held him tight. If she had to glue herself to his side, she would. She wouldn't allow him to do anything that would take him away from her.

After having a dream about him leaving her, the conversation shook her to the core.

"I can promise you a lot. But, I won't make promises that have to do with protecting and honoring you." He palmed her head. "You're going to have to accept that. That's what love is built on."

She closed her eyes, expecting nothing less from him. She knew him well enough to know he stood behind what he said.

"Are we going to survive the next couple of days?" She straightened. "What if—?"

"We'll make it." He brushed her hair away from her face. "I'll make sure we do."

Her chest squeezed and tomorrow's meeting rushed to the forefront. There was a lot depending on the outcome.

She hoped they were strong enough to survive.

---