Page 11 of Under an Endless Moon

“Just leave, Tanner,” I told him, praying he wouldn’t be an idiot and push this any farther.

He stared at me for a beat before a harsh breath jutted from his lungs, and he turned on his heel and strode out like he hadn’t just been pinned to the wall by a mammoth.

Otto stood there fuming as he watched him disappear around the corner before he spun back to me.

My heart was jackhammering at the interaction, at both the confusion of the way Tanner had acted and the ridiculous show of force that Otto had issued. My offense rushed out before Otto got the chance to say anything. “That was unnecessary, don’t you think? I don’t need you coming around here tossing all your brute around. I was just fine.”

Burly. Freaking. Bear.

Only right then, Otto wasn’t the cuddly teddy bear he sometimes was with me.

He absolutely fumed with fury.

It was these moments when I knew he wasn’t the happy-go-lucky guy that everyone thought he was. When I knew he was violent and dangerous underneath all those smirks and grins. Hell, I knew Otto Hudson better than anyone.

“I think it was very necessary,” he growled.

“I can handle myself.”

Otto pressed forward, his big body covering me in shadow, a tall tower that loomed with all that dark intimidation. But his hand was soft when he reached out and set it on my cheek, and he leaned in close when he said, “Told you I would never let anyone hurt you again, and I meant it.”

THREE

OTTO

River usedto razz me that I was a pretty nice guy unless I was murdering someone. Let it be known that I was not feeling soniceright then. Was inclined to chase the bastard down and show him exactly what the warning meant.

But Raven was staring up at me, her brow pinched and those inky eyes churning with so much emotion that I didn’t know how to make sense of it.

A vixen mixed with fragile vulnerability.

Didn’t know what to make of her half the time.

How to handle her.

What to do with the insanity that she conjured inside me.

One thing for sure, I needed her to understand the lengths I would go.

I thought she might argue with me, but instead she whispered, “I’m ready to go home.”

Yeah, it was probably a damned good idea since the only thing I wanted was to toss her over my shoulder the way I’d warned her and get her out of the sight of all these motherfuckers who’d been eye-fucking her since the second she’d stepped out onto the dance floor.

Get her away from the prick who’d been pressing in on her like he had the right.

Just get her the hell out of here before I did something stupid and snapped in front of everyone.

Before I did some of that murdering or got really reckless and told her she belonged to me. Maybe push her fully against the wall and make that sexpot mouth mine. God knew all the fucked-up ways I wanted it on me.

I roughed a hand through my hair, just realizing then I was covered in a sheen of sweat. Fiery possession singeing me through. “Sounds like a good plan.”

What I really should do was put her in an Uber and send her on her way, seek out Tiff so I could burn off some of this aggression. Distract myself with a hot body like I normally did when this woman spun me up so tight that I couldn’t see.

Wasn’t sure what the fuck was wrong with me, but I didn’t think I could stomach the thought of it tonight. Didn’t think there was a chance of letting her out of my sight until I had her tucked safely behind a locked door.

Raven angled around me, her stride quick on those wicked heels, like part of her wanted to get away from me as fast as she could.

She should.

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