Page 9 of Under an Endless Moon

Regret spilled into his features before arrogance came riding back. “You think anyone could get at me? Don’t worry, darlin’. I’m as safe as could be.”

Disquiet gusted through my being. I didn’t know what it was, but his words hit me like a lie.

“We need you here, you know that.” A bit of despair colored my voice.

“Wouldn’t leave you, Raven.”

Energy swelled between us. Our connection that we’d shared for so long flaming in the space. It was so intense and consuming that sometimes I swore it had to mean more than what we’d been labeled.

I nearly scoffed at myself.

I’d been thinking that for so long that it was becoming pathetic.

Clearing my throat, I cocked my head, covering the emotion and tossing it in light. “Good because I would have to hunt you down and kick your stubborn ass if you let yourself get hurt.”

Otto chuckled as his gaze swept over me. Something dark pulsed in the depths of that sapphire gaze. “Stubborn? Think you need to look in the mirror.”

My heart fisted when he said it, a thousand memories slamming me at his words. They shouldn’t mean much of anything. But to me? They’d meant everything.

“I just know what I want, Otto, and I’m finally going to go after it. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to use the restroom, grab anothertasty drink, and then take a little whirl around the club to see if anything catches my eye. Maybe I won’t require a ride home, after all.”

I tossed my hair over my shoulder, giving him as much sass as I could muster, acting like every interaction I had with him didn’t make my very untrustworthy legs quake.

Irritation buzzed through his demeanor, though he cracked a grin. “Just make sure he’s not a biker. Or a douchewad with a tiny prick who thinks he’s God’s gift to women. Or wearing a goddamned suit, for that matter. Last thing I need is for you to go breaking my heart.”

I had to hold back a scowl. I didn’t think he had the first clue about breaking hearts.

“You pretty much just whittled my options down to nothing.”

He tugged on a lock of my hair. “Exactly the point.”

Ugh. I wanted to stamp my foot and scream. Instead, I strutted off the dance floor, and I lifted my hand above my head and gave him a middle finger as I went.

I could feel the ripple of his chuckle follow after me.

Frustrating, infuriating man.

Still, a smile threatened as I wound through the horde of people packed in Kane’s and headed down the hall to the left of the dance floor toward the restrooms. I pushed into the women’s and went straight to the sink, trying to gather the disorder of thoughts that whirled around me.

This need to let go. To set myself free.

All mixed up with the bindings that had always tied me to Otto.

Blowing out a sigh, I washed my hands and dried them with a paper towel, then I blotted it against my face before I stepped back out into the hall.

I came to a halt when I saw who was standing directly on the other side.

Tanner.

Unease twisted my stomach.

“Tanner, hey. What are you doing here?”

A frown pinched his brow, and I saw the hurt and frustrationspin through his green eyes. “Was out with a friend and saw you come this way.”

The twist in my stomach lessened. “Oh…well…”

I trailed off, not even sure what I was supposed to say.

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