Page 21 of Dane's War

Dane, well, he came straight to me, situated himself in a chair so close to me, yet he kept his distance. Like he was close enough, if I moved the barest inch, I could touch him, but otherwise there was no touch. Unless you count his arm against the back of my chair. Still, he really wasn’t touching me there, either.

I wasn’t sure exactly how I felt about this, what I did know was I didn’t like it. It felt off, and I didn’t understand it.

“Because you’re his mate, Raine.” This time, it was Karsyn who answered, her body shifting on Corbin’s lap, her upper body leaning slightly forward. She stretches an arm out in my direction. Without thinking, I place my hand in hers. “If you can trust us with this. Trust your mate, we can keep you safe.” She then lowers her voice. “He won’t be able to hurt you again.”

I knew everyone heard her, that Dane heard her, but the way she spoke was soothing and reassuring.

“My ex sent his buddies to teach me a lesson for leaving him. He didn’t take kindly to the fact I broke up with him,” I find myself saying before I realize what I’m actually saying. Sighing, I figure I might aswell keep going. “The men who attacked me last night were supposed to teach me a lesson and bring me back to him. He’s not the kind of guy who . . . well . . . you leave.”

“What’s the fucker’s name?” Dane demands on a snarl. Twisting to look at him, I see the vibrance of his eyes glowing.

“Shit,” Corbin growls. “Dane, calm down.

“Brother, you need to calm down,” Justice remarks, his voice terse.

“What’s his name, Raine?” Dane snarls again.

Slowly, I reach out, touch his chest, and whisper, “Dane.”

“Name,” his voice nearly that of an animal’s.

“Brady Contreras,” I murmur softly, holding his gaze. “Please calm down, Dane.”

Dane’s eyes flash dark brown, nearly black to the blue. Nostrils flaring. But he calms down marginally, his hand coming up to curve around my neck. “You tell me what he did to you. Not now, not in front of everyone, but later, you need to tell me.”

“Okay,” I blurt instantly.

I should tell him it’s none of his business, but seeing him like this, ready to lose it, I can’t. I feel a draw to him, unlike anything I’ve ever felt before. I haven’t done anything more than a few barely theretouches and him kissing my forehead, and yet the thought of not having him touch me pains me.

“Good girl,” Dane growls, his eyes flashing once again, his breathing going normal. He blinks and glances around the table before looking back at me. “What can you tell us about this guy?”

“I . . . um . . . I . . .”

“I know the name,” Justice remarks before I can say more. He looks to Corbin and jerks his chin. “You know the name as well. It’s the name we heard regarding that group moving in that deals in?—”

“Fuck,” Corbin snarls, not letting Justice finish. “You sure?”

“You know me. I don’t forget a name or face,” Justice grumbles, shrugging.

“Right, we need Coby to look into this fucker.”

“He’s already on it,” Justice confirms.

I glance between the two men to see them silently communicate something before nodding.

“Well, while they do whatever they’re going to do,” Karsyn speaks up, smiling, “why don’t you, Lake, and me go to town? We could do a little shopping.”

“Shopping!” Sage squeals, arms raising.

“Don’t think that’s a good idea, Syn,” Corbin remarks.

“Raine’s not going anywhere without me,” Dane growls.

“Why not?” Both Karsyn and I demand at the same time. However, hers wasn’t exactly a demand as such. More like curiosity.

“Because you were attacked yesterday, and I’m not going to let that shit happen again.” Dane’s eyes flash again.

Instead of heeding the warning of that flash, I twist fully to him and glare, eyes narrowing to little slits. “We might be mates, Dane, but I’ll tell you like I tell my brother and dad, you don’t control me and you don’t tell me what to do. I’m my own person, and I’ll do whatever the hell I want. If I want to go out with Karsyn and Lake I will. If I want to go home, I will. If I want to —”

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