Page 29 of Deviant

“I don’t know,” Jax said. “Better to take the offensive, if you ask me.” Footsteps landed on the floor inside the cabin, indicating movement. “You guys can hide out here indefinitely, but a wedding, even on the down-low, will attract attention for sure.”

“By attention, you mean her father.”

“And her brother.”

A pause, during which my heart pounded too hard.

“Shit always goes south. I think you should tell her, man.”

Rafe sighed. “I hear you, but until we have some fucking concrete answers, she doesn’t need to know her father is out.”

Hell no.

I catapulted the steps and flung the screen door open, my sudden movement startling Angel, and stormed into the living room. “My dad is out of prison?”

Rafe took one look at me and cursed under his breath. He rose from where he sat with his elbows on his knees, and I backed up, too angry with his high-handedness to be near him right now. He knew what this meant to me. I’d wanted to visit my dad in prison, but Rafe had said no, claiming that coming out of hiding wasn’t a good idea. But now Rafe and I were about to return to the land of civilization and get married.NowI could confront my dad with the burning question I couldn’t get out of my soul.

What really happened to my mom?

Rafe reached for me, but I held up a hand. If he tried touching me, I might throw something at his head again.

“Tell me the truth. Is he out?”

“Yes, but this doesn’t mean you need to worry.”

“I don’t need to worry?” I raised my brows, same as my tone. “We’re talking about the man who killed my mom.”

“According to Zach.”

“Yes, according to Zach, who will no doubt be back now that Dad is free. How can you tell me not to worry?”

Rafe exchanged a look with Jax as if to saythis is why I didn’t want her to know.

“Don’t you dare exclude me from this! I’m not a fucking child. You said it yourself—I’m unbreakable. Remember? Well put your money where your mouth is.” I prodded his chest with a finger. “You punish the fuck out of me for hiding the smallest stuff, but you do it all the damn time. I’m sick of it!”

The instant a twitch went off in his jaw, I knew I’d gone too far. He circled my wrist in the vise of his fingers. “Excuse us,” he said, throwing a glance in Jax’s direction as he dragged me toward the hallway. “Time for the backup plan.”

13. Not a Democracy - Rafe

“Don’t touch me!” She pulled free of my grasp as the door slammed behind us, and I stalked her retreating form. She had nowhere to go, but that fact didn’t stop her from trying. She bumped into the bed and held up her palms. “I mean it, Rafe. Don’t fucking come near me.”

“You can’t stop me from touching you.”

“So you’re just going to chain me up like a dog every time you don’t get your way?”

“I don’t know,” I said, grabbing her by the chin. “Are you going to be a reckless brat every time you don’t get yours?”

“You’re not being fair,” she said through gritted teeth.

“Babe, this relationship hasn’t been fair from the beginning. I fucking kidnapped you. What makes you think I’m a fair man?”

“I know your heart.”

“Then you know how fucking dark it can get.” I let go of her chin and tangled my fingers in her hair, angling her head back so I could look down into her face. “You want to marry me? Then trust me. I know you want answers, but going to your father for them is too dangerous.”

“He’s the only one who can tell me the truth.”

“He’s not going to tell you shit, babe.”

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