Page 42 of Mitchell
What Daruss didn't know was Seryn's connection to Mitchell. All he knew was they had touched each other a lot. Since Seryn wasn't one for touching, Daruss had his suspicions. But he didn't know for sure. He could have thought they were just fucking. Knowing they were mates would become a factor for Daruss.
"Seryn, do you want soda? Ronin's been experimenting. He made a nonalcoholic berry thing you'll love." Daruss called from the kitchen.
"I'll try it at the club, boss. Water's fine." Ronin's hooch was legendary. Everyone at the club loved it. Getting into other things besides Dragonshine came as a surprise.
Mitchell raised his eyebrows.
"Burke."
"Water's good. Thanks."
"What about your friends?"
"They're more friends of Seryn's," Mitchell explained.
Evan shook his head. "A soda sounds good."
Daruss finished serving everyone and went to sit, but Seryn caught his arm as he passed. That stoic expression was one Seryn had seen a lot of. He was used to it. "What is it, Seryn?"
"Mitchell is my mate. You need to know because it will change things."
Daruss nodded, his jaw muscles ticking. He glanced at Mitchell, who kept a hand on Seryn's thigh under the table. "Are you intending to bond?"
Before Seryn could answer, Mitchell said, "Yes. As soon as we get some time alone."
Mitchell's grin showed he knew he had two up on Daruss. One being Jude's brother. The other was mating with Seryn.
From Daruss’s growly sigh, it seemed he knew it too.
Daruss sat next to where Raylee sat on Jude's lap. He put an arm around Jude's shoulders and then kissed his cheek. "Do you think you can be quiet while I have a talk with your brother?"
Jude took a long time to answer, but he finally said, "I trust you, Daddy."
Daruss's expression softened for Jude and Raylee in a way Seryn hadn't ever seen on Daruss before. "Good boy." When Daruss addressed Raylee, he cupped Raylee's cheek. "You can't talk for Jude. Got it?"
Jude cursed under his breath, which made Mitchell chuckle.
"Okay, Daddy." Raylee turned on Jude's lap. "Sorry, Jude."
"That's okay, pretty." Jude kissed him and, for a moment, they lost themselves in each other, providing Daruss with the opening he needed.
Daruss's expression hardened when he met Mitchell's gaze. "You nearly got your brother killed and for that, I won't make it easy for you."
Mitchell stiffened, but just nodded. "I made a mistake working with Terrell. I knew the arms job was too big, but the money would have set us up for a while."
Jude and Raylee stopped kissing to watch Daruss wearily.
"Jude explained it to me." The lack of basic needs like shelter and food made anyone desperate. Seryn understood why Mitchell made the choice he made, but he wondered if Daruss did. "I wanted to hear you admit it."
Mitchell's expression hardened. It was the first time Seryn had seen him angry. "I know I fucked up."
"Some people wouldn't admit it." Daruss held up a hand when Jude tried to speak, but Daruss didn't take his gaze off Mitchell. "Don't interfere."
Jude scowled at Daruss. "Mitchell would never hurt me, Daruss."
Daruss turned to Jude and leaned forward, getting inches from his face. "I won't allow anyone to get away with hurting you ever again."
"Buthedidn't. Terrell did." Jude didn't back down, which came as a surprise. Everyone backed down from Daruss, if they were smart. Seryn didn't know Jude well, but he knew he had common sense. It seemed Daruss didn't scare him the way he scared other people.
