Page 62 of Haze

“What he doesn’t know won’t hurt him. He’s out on Saturdays.”

Brayden strolls right through the door, hands in his pockets, like he owns the place.

“Leave.” I let the Alpha command out, hoping Lena is deep enough into her sleep that the command won’t disturb her wolf.

I fight the urge to snap my jaws and put the fear of my wrath into him.

Snap his bird bones. My wolf offers a solution to the hateful bile bubbling within me.

Despite the command, he walks forward. “I want to say hi.”

“She’s asleep and needs her rest. Leave.” I try again, but keeping my voice down is hard.

All I want to do is snarl and scare him out of her room. Lena’s too vulnerable for this creep to be in her space, me here or otherwise.

Rip him limb from limb. Toss him in the river, my wolf chants on repeat.

It sounds like a wonderful idea. If it looks like an accident, none would be the wiser, right?

“Mr. Bachman.” Cade’s cool tone scolds darkly as he steps into the room, startling the idiot.

Brayden turns to Cade. Wearing a suit and looking significantly more intimidating than his usual casual look, Cade doesn’t smile, adding to the predatory nature. His steel-blue eyes cut into Brayden, who rightfully cowers.

“I was coming to say hi,” Brayden repeats himself.

The Leviathan’s eyes glow through Cade, now threateningly close to the surface. Cade nods with an eyebrow raised.

“Well, you’ve come, you’ve given your regards. No need for the Minnesota goodbye.”

Daggers shooting from Brayden’s eyes are enough to make me roll my own. I dislike that it comes down to my Alpha defending my mate instead of myself, but I’ve made a commitment to Cade to keep things less hands-on. The idea of an accident sounds more tempting by the second.

I pull my eyes from them as Lena moans in her sleep.

When the footsteps of my least favorite human are out of earshot, Cade speaks. “I’ll have a sentry or guard from Corinth Security posted here. You shouldn’t have to deal with him.”

With a nod of appreciation, I stand to take my leave. “Thank you.”

Cade looks at Lena while loosening his tie. “Any change?”

“A little more wakefulness today. Dinah says it’s closer to her being awake enough to move home.” I nod.

It seemed implied Lena would be going back to the Aldens’ rather than her apartment. I wasn’t extended a formal invite, but I don’t expect one.

“Get some rest.” He pats my shoulder. “I don’t know too much about Catholicism, but I’m guessing tomorrow morning you’ll be wanting to attend a gathering of some nature.”

He’s not wrong. I’m due for confession and Mass. Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned... I’ve spent a week fucking the most perfect woman in the world outside of wedlock. I’ve contemplated murder of an innocent man. Mostly innocent.

“If possible, but I don’t expect you to take more time away from your family. I’ll gladly miss Mass for you to see your mate,” I offer in an attempt to demonstrate my dedication to her.

God will have to forgive me for missing Mass for her.

Cade smiles despite the days we’ve spent worried about Lena. He shakes his head. “You and she aren’t obligations. You’re not burdens nor an inconvenience. We all want to be here for Lena, but The Leviathan and I agree it would be easier for you if I’m here when you can’t be. What time should I be here for you to go tomorrow?”

After looking up the Mass times on the website, I calculate the least amount of time I would need Cade to cover. He tells me to take the extra hour and get things done before I come back, and when I shake his hand, he pulls me into a hug.

I’m almost out the door when he says, “Call your Ma. She seems to think you’re dead and doesn’t believe me that you’ve been too busy to call.”

Scrubbing my hand down my face, I go to apologize for her. I know she can be aggressive. “I’m—”

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