Page 47 of Through the Fire

Her date locks eyes with me and says, “I’ll make sure she gets home safely.”

I size him up from head to toe then threaten, “if you touch a hair on her head without consent, I’ll hunt you down and rip every ball hair out with tweezers.”

“Fuck, man. Chill. I swear she’ll be safe. Here,” he says and sticks his hand in his pocket and produces his wallet. He opens it and pulls out a card. “Here’s my info. You can text me and I’ll send you a pic. I appreciate that you’re looking out for her but I promise, I’m a good guy.”

I take the card from him and study it. when I look up at him again I note the intensity in his eyes then see how he holds tight to Dani’s waist.

“Okay,” I concede. Turning to Dani I ask, “can I get Luna’s phone? I’ll have her call you tomorrow.”

Dani opens her purse and hands over Luna’s phone. I snatch it from her hand and give her a small nod of my head before plowing through the crowd and out of the bar.

When we arrive home, Lane is passed out on the couch with all three kids hanging off of him, snoozing and snoring. Luna takes in the scene and chuckles.

“I’ll take Poppy if you grab the other two?” She whispers.

“Okay, but who gets Lane?” I raise an eyebrow at him as I scoop up the twins in my arms.

She looks him over and shakes her head. “I’ll help him into the guest room.”

We take the kids to their rooms and tuck them in. I follow Luna downstairs and tell her, “I’ll take care of him. Go take a shower. I’ll be sure to lock up.”

I lean down and kiss her cheek and see her eyes so full of emotion. So much pain lies in them. The pain we both created exists in her eyes and lives in her heart. I hate it.

She nods and turns on her heel and up the stairs.

“Lane, buddy. Let’s get you to bed.” I shake his shoulder and he opens one eye.

With a groggy voice he asks, “did you get your girl?”

“Yup. Now, c’mon. You can sleep in the guest room.”

Lane holds up his arms lazily and lets them hang. He uses the same eyes as my wife’s like weapons and batted his lashes.

“Not happening, Lane. Get up.” There is no way in hell I’m carrying a grown ass man to bed.

“You owe me, big guy. Without me, your wife would still be out having the time of her life.”

He arches a brow and purses his lips. He isn’t going to budge which means I have to be the better man.

“Fuck me,” I mutter and bend down to gather Lane in my arms.

“I’d love to Roman but sadly, my sister says you don’t bat for my team.” He pats my cheek and I give him a grim smirk.

He holds on to me and I walk into the room and drop him on the bed like a sack of moldy potatoes. He bounces with a thud and shrieks.

“Oooh. So alpha. Lu said you liked a little rough play,” he teases.

“Jesus Christ. Go to sleep. Thanks for watching the kids.”

I leave him to his own inclinations and check the doors and set the alarm before making my way up to our room.

The lights in the bedroom are off, but a sliver of light coming from the bathroom shines across the floor like a beacon.

I pad across the plush carpet and slowly push open the door. The glass shower enclosure is fogged over and steam billows out, obscuring my view of Luna. But I don’t need to see her to know what she’s doing.

Her sobs can be heard over the rushing water. My body moves on pure instinct, no coaxing needed.

The door creaks as I drag it open. There, huddled in the corner of the shower, sits my girl. She’s curled into herself and her body shakes with brutal sobs.

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