Page 62 of The Mobster's Mate

Caden nodded. “Yeah, that’s what I thought. So are you…” He shook his head, blinking quickly to try and get rid of his tears before they could fall. “Are you just getting rid of me or what?”

Quentin slid out of the SUV, and for the first time since he’d woken up in his penthouse, Caden put space between them, stepping back so that they wouldn’t touch.

He frowned, but he didn’t move closer. “It’s not forever. Once we’re sure that Tiho isn’t a problem anymore—”

Caden didn’t let him finish, laughing humorlessly. “Save it.”

“Caden—”

“No, be quiet, Quentin. Goddess, I thought we were past this.” He rubbed his face, pretending they didn’t come away wet. “How can you be so strong and yet such a coward?”

Quentin reared back like he’d been struck.

Caden didn’t let him say anything, pressing on. “If you just wanted me to leave, you should have just said so. I thought I made that clear last time. I don’t know why you don’t feel the same draw that my jaguar and I do, but I wouldn’t have made it hard on you.”

“Listen, Caden—”

He cut him off again. He couldn’t listen to some excuse about how Caden deserved better, or Quentin was too old for him, or whatever it was he’d convinced himself made them not right for one another.

“I get it. You don’t have to explain. You’re done. All the things you’ve said, what happened in your office yesterday—none of them meant anything to you. Not like they did to me.” Caden flicked at the tears starting to fall, frustrated with himself for being unable to stop them.

Quentin made a pissed-off noise and then grabbed Caden’s arm, tugging him toward the plane.

“Where are we going? I’m not flying to Kansas with you,” Caden said, but he didn’t pull his arm away.

Quentin didn’t answer, simply dragging him up the stairs and into the luxurious private jet.

“Everyone get the fuck off,” he barked, and the flight attendant and pilot ran off the plane like it was on fire.

“Quentin, that was rude.” His breath froze in his throat when Quentin turned on him, face furious.

“I never said those things didn’t mean anything to me. Do not put words in my mouth.”

Caden licked his lips and stepped back, but Quentin just kept coming, crowding him into a seat and then looming over him.

“It’s obvious,” Caden shot back, holding on to his anger as best he could. “You didn’t mean it, and then you freaked out when I told you I loved you. Message received.” He licked at his lips, unable to look away from Quinten’s hot glare. “No offense to your brother—I’m sure his pack is great—but I’m not going there. I’ve been fine on my own for years. I can do it again.”

Quentin planted his hands on the armrests of the seat Caden was trapped in and leaned down so their faces were only inches apart. “You can’t just take off, not while there’s a threat hanging over your head. You’re going to go to Kansas, and you’re going to stay with Liam until it’s taken care of, and Nero’s going with you.”

Caden stared up into the face that he adored more than any other, tracing the line of his jaw covered in the short beard he loved to rub his face against, up to his thick brows and into his salt-and-pepper hair, and then back down to his hazel eyes. They were so captivating. Even when his face showed nothing else, his eyes never lied.

Except they had, hadn’t they?

Every time they had been together, every time Quentin had touched Caden and called him perfect and beautiful and his, his eyes had lied about what he was feeling, about the connection they were building.

Swallowing, Caden tipped his head back defiantly. “Yeah, I’m going to pass.”

One of Quentin’s hands shot up, his fingers wrapping around his throat just like it had yesterday in his office. His hold was firm and possessive but not too tight. Just like yesterday, Caden’s whole body heated with excitement, his jaguar rumbling inside him, ready to show his belly.

He’d loved this side of his mate, but the reminder of what they had shared and how little it had apparently meant to Quentin was like a dagger to his heart.

“Now is not the time to be a brat, kitten.”

Caden sucked in a breath, tears streaming down his face. “I’m so sorry that I’m not making your life easier as you break my fucking heart,” he yelled sarcastically.

Quentin’s fingers flexed against his throat, his eyes burning. Caden wanted to look away, needed to if he wanted to preserve a shed of his heart, but he couldn’t. He was wholly ensnared by this stubborn, complicated human.

Quinten pressed in close and rubbed his lips against the side of Caden’s face. “That’s the last thing I want.” Before Caden could get his hopes up, Quinten continued. “But you need a real mate and a pack. Things I can’t give you.”

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