“And what kind of punishment is that?” Christian fired back. “I made him suffer. I made him scream. And I would have done it for years longer before I gave him the sweet relief of death.” Christian wrapped his arms around me from behind. “I won’t let him come after her again.”
Crush turned and leaned against the sink. “Your promise isn’t good enough. Why didn’t you tell her?”
“Because I wanted him to myself. And Raven wasn’t ready to face him. Deep down, I think she knows it. She’s the strongest woman I’ve ever met. The toughest. The bravest. But the wound was too fresh. I didn’t want him dead. Not yet. Not without suffering. I planned to offer him to her if and when she was ready. And if you think I don’t know about suffering, I do. The demons we carry are all different, but they haunt us just the same. I wanted nothing more than to murder my demon straight away. Doing so would have wrecked me. I’ve spent years becoming a stronger man, and when I finally face that person, it’ll be with a smile and not with a tear.”
Crush lowered his head and heaved a sigh. “Why are you telling me this?”
I stepped out of Christian’s embrace and crossed the room. “Because Fletcher will be out for revenge. He’ll want Christian dead, and he might come for you.” Hot tears filled my eyes, and I quickly wiped them away. “I don’t know what the hell to do. I can’t always be here to protect you, but I don’t want you to die because of me. I can’t live with that.”
Crush pulled me into a tight bear hug and kissed the top of my head. “Don’t cry, baby girl. You can’t put a bubble around me. I take risks—always have. Your enemies are my enemies, and if one of them comes for me, I can’t think of a better way to die than in battle. My worst nightmare is kicking the bucket on the toilet and having one of my buddies find me slumped over with my pants down.”
I chortled into his chest. “Stop making me laugh. This isn’t funny.” I stepped back and wiped my face. “I can’t protect you, but at least I can warn you. So if the dog starts barking, don’t dismiss it. Fletcher’s a Mage, and I want you to have stunners.”
“Got ’em.”
“How many? Because if you need more—”
“I got connections,” he assured me with a wink. “I can get whatever I need.”
I wanted to invite him to stay with us, but I knew it would be answered with a resounding no. Besides that, we would have to explain to Viktor what had happened, and that was out of the question. Christian had committed an offense that went against everything Keystone stood for. The Mageri wouldn’t care what Fletcher had done to me. He was my Creator and held rights. Besides that, he knew I’d never turn him in if it meant the Mageri investigating my mental health and background. They would put me down like a rabid dog despite all the good I’d done for Keystone. Viktor’s integrity would be questioned, and I didn’t want to drag him down with me. I intended to protect everything and everyone I loved.
“What if I moved in here for a while?” I suggested.
Christian joined us. “Then you would draw him here for sure.”
“Maybe that ain’t a bad idea.” Crush pinched his goatee. “We could bait him.”
“Hell no,” I snapped. “I’m not taking chances with your life. That’s a bad idea.” I combed my fingers through my hair until they caught in a tangle. “Do you think any of your buddies would be willing to guard your house?”
He scoffed. “Ren just buried his dead. I’m not about to ask him to babysit my ass and get more of his people killed. Don’t worry about me. Whatever’s meant to be is meant to be.”
“Are you giving me your approval to wed?” Christian asked, not wasting any time in catching Crush in a better mood.
“You don’t get off that easy.” Crush ambled back to his chair, sat down, and put his right foot up in the next chair. “I can’t reach my feet like I used to, and I still have to clip the nails on my right foot. Could use a little help finishing the job.”
Christian gave him a thorny look. “Perhaps you need a chainsaw. I’m not clipping your nails. That’s extortion.”
“I don’t give two shits what you call it, peckerhead. If you want my answer, you’re gonna have to grease the wheels. Just be glad I’m not asking you to snip the dog’s nails. Now get the clippers off the end table and start trimming. Raven, sit down and finish your cocoa. If you want more, my houseboy will get you a refill.”
While Christian went digging around in the living room, I pulled my chair close to my dad. He put his arm around me and told me everything was gonna be all right.
But deep down, I knew it wouldn’t.
CHAPTER4
Sweat beaded on Shepherd’s brow as he hiked up the stairs, irritated that Wyatt’s bedroom was on the third floor. Even though Shepherd kept in shape, his shoulder hurt from the weight of his partner. Wyatt must have put on fifteen pounds’ worth of Mexican food. Hell, they all had. So Shepherd was in no mood for this shit. The Gravewalker Viktor hired was done clearing the house. Once Spooky woke up from his beer-induced coma and had a look around, they’d know for certain if it worked.
“Next time,you’regonna be the designated driver,” he grumbled, reaching the second level.
Niko and Gem strode toward him. Gem secured the ties on her kimono robe, and he guessed they were heading down to the heated pool. Niko had on his usual crotch-drop pants and no shirt.
Gem pinned up her hair. “We’re going down to the hot tub if you want to join.”
Shepherd took a breath, feeling a pinch in his shoulder. “After I haul his ass upstairs, I’ll be done for the night.”
“Put him in my room,” Niko offered, securing the white towels under his arm.
Shepherd’s lips twitched. “Are you sure? He had a lot to drink. He might wet the bed.”
