She blew out a breath.“This is getting creepy.”She placed her hands on the table and made to stand.“I-I think I should go.”
“No,” he said softly.“You’re overwhelmed, but you’re not scared.There is no need to fear me.If there is anyone on this planet that would never hurt you, it’s me.”His hand shot out to grab her wrist, and gently, he caressed the back of her hand.
The motion soothed her, and she didn’t know why.But, though her legs were shaky, she managed to take a seat again without slumping down in place.
“Why wouldn’t you hurt me?”she asked, astonished by his plea, by the declaration of intent in his words too.
“Because, El, crazy though it may seem, you’re my mate.”
And like that, El knew the hunk opposite her had a flaw.Sure, he was gorgeous.Rich and successful too.But he was also crazy.
Shit, there always had to be a catch.
Chapter 2
“How do you think it’s going?”
Trip Roorden peered at the monitor from the desk and focused on Ryan and the female as he spoke, “She’s beautiful.”
A huff sounded down the line.“That isn’t what I asked.I’ve already seen the pictures; I know she’s cute.”
Trip’s lips twitched.“You should be here yourself,” he countered, “then you wouldn’t be pestering me with these questions.”
“Somebody had to go to Ventura,” came the bickering retort.
“How is the restaurant?”Trip asked, a frown puckering his brow in concern.Close to, but thus far away from the wildfires sweeping the area, their first restaurant, Feral, was a huge concern to the Triad.
As each of them had their own strengths, Ryan—front of house and leadership, Trip—accounts and admin, Marcus—development.They’d sent Marcus off to make sure their first restaurant was at least prepped if the wildfire swept close to the establishment.
Normally, Ryan would have gone, but as his profile had been the one the female, Maryellen, had responded to, they’d shipped Marcus out instead.
“The fires have swept away from the restaurant, but you should see it, Trip.It’s fucking out of this world.A sea of fire.It’s beautiful, but so crazy terrifying that I’m having a tough time processing it.”
“All the fire prevention methods are in place though, right?”
Marcus snorted.“Like they could even hope to withstand the blaze.I swear.You see it on the news and it looks intense.That’s nothing to seeing it in person.”He grunted.“The Mother might be on our side and keep it away from our land, but if she does, that means someone else will get burned.”
“Ryan’s already had me looking into which assets we can liquidate, Marcus.We’re going to donate a lot of money to the cause.”
“It won’t be enough,” came the sad retort.“It’s going to cost billions to repair all the damage, and so many poor bastards have lost their homes and livelihoods… It’s enough to make me sick to my stomach.”
Though Marcus was the more emotional brother within their Triad, Trip knew this wasn’t the time to think Marc was exaggerating.Normally he’d roll his eyes at that particular tone, but in this, with the level of damage California was enduring, even his heart clutched with pity and horror.
Knowing he had to change the subject before Marc fell down the rabbit hole of guilt and shame, Trip murmured, “She’s hot.Way more than cute.Her pictures don’t do her justice.”
His bluntness jerked Marc from his thoughts, as Trip had intended.A snort sounded down the line.“Trust you to focus on that.”
He grinned.“And you wouldn’t if you were here?”He scoffed.“Pull the other one.She’s got more curves on her than a circle.”
“Technically impossible,” Marc retorted.
“Wait until you see her.She’ll have your cock so hard, you won’t care if she’s a circle or a square.”
“You think she’ll still be around by the time I get in tomorrow?”
Trip narrowed his eyes at the screen when Ryan’s behavior grabbed hold of his attention.
Normally he’d have answered in the affirmative just because Maryellen was hot.No way would Ryan pass up the chance to sleep with her, even if she wasn’t meant for them.But when he closed his eyes and sparks of gold began to disperse from them, linking up with people all around the room, Trip blew out a stunned breath.
