Razor could practically feel his brother’s reluctance to let his pregnant mate out of his sight, even at the risk of high noon UV burns.
“I’ll be fine,” Leni assured him. “Riley won’t be any trouble, either. He’s watching one of his favorite shows. Besides, you and Razor look like you’ve got things of your own you’re dealing with here.”
Although Knox didn’t look pleased, he agreed with a curt nod then dropped a tender kiss on Leni’s mouth. He broke away on a low snarl. “If you’re not home in twenty minutes, I’m heading over there.”
She rolled her eyes, but smiled up at him with pure devotion. “Are you going to be this growly and protective over me once our son is born?”
“Baby, in case you haven’t realized it yet, I’m going to be growly and protective for the rest of your life. I don’t want to hear any complaints about it.”
“Who’s complaining?” She danced out of his reach on a smile and a giggle. “Let’s go, Shan.”
“I’ll walk you two out,” Knox said. He glanced back at Razor. “You good here?”
“Yeah. I’m just going to check a few more things.”
Once his brother stepped out with Leni, Razor went back to the laptop. He brought up a new browser, then accessed one of his private servers. Out of habit, his fingers moved to the folder containing all of his months of drone surveillance footage.
He opened one of the video recordings, staring at the screen as the camera panned over the familiar Colorado landscape and small mountain cabin that once stood there. It was barely Spring in the video, snow still clinging to the rock and vegetation outside the cabin. The narrow dirt road was muddy and slick, but that didn’t deter the black Jeep that steadily made the climb up from the village.
Razor’s chest constricted as he watched the gorgeous brunette park the vehicle and hop out from behind the wheel. Not Laurel Townsend, but Willow Valcourt.
His woman.
His destined mate.
He’d known that in his heart even without her blood living in his veins now.
After watching her head into the cabin, he closed the file and moved to another one. Still more drone footage, this one recorded later in the season. He fast-forwarded past the endless hours of inactivity outside the cabin, knowing precisely when Willow would appear in the frame.
How often had he played these recordings over the months of surveillance for Theo? How often had he dreamed of what it might be like to see his obsession in person, to talk to her, to touch her?
Now, she was right upstairs and all he wanted to do was avoid her. No, that wasn’t true. All he wanted was to keep her at his side, in his life, for the rest of eternity. He wanted that dream to start now, and the only thing standing in his way was him. He needed to come clean with Willow and hope she’d find it in her heart to forgive him for not telling her the truth from the beginning.
As he rehearsed what he was going to say, Knox came back to the den at an urgent clip.
“Land line’s ringing downstairs. Guess the Order got your message.”
Razor closed the laptop and followed Knox to the basement to take the call.
CHAPTER 24
Willow stepped out of the bathroom freshly showered and dressed, her damp hair twisted into a loose, messy bun.
She thought the shower would help clear her thoughts but it was impossible to put Razor out of her mind when she could still feel him in every place he’d touched her. Every place he’d caressed, kissed, and dominated her body still thrummed with remembered pleasure . . . and longing.
She didn’t want to know what that probably said about her. Razor hadn’t been able to get away from her fast enough, calling what they’d shared a mistake. Even worse, he’d actually apologized for it, which only made her feel like an even bigger fool for believing there was something more between them than base desire.
He’d certainly made her think there was something real between them. He’d made her feel special. Protected. Cherished. Had he said all those pretty things to her just so he could win over her trust enough to use her body? Her blood?
Something inside her balked at the idea that Razor could be so callous, despite the fact that he’d been born and raised as an emotionless killing machine. She’d believed in her heart that he was better than that, that he was a good man. Part of her still wanted to believe he was, but the part of her that was accustomed to being cast off and made to feel like an unwanted outsider whispered this wasn’t the first time she’d been wrong about someone.
That didn’t make it hurt any less, though.
To keep from getting lost in dark thoughts, she busied herself with straightening up the bed while trying to summon her dignity enough to leave the guest room. Humiliated or not, she couldn’t stay holed up in the attic all day. As she began smoothing out the homespun quilt on the bed, a knock sounded on the closed door.
“Come in,” she said, her voice sounding guarded even to her own ears.
The knob twisted and the panel began to creak open. Willow braced herself for the possibility that Razor had returned, but instead it was Riley who stepped into the room carrying his laptop under his arm.
