Valentine smiles like a shark, nodding his head in agreement. “A hundred percent. Now that we’ve solved that mystery, we're not even going to bother trying to figure out Santiago andRonin’s involvement until I’ve spoken with them,” Valentine says as he turns to look over his shoulder. “Who the fuck is in there, then?”
Layne goes to march off.
“Hey!” I bark at her, unnecessarily aggressive, but she just shocked the shit out of me by walking off.
She twists mid-step, her caramel-colored eyes full of amusement as she waits for an explanation for my outburst. But since she swung around, she also sucker punches me with her scent.
Even layered under chemicals, stress, and blood, her sweet perfume hits home. Because we were, and are, destined to be together. Layne’s scent is so compatible, for me, and my pack, it’s almost like a gift from the gods themselves.
I need her nearer, so she’s all I can see and breathe. I point to a spot in front of me. “Get your tush here, Mrs. De Luca.”
“Yeah, why?” A smirk dances over her lips as she sashays closer, looking like a fucking goddess. Maybe Valkyrie is more fitting, considering her incredible inner fortitude, as well as her current state. Her pretty clothes are torn and she’s covered in blood and dirt. Her makeup is smeared over her face, but to me, she is still the most exquisite person I have ever seen.
The way she comes closer, and stares into my soul so effortlessly, brings fire through my veins and burns through my lingering frustration. Layne has me feeling more like me in a handful of seconds, and now I can focus on returning the favor.
“I want to give you something,” I say quietly as she looks up at me, with so much fucking trust in her eyes.
“Yeah?” And when she talks, her scent blows into my face.
I press my mouth to hers, holding her so she can’t escape until the only thing I can breathe is caramel-flavored air, and the only thing I can hear are her small sighs as she follows me for more.
I have to pull away, distract myself with the task at hand, or I’ll spread her over the front of the Escalade and claim her for the world to see.
I blow out a steady exhale, pretending I’m calm. “You need weapons.”
41
Dante
After Matteo straps way too many weapons onto our wife, and Valentine returns her missing gun, she goes to walk off again, assuming lead position.
“Are you serious right now?” I try to stop the petulant snarl and icy bite to my voice, but the way she sways those hips, so seemingly unconcerned about the fucking danger lurking in the shadows is…distracting
She spins and stares wide-eyed at me. But it’s a ploy. After being around her, I can read her better, and she’s purposely winding me up. In her way, she’s reinforcing what I can already see with my eyes, that she really is fine.
I may be starting to learn more about her, but I’m still hopeless in my defenses against her. It’s a strange headspace to be in, and one that I have no desire to escape. A small tug lifts the edges of her lips before they twist into a sultry smirk as she clicks her fingers at the dogs. Intentionally, she’s teasing and taunting me, and goddamn, I need it.
The dogs heel almost instantly, and I have to work really fucking hard to stop myself from doing the same. Her sass is a good reminder that she’s alive and back with us, but an equally good reminder she was taken in the first place.
She waits for a moment, watching me closely until she speaks. “Better?”
“No,” I growl out. I’m under her spell but not fucking immune to the fury still bubbling inside my head. It leaks out of me, making my scent get sharp and as salty as I am. “Layne, it doesn’t matter if we are walking into Belmondo to get Valentine a gelato, or if we’re heading off to war, you do not, and I repeat, you do not ever go first. I do. That is my job, and it always will be!”
My slightly dramatic, and emotionally laden speech, reaches her. I can see it by the way she looks at me before choosing her next words carefully. “Can I walk next to you?”
She doesn’t even bother trying to hide the hint of amusement that makes her eyes glitter golden. I love seeing her like this, but I hate it too. Now is not the time to tease.
“No. See what I mean? Now, you look here.” I get all up in her face as my stress surges further out of my control. A hundred or so reasons for my concern blur my mind, and I jab my finger so close to her nose her eyes cross. “It’s not about you not being strong enough, it’s about me not being strong enough.”
And the truth bubbles out of my fucking mouth. Again. Like it always does when I’m with her.
Her eyes flare wide. And she gasps, completely thrown by my honesty. “What?”
Since I’m already on a slippery slope of mushy confessions, I just go with it. “I’d be a fucking mess, Layne, if anything more happened to you. I would go on an Alpha rage for days. Please let me just make sure you’re safe, no matter the situation.” I takea deep breath and make a grab for her hand. “I won’t hold you back, but I will be your first line of defense. Forever.”
Her eyes dig deep inside my soul for confirmation that I’m being honest before her doubt fades away and her eyes fill with glittering gold again. “What’s Belmondo?”
“That’s what you got from that?” I snarl, but before I can argue, or apologize for being an asshole, she renders me useless. Her hand glides up my chest to sit gently against the back of my neck, then she drags me down to her level.
