“I wouldn’t be calling if I weren’t.”
“Robyn!” I whispered frantically, panic bubbling in my gut. But again she ignored me.
“I’ll join the Southeast Pride—as a permanent member—if you agree to…six months rehabilitation for Justus. No other disciplinary measures.”
“No!” I reached for her phone, but she pushed me back, fire flashing in her eyes.
“That’s an interesting proposal,” Wade said over the line. “I’ll take it to the rest of the council, and—”
“Not good enough,” she snapped. “You commitright now, or I’m withdrawing my offer. I’ll serve out my year with the Di Carlos, then I’ll leave, just like Abby, and you’ll lose me forever. Your call.”
“Robyn,please…” I whispered, and everything else faded into the darkness of the room as I watched her. I couldn’t see the shelves, or the couches, or my desk. Nothing else existed, except what I was about to lose.
The woman I was no longer sure I could live without.
“I can’t do that without consulting—”
“Bullshit,” Robyn spat into the phone. “You’ll be a hero, and we both know it. Ten seconds. Nine… Eight… Seven…”
“Fine.” Wade exhaled heavily. “You have a deal. Your permanent citizenship in exchange for a six-month rehabilitation sentence for Justus Alexander. Effective immediately. We’ll send someone to pick you both up.”
Robyn nodded, though he couldn’t see her, and a growl rumbled up from my throat. “Send Marc Ramos,” she said. “He’s the only one I trust, other than Faythe, and I know she’s exhausted.”
“Done,” Wade said. “He’ll be there in eight hours.”
She hung up the phone and turned to me. Tears stood in her eyes, but her voice was steady. “Take care of your brother, when he gets back. Take care of your men. And don’t be so eager to get them all killed for a girl you just met.” Then she turned and ran out the door.
“Robyn!” I shouted after her. But she was already gone.
I’d already lost her. The only woman I’d ever truly cared about, other than my mother.
Fuck. That.
I marched into the kitchen. “Knox, I need your phone.”
“Sure. Here.” He dug his cell from his pocket with one heavily tattooed hand and slapped it into my palm. I dialed by memory.
Marc answered on the third ring.
“It’s me,” I said.
“Hey, Titus, I’m so sorry about how that went down.”
“I know.” I sank into a barstool at the island, well aware that Knox was listening. “Are you alone?”
“Just me and little Greg. We’re letting Faythe get some sleep. Why?”
“Rick Wade’s about to call you. And I need a favor. From one stray to another…”
TWENTY-FIVE
Robyn
I closed the drapes in my bedroom and tried to sleep, but wound up staring at the ceiling instead. For hours. Trying not to think about what I’d done. About the rest of my life spent in Atlanta, where I didn’t have a single friend.
How long would it take them to wear me down? How long before I agreed to marry some tom, just to shut them all up?
Never. Happen.
