Hazel insists on hiding in the shadows, no matter how often I remind her that I’d happily go to war for her. I’ll have my entire kingdom and cavalry at her disposal the second she says the word.
At first, I thought fear was holding her back, but with time, I realized it’s hate. She detests the idea of confronting that man, even if it means giving up on revenge. She doesn’t want closure. She wants distance.
“One month. Grace likes to take things tortoise-slow.” Seiji bets confidently.
“I say a week.”
Seiji gapes at Nevaeh like she’s lost her mind. That’s twice tonight. He’s sure Grace and Harvey will take things slow, but Nevaeh is practically buzzing with excitement; she’s convinced otherwise.
“I know Harvey. That man has been begging Fates for his mate foryears.He’s not going to let some douchebag get in theway.”
As I watch her argue with Seiji into backing out of the bet before she embarrasses him, it hits me just how hopelessly taken I am by this woman.
Every time I look into her eyes, I lose a little more of myself to her. The darkness in her eyes is like its own galaxy, constantly finding ways to pull me under.
In the distance, I spot our newest family member leaning against my car. A limp figure in his arms catches my attention, and I quicken my pace.
Dread washes over me when Grace’s tear-stricken face comes to light. Her makeup is scrubbed off, and she’s bundled up in Harvey’s leather jacket—too quiet, too still.
I take a step closer, hoping for signs that Grace is just upset, not physically hurt, but even in the dim streetlight, the angry red fingerprints on her cheek glare back at me.
My mind starts reeling with every sick possibility. I should look away, but the faint purple bruise on her cheek is taunting me, daring me to do something reckless.
I pull Nevaeh closer without realizing it. She’s the anchor keeping me from turning back and hunting whoever is responsible for this.
“Who?” A growl rips from deep inside my chest, but when Nevaeh flinches, I clamp down on my fury like a vice.
I swallow the bitter taste of rage and rest my forehead against my mate’s, whispering an apology for startling her. She brushes it off with a kiss to my jaw, but I still feel the weight of it. I need to do better.Be better.
I promised myself the first time I saw her flinch that I would never give her a reason to feel scared around me. I have to calm down before I accidentally break that promise.
“I’ll explain everything,” Harvey says. “But first, let’s get out of here.”
I tamp down the urge to press him for answers when I see Seiji and Hazel tense beside me, gearing up for a fight.
Grace needs rest. I need answers. The faster we hit the road,the sooner Harvey will open his mouth, and I’ll know who to punish for coming after my family.
Before tempers explode, I order everyone to get into the car.
Harvey tries to settle Grace in the back, but even in her sleep, she clings to him. In the end, he gives in and slides into the seat with her curled into his lap.
Anyone with eyes can see how smug the lunatic is about Grace clinging to him like a koala.
It’s taking every shred of willpower not to bark at him to keep his paws off her. But it’s clear as day they are mates, and I don’t want to do anything that might upset Grace.
That said, Harvey is still getting my full“hurt her and I’ll kill you”speech.
It took me a year to control the urge to strangle Rick every time I saw his ugly mug. But the way Harvey delicately cradles Grace makes me think I won’t need to stage his death as an ‘unfortunate accident.’
I reverse out of the parking lot with Nevaeh beside me in the passenger seat, her presence helping me keep a level head. She’s holding my hand captive on her thigh, anxiously twisting the rings on my fingers.
Twenty minutes into our drive, Harvey finally starts explaining. And just like that, I want to whip the car around and find that loser. I’d take my sweet time pulling out every nerve in his body one at a time.
Instead of chasing that fantasy, I press my fingers into the soft flesh of my mate’s thigh to keep me grounded. I’m livid. The bastard had the audacity to touch a hair on Gracie’s head after my warning. It’s only when Harvey assures me he didn’t leave any bones left for me to break that the anger ebbs.Good man.
To be honest, I completely forgot about Rick until Harvey brought him up.
I call Khatri and tell him to send a team to clean up the mess we left behind at the club and discreetly take care of Rick’s body.
