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Swiping his shirt off the end of the bed, he walks out of the bedroom and I suck in a breath as I watch him before glancing down at the ring in my palm. It’s gorgeous and my fingers itch to put it on but I need to wait. I need to be sure that I can forgive him before I decide. Sighing, I set it down on the bedside table and lay my hand over it as I climb out of bed and slip my jeans on before wandering out into the living room.

Lincoln is at the counter, stirring something in a large mixing bowl as steam rises from the pan on the stove.

“Please tell me you know how to cook,” I say, sliding onto one of the barstools and he grins over his shoulder.

“Guess you’re just going to have to wait and see.”

I shake my head, grabbing the newspaper and opening it. “I don’t think I like this game.”

“And what game would that be?”

“Is it edible or not?” I quip and he laughs as his phone goes off next to me. He peeks over his shoulder again.

“Shit. Can you see what that is for me?”

I nod and grab the phone before unlocking it. An image of my kitchen fills the screen and in the top corner, I spot movement and gasp. He whirls around, leaving his bowl and spoon abandoned as he moves behind me. A figure dressed in black creeps into my kitchen from the back door and my hand shakes as I watch him move through the house.

“Fuck,” Lincoln hisses, checking his watch. “Maybe if I drive fast, I can get there before he leaves.”

He takes off for the bedroom and I watch the man pull a pistol out of an ankle holster and the glint of metal at his back tells me he’s got at least one more. The thought of Lincoln alone in my house with him shakes me to my core and I jump down off the stool. As I march past Smith’s door, I pound on it and grab my boots from the living room floor where I left them last night.

Lincoln comes barreling out of the bedroom as I’m digging a few guns out of the couch that I stashed there last night and he stops when he sees me.

“What the hell are you doing?”

I scowl at him as I grab my ankle holster and start putting it on. “I’m going with you.”

“Like hell you are.”

“Don’t you dare try to stop me, Lincoln. I am fucking going with you.”

He shakes his head, storming past Smith’s door and pounding on it. “It’s not happening, Tate. Get it out of your gorgeous little head right now.”

The bedroom door flies open and Smith steps out, rubbing his eyes. “What the fuck is with all the yellin’? It’s early as hell, y’all.”

I glance at the clock and smirk. It’s actually almost eight but I’ve learned that Smith is a bit of a night owl since he’s been staying with us and he doesn’t like to be woken up before ten.

“Someone’s in her house. I’m gonna go check it out,” Lincoln barks and Smith snaps to attention. “You stay here with her.”

“Fuck no!” I scream, pointing at Lincoln from across the living room. “Smith, don’t let him go there alone. It’s not safe and I’m going with you.”

“No, you’re not, baby. I’ll be back soon, okay?”

Smith drops his arm as Lincoln steps in front of me and presses his lips to mine. I melt at his touch and my heart pounds in my ears as he kisses me like he’s saying good-bye. When he pulls away, he mouths, “I love you” and I reach for him only to be stopped by Smith again.

Lincoln walks out the door and I stare after him, my chest aching and my hands shaking. Images of him lying in a pool of his own blood with a bullet hole in his chest fill my mind and the pain in my chest intensifies. No, I have to go with him. He needs me there.

“Please, Luke. Let me go with him.”

He shakes his head. “I can’t do that, Darlin’.”

Panic claws at me, thinking of all the ways my father’s thug could hurt the man I love and I spin, stomping back toward the bedroom. I spot my bag on the floor and I reach inside, pulling my Taser out and turning it on before slipping the strap of the bag over my shoulder. Just as I turn to leave the room, the ring catches my eye and I stare at it for a second before walking over to the nightstand and picking it up. Lincoln’s right. If I don’t let this go and move forward with him, I’ll spend the rest of my life regretting it. With a smile teasing my lips, I slip it on my left hand and turn toward the door, trudging out of the bedroom.

“Sorry, Tate. I can’t let you go,” Smith says as I walk back out into the living room. He offers me a sympathetic look and I nod, hiding the Taser behind my back.

“I understand, Smith. And I hope you’ll understand why I have to do this.”

He scowls as I press the Taser to his skin and he drops to the floor, his muscles locked as he jerks from the force of the volt. Leaning down, I press a kiss to his cheek.

“Please don’t hate me.”

I stand back up and step over him, grabbing the Camaro’s keys off the counter before I race outside, eager to get back to my man.