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“Maybe because of your friend?”
“Maybe. But it’s not like we spent all of our time talking about shifters or the fact that she is one. I don’t think about it when I am with her or her family. I never imagined that I would be in this situation.” It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell him about my family.
“I know it must be difficult to wrap your head around this world, especially when you are now at the center of it.” He opens his hand on the gear shift, palm up.
I place my hand in his and grin like a silly woman. “I like holding your hand,” I say, my brain, as usual, not censoring my words.
“I know. I like touching you,” he whispers.
He focuses on the road, and I focus on our joined hands. His are a little dry and rough. They would lightly scrape over my skin, and the thought made me shiver.
“I didn’t have much love growing up,” I start, feeling compelled to say it. “My grandmother loved me desperately, but even though she did, I think it’s natural to hope to get that love from your mom.” My stomach cramps.
“You didn’t?” he asks softly.
“A bit when I was younger,” I say. “But the older I got, the less I felt. I was a tool that she used to her benefit.” I stare out the window.
“What about your dad?”
“He was worse.” I sigh. “Just to warn you,” I pause to look at him. “If I fall for you, all of you, I won’t ever let you go. If you treat me like you have been, and it continues to get better—I will love you. I will protect you and what we have forever because I have always dreamed of a love like that. I will hand you my heart,” I confess.
He stops the truck, and I realize we arrived at the bakery. He takes off his seatbelt and turns to me. He brings our hands to his lips, placing a soft kiss there. “If you give us your heart, we will kill to protect it,” he says gruffly. “Come here.” He unbuckles my belt and pulls me over the armrest. I squeeze my legs on either side of his, my hands coming to rest on his chest, and his land on my hips. “We are not easy men. Honestly, we have a lot of shit in the past that has affected my relationships with my brothers. It will be difficult for me to discuss it, but I will. I want to fix it, not just because you showed up in our lives; you were the catalyst that forced us to do it faster. I love them and have avoided them and life in many ways.” He cups my cheek. “I’ve been lost in my head for months. I’ve lived with quiet around me, but my mind has been loud. I want to be worthy of your love—we want to be worthy.”
My hands bunch his shirt when someone knocks on the window beside us. “Shit,” I squeal.
“Fuck,” Logan growls. We turn our heads to see Quinn. “What?” he snaps after he rolls down the window.
“Sorry to interrupt, but I couldn’t contact Lucas or Las. I took a chance that someone would be at the bakery,” he explains.
“Lucas is with Las on a job. What is it?”
“I heard something interesting. Is Lucas in trouble?” Quinn asks, and my heart pumps hard.
“Trouble?” Logan asks with narrowed eyes.
Quinn shuffles. “There was a man asking questions.”
“About?” Logan snaps.
“When Lucas didn’t fight the man that he agreed to fight.”
“What the fuck?” Logan whips out his phone. He stares at Quinn as he waits for Lucas to pick up. “Sugar, go back to your seat. Is the man here?” he asks him while I try to move as gracefully as possible without putting my ass in Quinn’s view.
“Not the man in charge of the fights, but someone who lost a lot of money because Lucas forfeited the fight. I looked up the man that runs the fights.” He takes a deep breath. “If your brother is messed up with him, it’s not good.”
Logan tries to call again. He pushes another button. “Las? Where is Lucas?” He scowls. “Well, get him the fuck down, and both of you come to Quinn’s office now.” He grips the steering wheel with his free hand. “Tell him his past is coming here. He needs to explain what the fuck he did to bring it to the place where our mate is.” He throws the phone in the cupholder. “Sorry, Sugar, we have to take care of this.” He nods at Quinn and gets back on the road. “Breeane?”
“What?”
Logan is tense and hesitant. “I’m afraid this might test your patience. Lucas has been hiding this from me, and I know he has his reasons. You won’t get all the answers, but I ask that you give us time.”
“Remember when I said that my family is scarier to me than what I have and will find here?”
“Yes.” He stops the truck in front of an office building.
“That still holds true,” I stress.
At least, I hope so.
