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“I think he was testing me. I had given him no reason not to. We were not friends; he knew I was all business when I was there, and I didn’t talk. I’ll never know his motivation, but I wanted to throw up. I asked why they did it. Why did these shifters volunteer to be killed?”
“And?” Breeane whispers.
“He said that they didn’t. He had something on them, either money or something they did. I don’t have all the answers. I wasn’t exactly thrilled to be there at all at that point. My mind was fucking buzzing,” I grit. “I didn’t know what to do. I just wanted out.”
“What happened to the lion?” Breeane cries.
“She died. She died, and I did nothing. I was standing there talking to this fucking unknown, cruel asshole, and I could do nothing.” I stand abruptly. “I had to leave there after I shook his hand and agreed to fight the following night. I walked past all the men laughing and congratulating each other on winning money from a woman shifter's death. How the hell do I justify going back there?”
I slap my hand on the wall and drop my head. “I still see her face in my dreams,” I confess. “I run back that night in my head every day. I should have said something. I should have jumped in the ring. I should have tried to kill the Boss. So many ‘I should haves.’ I couldn’t go to the cops. What are the human cops going to do? I didn’t want to put my family in danger, and I know in my gut he would have come after all of us.”
I roll my head, bringing it back and hitting the wall again. Jesus, I didn’t realize how much it all affected me. Shortly after it happened, Las told me he caught Logan’s scent. He had come close enough for us to find him. After that, it was all about reconnecting with Logan and convincing him to let us back into his life.
“Breeane,” Las says, and I tense when I feel her hand on my back. I don’t move; even with the topic we are discussing, I revel in her touch.
“Lucas, you didn’t know.” I close my eyes, unbelieving in her generosity of grace. “I don’t know what you were dealing with, but it must have been horrible for you.” She dips under my arm and squeezes between me and the wall.
I automatically make room for her. “I don’t want you to be scared of me.”
“I have to admit, I don’t like gambling. I have seen what it does to people, but you didn’t do that.”
“The fighting?” I slide my hands closer to her head on the wall but don’t want to touch her if she is scared.
“We all have things we do to cope or aren’t proud of. Do you miss it?”
“No. I was good at it, which felt good at the moment.”
“Are you going to do it again?”
“Never.” I pause. “If you or my family is in danger, I would do anything, though. I am human, but I am also an animal. We are protective of what we consider ours. I will do anything to protect the people I love.”
“I would too,” she says, surprising me. “I can’t turn into an animal, but I would do what I could to protect the three of you.”
“You trust me?” I ask, holding my breath.
“I do.”
“Shit,” I say roughly, touching my forehead to hers. “I was so afraid you would see me differently.”
“I understand loss and needing a way to move on. I won’t judge you for the reason. You can trust me with it.” She buries her head in my chest.
“I…” I swallow thickly. “I can’t answer that yet.”
“Lucas,” Logan starts but is interrupted by the door opening.
Quinn walks in with Bash and Marie. “Was that enough time? I would like to tell you everything else I learned,” Quinn says. I step back, my hands sliding from the wall.
“Sugar, we will answer that question later,” Logan assures her. She nods and leans into me.
“His name is Heath. Did you know it?” Quinn asks me.
“No, he didn’t tell anyone his name. Even the guards that worked for him called him Boss.”
“I know someone that had lots of information on him.” He leans against the front desk.
“Who do you not know?” Marie teases. “I’m Marie, by the way.” She smiles at Breeane.
“Nice to meet you,” Breeane says.
