“It’s too dangerous,” I continued.
“I can’t hide here forever.” Bridget had folded herself up small on the couch again, her arms wrapped tightly around her waist.
Why not?I wanted to ask. But logically, I knew she was right, even if my heart disagreed. If she were going to stay with us, it needed to be her choice. Not out of fear or necessity.
“No,” Nathan repeated, more emphatically this time. “Someone tried tokillme.No.”
Bridget shook her head, annoyed. “This isn’t your decision.”
Nathan opened his mouth, clearly incensed, then closed it again with a glance in my direction. I nodded. We were on the same page here. There was no way inhellBridget was going to put herself in danger.
“Carrissima, they are correct. You should not put yourself in danger. But we do not need to rely on the police. I have friends who can help us.”
I looked at him sharply. “Friends?”
“Si. And they will not care about legal, illegal,” he said.
“No one else is getting hurt because of me,” Bridget said fiercely.
I leaned forward, my hands clasped between my knees. “I won’t letyouget hurt,” I said. “Fuck everyone else.”
Spots of color rose on Bridget’s cheeks.
“Basta. Enough for tonight,” Gabriel said, his voice firm. “We can fight tomorrow, but I am too tired. Mercy, please, fiore mio,” he said with a smile in Bridget’s direction.
“I won’t change my mind.” She was wearing an oversized sweatshirt that hung to mid-thigh, along with a pair of shorts. She’d crossed her legs beneath her, tied herself up like a pretzel, radiating tension, and I desperately wanted to help her unwind. Nathan was watching her with a pained expression, too.
“Vieni qui, leonessa,” Gabriel said, gently uncrossing her arms. “Come here, my lioness.”
Bridget uncurled stiffly and let him pull her close to his side, grumbling under her breath. I could tell he felt my pulse of jealousy in our bond by his half-apologetic, half-amused look. I had to take a handful of plates to the kitchen before I completely lost my mind.
To my surprise, Nathan was close behind me, holding empty water glasses. He helped me load the dishwasher in silence.
“We’re agreed?” I asked after I had loaded the last dish.
He didn’t hesitate. “She’s not putting herself in danger.”
“Good,” I said, and my inner Alpha re-categorized him fromthreattoally.
Chapter 26 - Bridget
“It’s out of the question,” Nathan said. He’d set his jaw in that stubborn way that made my blood boil.
I crossed my arms. I wanted to sayYou’re not the boss of melike a child, but I considered my words for another moment. “Let me remind you, in case you forgot, I amnotunder anyone’s control.”
I’d broached the subject of contacting my mother again, and the idea had not gained any traction overnight.
“I’m not trying to control you,” he replied tightly. “I’m trying to keep you safe.”
I huffed. “Just calling my mother is not dangerous. She tried to tell me something that day at the clinic. I should at least hear what it is.”
“You’re not getting involved,” Andrew said with a finality thatreallypissed me off. I rounded on him.
“Don’t you dare start.” I stepped closer. He hesitated, then backed up slightly. “I’ve already shown him,” I jerked my head in Nathan’s direction, “that I don’t respond well to this whole controlling Alpha routine.”
I wouldn’t mention how that argument had ended, with my body pressed against his, feeling his growl reverberate through me like… I pulled my mind away from that particularmemory. But based on Andrew’s hungry expression, my scent must have responded to the mental image.
It was my turn to retreat a step. “Neither of you has any right to tell me what to do. You’re not my Alphas.”
