Page 20 of Frost and Venom

“I can’t help it if Sam is incredibly sexy,” Stella defended staunchly. “We may be an old married couple, but that doesn’t mean his hotness factor has gone down in the slightest. If anything, it’s improved. He’s just an amazing husband. I can’t help but lust after him.”

Zahra covered her ears. “I do not want to hear about your lust or Sam’s hotness factor. Seriously, Stella. Sam’s like a brother to us. No one wants to view their brother that way.”

Harlow found herself laughing, but mostly she was happy that Raine did as well. Stella just rolled her eyes at them, completely unfazed by their amusement, but then the smile faded from her face. She bit down on her lip and lifted her gaze to Stella.

She couldn’t have the women to her house, not with Wilder hiding out there. He’d been betrayed and set up to be murdered by someone in Blom’s organization, possibly even Blom himself.

“Is it possible you’ll be out of traction by the time we’re going to meet at Harlow’s house?” Vienna asked Raine.

“I doubt it. Rush is dropping by this afternoon to talk to me. That’s why I wanted the laptop. I really need to know what I’m talking about before I go into a heavy discussion with him.”

“Maybe we should try to have our girls’ night here, Raine,” Harlow suggested, feeling guilty that she was putting the burden of keeping Wilder secret on Raine. Clearly, Raine tired easily. “We wouldn’t stay long. I’d even ask Shabina to cook your favorite if you’re up to eating. We could just hang out with you and visit, and then head to the Grill or something. That way you’re included. It wouldn’t be the same without you.” That was absolutely true. Harlow couldn’t imagine girls’ night without Raine.

Raine looked around at her friends. “What do you think? Is that going to be boring for you? Just sitting here and talking?”

The women looked at one another and shook their heads. “We’d love that,” Stella said. “I hated the idea of you missing out.”

“I wish you could sneak Daisy in,” Raine said.

The women exchanged another look, this one a little more mischievous. “The big problem isn’t the nurses or doctors,” Zahra said. “We could get Daisy in, but you have guards, and they go through everything. If it were my hospital, I could figure it out, but Rainier has this place locked down tight. I am rather envious of his equipment.”

“I couldn’t believe Rush brought me here rather than the trauma unit,” Raine said.

“I think your protection was uppermost in his mind, that and surgery. Rush is familiar with everyone and everything in this place. He must have radioed ahead to set up for the operation as well as getting the antivenom for the snakebite,” Harlow said.

Rush was very much the same type of man as Rainier, although much more of a chameleon. He didn’t appear lethal. He looked like a very accomplished surgeon who carried the mantle of authority. It was easy to forget he had all the training and experience of the other men who had worked for Blom or were still working for him. But he also had that dangerous quality all the others held. And the decisive bossiness that set Harlow’s teeth on edge. Evidently, it did the same to Raine.

“How do you know you can trust Sam, Stella?” Raine asked unexpectedly. “How did you decide that you would believe in him? You have no way of knowing that a few years from now, he won’t totally betray you.”

Harlow wanted to hold her. Raine was the youngest, and no matter that she was absolutely brilliant, she was alone and held herself very carefully away from everyone. Her family had not only thrown her out; she was also considered dead to them. When she was very young, the man she thought she was falling in love with had betrayed her and helped orchestrate the murder of several of her father’s men. Eventually, her father was murdered. How could Raine ever feel as if anyone would stand by her? Would stay? Her own parents and brothers had thrown her aside, blaming her for the death of her father.

Stella took her time before answering, clearly thinking it over before she responded. “Raine, you and I both know there are no guarantees in life. No one can say what will happen in the years to come. As to that, I will say, both Sam and I talked about what we wanted in our relationship and how best to keep it. But how do I know I can trust Sam? How do I believe him? I’ve never once caught him in a lie. He shows me every single day that he thinks of me first. I do my best to give him the same respect and loyalty. It’s impossible not to love him when he’s so devoted to my happiness and care.”

“How do you put up with him being so bossy?” Raine switched her gaze to Shabina. “And Rainier, he’s as bossy as it gets. How do the two of you manage?”

Harlow was happy Raine was asking the very questions she wanted answers to.

“Hey,” Vienna said. “Don’t forget to include Zale in the bossiness. I put up with a lot.”

“That isn’t helping, Vienna,” Stella said. “We’re discussing the pros of being with bossy men, not the cons.”

She said it so seriously that Harlow burst out laughing. “Do you hear yourself, Stella? You’re always so like, ‘Sam is perfect,’ even if we’re trying to decide how to put up with bossy men. Maybe Sam isn’t as bossy.”

Stella made a face. “Okay, he isn’t. Well, until he is. But he’s so sweet it doesn’t matter.”

That brought another round of laughter, even from Raine. Harlow would have let Raine’s question go, but she was interested in the answer. Every single one of her friends was independent. They didn’t need a man to support them financially. They had their chosen hobbies and were great at their jobs, yet Stella, Vienna and Shabina had found very dangerous and dominant men to be their partners. How could they possibly make a success out of their relationship, given their personalities? Not that she was thinking about actually trying to have a relationship with Wilder. She wasn’t capable, no matter how tempted she was.

“Shabina, you’re married to Rainier. What’s that like, living with him? How did you know you could trust him to look out for your best interests?” Harlow asked.

Raine looked grateful. She hadn’t wanted to ask the question again, but she wanted the answer. Harlow didn’t really understand why. Raine avoided dating. Like Harlow, she avoided entanglements. She used the excuse of her job, but Harlow knew her reasons went a lot deeper. If your own family turned their backs on you, you didn’t believe too much in human beings.

“I knew exactly who Rainier was before I married him. If he weren’t concerned with my happiness and willing to put me first, I wouldn’t have gone through with it, but I’ve known him for years. I know his character. His first thought is always for me, and I’m very aware of it. Do I protest some of his decisions? You bet I do. He never interferes with the café, but he does help out there. It’s mainly security we disagree on.”

“What happens when you disagree on security?” Raine asked.

“I never win that battle,” Shabina admitted readily. “Rainier knows when there are threats, and he always acts accordingly for not just me but all of you. He considers you family. He always has men in training, and if the threat is low, he has them here.” She glanced at Harlow. “He’s a bit snarly right now over security, and he’s using his most trusted men.”

“Have you received more death threats, Harlow?” Raine asked, intercepting and interpreting the look.