Page 420 of Power Play

“She told us the truth.”

“So did the marks.”

“They weren’t the whole truth.”

“They usually aren’t.”

Aura wrapped her arms around me. She held on longer than I expected, and my good hand settled against her back.

“Don’t fuck this up with Easton,” I said quietly.

She pulled away enough to look at me. “What?”

“You heard me.”

“He and I are fine.”

“You two have spent every day since getting together acting like every disagreement needs a winner. Stop that shit.”

Her face tightened. “That isn’t fair.”

“Look at me, Aura.” I held her gaze until she stopped preparing an argument. “You need to talk to him. You need to let him talk to you without deciding where the conversation ends before it starts. He needs to do the same thing. If you keep turning every fear into a fight, you’ll end up like me and Charm.”

The words hurt both of us.

Aura looked toward Easton. He hadn’t moved from the table, but his attention was fixed on her.

“I love him,” she whispered.

“Then protect what you have before pain teaches you how much love can survive and how much it can’t.”

Her eyes filled again. “I will.”

“Make sure he does too.”

“I’ll kick his ass.”

“That isn’t communication.”

“It’s part of our process.”

A laugh escaped me. “Work on the process.”

Aura hugged me again before stepping away. Easton met her halfway and took her hand.

He came to me without releasing it.

“You really used your goodbye to lecture my woman?” Easton asked.

“Somebody needed to.”

“I communicate.”

“You forbade her from being angry with you.”

“She forbade me first.”

“Don’t fuck it up.”