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Liam gritted his teeth. “We’ll stop and get one, then. He isn’t safe otherwise.”
With a curse, he started the engine and pulled away from Shadows.
Two blocks later, Gwyneth cleared her throat. “Is that horrid man actually the father of the woman you and Hammer share? Is Raine her name?”
“I won’t discuss her with you—ever. She’s none of your business.”
“I’m on your side, Liam. I found that man positively frightening.”
“Drop it,” he warned.
She ignored him. “I hope that man’s psychotic tendencies didn’t pass to his daughter.”
Liam gripped the steering wheel so tightly his fingers turned white. He bit back a vicious roar.
Gwyneth cupped his shoulder. “We’ve both made mistakes, haven’t we? I’m more than willing to forgive yours, darling.”
He shrugged off her touch. “Don’t bother. And I told you, I’m not your darling.”
She sent him a pouty expression. “I don’t understand. You were so distraught by my unfortunate lapse of judgment, yet you seem perfectly content to let Hammer defile Raine, whom I gather you care for. Why is that? Is she with him now?”
He tensed. Jealousy rolled through his belly in a horrifying wave. Liam knew he had to control his irrational urge to hoard Raine for himself or he’d lose her.
“I finally see what’s going on.” Gwyneth seemed to measure her words. “You’re looking for some solace or belonging in this wanton relationship. But you can’t possibly love a slut you share with Hammer. Thankfully, Kyle and I are here to rescue you. We’ll give you the true happiness you’re searching for.”
Liam tried hard not to let his anger override his sense. But if she called Raine a slut one more time… Only a few more miles, and he’d be rid of her.
“Are you listening to me?”
“I am.” Liam glared at her in the rearview mirror. “Trouble is, you’re not listening to me.”
“Of course I hear you. But I’m confident you’ll make the right choice.” She smiled back at him, her face glowing with conviction. “After you’ve spent time with your son—with me—and see how much I’ve grown as a wife and a mother, you’ll understand. I’m never giving up on you, darling. Never.”
Raine tiptoed down the hall. She wasn’t exactly sure where Liam or Hammer had gone. Neither had told her. Neither behaved like himself. Liam had been preoccupied and distressed all day. Hammer had been covering for him earlier. Then, something had happened to send his temper flaring, too. He hadn’t wanted her to know it, but please…
She really wished she could ask them straight questions and get straight answers. She’d been trying that all day. No luck. Evasions, sidestepping, maybe even outright lies—anything but the truth. Ironic after the way they’d stressed honesty in particular with her at the lodge. She’d be incredibly furious and hurt…except they’d continued giving her their love and affection. First, Liam had made love to her as if she were his only lifeline. Afterward, in the shower, Hammer had gripped her with the same desperation.
Something had definitely gone wrong between their last incredible joining at the cabin and the time they’d awakened her. It had only been going more wrong all day. Raine was convinced now more than ever that they meant to protect her.
And if she wasn’t going to get answers from them, the time had come to find someone who might talk. Beck was probably prepping for surgery now, but Seth was just down the hall. Of course, given his allegiance to Liam, her little game of twenty questions might not be well received. But any information he gave her was more than she had now.
Breath held, she crept to Seth’s door and knocked, hearing him engaged in low conversation behind the portal.
“Come in,” he shouted.
Biting her lip, Raine turned the knob and pushed the door open. She spied him sitting behind a little makeshift desk in the corner of his room that seemed overly small for his tall frame. He swiveled around in his chair with the phone pressed to his ear and waved her in.
“I’ll have to call you back,” he told whomever he talked to. “Yeah. That would be great. Thanks.” He hung up.
“Have I come at a bad time? I can come back.”
Now that she saw his tawny brow raised and his knowing stare, he clearly wasn’t under any illusions about why she’d come.
He gestured to the edge of the bed—the only other soft surface in the room. “Sit down.”
Raine couldn’t fail to hear the command in his voice. She cut to the chase. “You know why I’m here.”
“I’ve got a pretty good idea, yeah.” He crossed his arms over his chest and hooked one ankle over the other. “But shoot.”
She settled herself on the corner of his rumpled bed and folded her hands nervously in her lap. Most of the time, his face was so friendly. Golden hair in a banker’s cut, laughing green eyes, Seth was always ready to lend gentle support or tell a good joke. He seemed like everyone’s friend…until he slipped into Dom mode.
