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A warm hand touched my cheek. “Desarae.” Seff’s jaw clenched, probably fighting the urge to shout how Deck had to deal with his own mistakes because I felt the same.
“Yes, my brother is a dick-waving jerkface. He’s also a full-grown male who makes asinine decisions. He’ll die if we don’t do something.”
The unspokenso what?flashed in his dark eyes before his gaze hit the floor. Anger and fear slid like sludge through our bond, and I hated the muddy feel.
“Seff, I get it. Deck—”
He shook his head. “One little handwritten note doesn’t make up for leaving you with that sonofabitch and then cutting you off when you escaped.”
“No, one little note doesn’t absolve him from anything, and I’m certainly not ready to forgive him.” I wrapped my arms around Seff’s waist and looked into his eyes. “No matter how angry Decker makes me, he’s still my brother.”
“He’s putting you in danger again.”
I tried not to smile. “Weare hunting the rogue.”
“Yeah, but we weren’t being reckless! I would never throw myself in front of that murdering bastard!” His hands cupped my face. “I’m not gonna risk losing you and two of the sweetest little daughters any male could ever hope for.” With his soft lips on mine, he whispered, “I love you. I love you. I love you.” Each word a promise written on my heart.
The orange blossoms and honey scent of our love filled the steamy air of the bathroom as Seff lifted me and carried me into the shower.
––––––––
Sorrel rubbed the sleepfrom his eyes as he peered out of the doorway of his and Carmine’s suite. “We haven’t seen Deck since we left you in the lobby. Why?”
“We have to stop my jerkface brother from committing suicide-by-rogue-dart.”
“What? He left?” Sorrel stared at me in disbelief.
“Apparently,” I replied.
With my senses on high, I reached out to find my brother. Catching a tiny thread of emotion—calm and steady—I held onto it and tried to send my concern back along the same line. It wasn’t something I’d ever tried before. I wasn’t sure it would work. If he felt what I’d projected, I couldn’t tell. His calm, steady demeanor never wavered.
Brutus walked up behind us, staring down at the phone.
“Okay, I’ve set you both up for a flight out of the same airport we came in at. It will take them a bit to get out there and get ready. You’re going to Kerrville, Texas. Are you familiar with Kerrville, Seff?”
“Oh, yeah,” Seff replied with a nod. “Thanks.” He turned back to Sorrel. “Would you mind giving us a ride out to the airport?”
“Yeah, sure, sure.” Sorrel nodded. “Give me a few minutes, and I’ll meet you out at the car.”
We heard the door close behind us as we walked away toward the parking area. Seff kept his arm around my shoulders, though I’d stopped trembling a while ago.
Brutus walked along with us but didn’t have his duffle bag.
“When are you leaving for San Francisco?”
“Later in the afternoon.” He rubbed a hand across the back of his neck. “Seems I’m calling in all my favors these last couple of days.” I watched as his chest rose and fell with a heavy sigh.
“Well, we owe you now, too, so you call us whenever you need something.” Seff clapped Brutus on the shoulder.
We came around a corner of a building where the SUV sat parked between two other cars. As we moved closer, I saw something was not right. The SUV sat much too low.
“Sonofabitch,” Seff mumbled under his breath.
The SUV sat on its rims with four flat tires.
Brutus looked up and down the row of parked cars, trucks, and SUVs.
“Seeing that this is the only vandalized vehicle, I’m guessing your brother didn’t want us catching up to him so quickly.” Brutus looked down at me, his brows raised and one side of his lips quirk up into a lopsided grin.
