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“We need to get out of here before the cops come,” Kieran said, eyeing the carnage around them. He ran to his SUV and grabbed his cell phone then moved swiftly back to the dead men, taking a pic. After pocketing his phone, Kieran rejoined them.
Rayne helped Felix to his feet. They had to use the car Kieran had driven because Rayne’s was riddled with bullets.
“I’ll take your SUV and hide it somewhere,” Kieran said. “Keys in the ignition?”
Rayne nodded. “I’ll meet you back at home.”
Rayne got into the driver’s seat, Felix next to him, as Cable jumped in the back.
As Rayne started the engine, he glanced over at Felix. “You really were amazing,” he said, admiration clear in his voice. “I’ve never seen someone react so quickly, especially under that kind of pressure.”
Felix rolled his eyes. “Like I had a choice. You threw me out your door.” He leaned over, pressing a gentle kiss to Rayne’s lips. “Thank you for saving my life.”
Rayne returned the kiss, savoring the feel of Felix’s lips against his.
“Can you guys make out later?” Cable asked. “I’d really like to avoid getting arrested.”
Kieran was already gone. Rayne drove off, leaving the scene behind them. The city lights blurred past them as they made their way home, everyone in the car silent.
When they finally arrived, Rayne took Felix to his room, not wanting to leave him in the guest bedroom after he’d been through his first gunfight. The human had to be internally freaking out. Rayne wanted to do anything he could to help Felix through his.
The possibility of Eleazar’s involvement was too terrible to contemplate. Rayne’s rage threatened to overwhelm him. His need for retribution and justice churned in his gut, and he vowed that if Eleazar had a hand in this, he’d burn the bastard’s home to ashes.
Chapter Eight
Rayne sat on the edge of the bed, ghosting his fingertips over his mate’s arm. The room was quiet, the only sound coming from the faint voices of his men downstairs. Felix sat beside him, his gaze fixed on the wall in front of them. Rayne could practically see the thoughts racing through his mate’s mind, and it broke his heart to see Felix so scared.
“Talk to me,” Rayne urged softly, his voice low and gentle. “Tell me what you’re thinking.”
Felix swallowed hard and shifted on the bed, turning to face him. “I’m just... I’m still in shock, I think. That could have been it, you know? That could have been the end.”
“You’re safe now,” Rayne reminded him, reaching out to brush a strand of hair back from Felix’s forehead. “I know things didn’t go according to plan. Shit got crazy, but everyone made it out of there alive.”
“Not everyone.”
“The ones who mattered.”
Felix shook his head, his eyes brimming with tears. “But what if...what if it happens again? What if we’re not so lucky next time?”
Rayne’s heart ached at the sight of Felix’s distress. He wished he could erase the terror from his mate’s memory, but he knew he couldn’t. All he could do was be there for him, to reassure his mate that he would always keep him safe.
“We’ll do everything in our power to prevent it,” Rayne said firmly. “I’ll make sure of it. And if anything ever happens, I’ll protect you. That’s a promise.”
Felix leaned into him, seeking comfort in Rayne’s embrace. They sat in silence for a few moments. The only sound was the gentle rise and fall of their breathing.
“I’m not normally like this,” Felix said, breaking the silence. “Your world scares me. I usually handle it by being mouthy, but this…” He laughed, but there was no humor in the sound. “That situation was downright terrifying.”
Rayne tightened his hold on Felix, pulling him even closer. “It’s okay to be scared, love,” he said softly. “You’re allowed to be scared. You’re allowed to be vulnerable. You’re allowed to be human.” He pressed a kiss to the top of Felix’s head. “I’m just glad you’re here with me.”
“It’s just...I never thought I’d be in a situation like that. I never imagined that I’d have to fight for my life. That’s amazing to even think, considering I live with vampires, a hunter kidnapped me, and now I’m living with wolf shifters.”
“I didn’t know you when we met on the street. I wanted to use you for information. Just like you wanted to use me for the same thing. Do you still hold that against me?” He lifted his hand, showing Felix the mating mark on his right palm. “I thought that maybe we’d gotten past that.”
Rayne leaned back, pulling Felix with him until they were lying on the bed, facing each other. “I know it’s not fair,” he said softly. “But that’s the reality of my world. It’s dangerous, and I’ll always do what I can to protect you. But sometimes, shit goes sideways.”
“I need to call Eleazar and find out what happened,” Felix said, playing with one of the buttons on Rayne’s shirt. “I’ll never believe he had anything to do with this, considering I was there. I’m willing to bet this was Fayez’s doing.”
Rayne needed to do something about Fayez before one of his pack members was killed. That had been too close earlier, and Rayne had feared one of them wouldn’t walk away from it. If he hadn’t seen that guy aiming for Kieran… Rayne shuddered just thinking about what might have happened.
