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“No, ma’am. We’ve got it handled,” my bodyguard said stiffly.
Tires squealed outside, and a truck slammed on its brakes. The bell jingled again, and then I was in Zander’s arms while he growled something at the bodyguard.
My fingers curled in the fabric of his shirt, my heart still pounding like a freight train. A moment later, Zander walked both of us out of the store and buckled me into his truck.
His hand landed on my thigh as soon as he was in his own seat.
“You’re okay, Sweetheart.” His voice was firm.
“I know I am,” I whispered.
My pounding heart disagreed.
Evan had just said he wouldn’t leave me alone until I was mated.
Zander was right—the bastard was stalking me.
And if I wanted to be free, I was going to have to seal the mate bond.
Zander’s handstayed on my thigh throughout the drive home. I don’t know when I’d started considering his house my home, but I had.
And I don’t know when I’d decided that I liked him touching me, but I did.
He took my hand to help me out of the car when we got home, and I held on tightly as he led me to the couch.
When he sat down, I sat next to him, releasing his hand to wrap my arms around my middle.
“I need you to tell me about Evan,” Zander said, his voice soft, but serious.
And I was so out of it, I did.
“He was perfect.” I let out a shaky breath. “I felt so out of place at Tatum’s masquerade ball. Brynn spent the whole night arguing with her brother, and Tatum was dancing, so I was alone. Until I wasn’t. He brought me a piece of cheesecake, asked for my name, and talked to me. Just… talked. About everything. My family. My degree. My business. Yoga. He cared. No one cares, but he cared. When he asked me to spend the night with him, I didn’t even hesitate. He drank my blood, we had sex, and it was perfect.”
I didn’t look over at Zander.
Though I knew he was probably clenching his jaw or fighting the urge to kill the guy, I didn’t want to see it on his face.
I continued, “It went on through the whole mating celebration weekend. When he told me he lived in Scale Ridge too, it felt like fate. We picked up where we left off as soon as we were back home. He immediately mentioned he didn’t like having your security outside the door, watching. After a few days, he asked me to slip away from them. The recklessness seemed exciting, and I thought I was in love with him, so I did.”
“When I got there, he gave me wine in a glass—it seemed off, and looking back, I know it had his blood in it. Instead of fucking me, he bit me. When I got dizzy and tried to push him away, he wouldn’t let go. I thought I was going to die. Maybe Ididdie.When I woke up, I was starving and alone. I guess you know the rest.” I let out a long breath and closed my eyes.
When he didn’t respond right away, more words slipped out. “There were red flags. I realized that when I looked back. He didn’t talk as much as I did, and he never shared any real details. There was no foreplay. His venom made the sex good for me, but he used my body, and used me to gain standing with the leader of a shitty clan. So… I don’t know why he won’t leave me alone. He probably wants to use me for something else. To get to you and your brothers, if I had to guess.”
Zander’s hands landed on my waist, and he lifted me onto his lap. My arms went around his neck, my knees landing on either side of his waist, and I hugged him fiercely.
He held me tightly as my tears fell, his body strong and steady against mine. His voice was low and rough in my ear, “I’m so fucking sorry, Miles.”
“Me too.”
His hand stroked my back while my tears ran, and continued as they dried.
Finally, he said gruffly, “I should warn you, my brothers will probably be here soon. Your bodyguard will have told them what Evan said, and they’ll want to hear it from you too. I can reprogram the code they’ll use, but?—”
“If Rafael knows, Tatum knows too. And if Tatum knows, Brynn knows. No point in trying to keep them all out.”
His arms tightened around me. “Damn, you are a good woman.”
I couldn’t suppress my laugh, though my eyes were still wet. “I’m the reason we’re all in this mess.”
