AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“He wouldn’t have had a reason to target you if I’d done a better job of covering our asses after we took down Rainer. If it’s anyone’s fault, it’s mine.”
“You didn’t fail on purpose, did you?”
“Of course not.” I could hear the scowl in his voice.
“Then playing the blame game is pointless. We just need to figure out a way to move on.”
A notification made his phone buzz in his pocket, and he grumbled a curse near my ear. “That’ll be the first of them. If Bash lived closer, my money would be on him.”
I smiled. It was the tiniest, most wobbly smile I could’ve possibly offered, but it was a smile. “Thanks for making me talk about that, and for not judging me. And not going on a rampage to kill Evan.”
“Iamgoing to kill Evan. There’s just no point in rampaging to do so.” Something brushed the top of my head.
It felt suspiciously like a kiss.
“What are we going to tell them?”
“Exactly what he said about the nightclubs, and the uprising. Bash and I will go in and talk to Charlie tonight.”
“I’m going too, then.”
“No.” Zander didn’t consider it. “You’re a target. Rafael will stay home with Tatum for the same reason. The bastards will take any advantage they can. Bash and I need to feed, as well, since we’ll need to stay out of the clubs until we figure things out.”
I bit my lip hard, my head still tucked against his chest.
I didn’t like the idea of him feeding on someone else. I didn’t even like the idea of him talking to Julia the phlebotomist, even though I knew he was still acting like he didn’t remember her name just so she didn’t flirt with him.
Our front door opened. I lifted my head, wiping my eyes to dry any lingering tears. “Does it look like I’ve been crying?”
“Nah.”
“I don’t want them to know I had a breakdown.” I started climbing off Zander’s lap, but he held my hips in place.
And he kissed me, lightly.
It was just a brush of his mouth against mine, but my arms tightened around his neck anyway.
“Well, this got interesting,” Tatum drawled from the hallway.
I jerked my face away from Zander’s, meeting Tatum’s gaze before looking back at him. He winked at me, and I got the feeling he had just attempted to rescue me. Not from vampires, or dragons, but from concerned friends I didn’t want worrying about me.
My lips curved upward, just the tiniest bit.
“No comment,” I said, slipping off Zander’s lap and sitting next to him.
Tatum, Rafael, and Brynn joined us on the couch. By some miracle, they didn’t ask questions about the kiss while we waited for Sebastian to get there. Zander was right about him being behind them, though he was only about five minutes out.
As soon as he sat down, everyone looked at me. I explained what had happened, and the guys quickly made a plan. Zander alsoturned out to be right about Rafael and Tatum staying inside while he and Sebastian warned Charlie.
They agreed to regroup after a chat with Charlie, so after my best friends and I exchanged hugs, everyone but Sebastian headed out.
“Ready?” Sebastian asked Zander, as the three of us stood by the door.
“Yup.” He looked down at me, as if making sureIwas ready for him to go. My uncertainty must’ve been written on my face, because he said, “Actually, I need a minute. I’ll meet you in your car.”
Sebastian didn’t protest, just strode out of the house.
“Explain the look, Sweetheart.” His fingertip brushed my nose.
