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“Let’s go inside, Makayla. I’ll get you a drink, and you can forget this shithead even exists.”
“I’m right—”
Viking spins around so fast, Jeff has no time to react. He wraps his hand around Jeff’s throat and lifts him off so the toes of his shoes barely touch the ground.
“I already regret inviting you,” Viking growls. “Don’t make me regret letting you walk away unharmed.” He shoves him to the ground. “Get the fuck off my property.”
Jeff scrambles to his feet and brushes past me to get back in his car. Within seconds, he’s backing down the lane.
Viking’s jaw tics as he watches the man leave, and I find myself wanting to reassure him. I rest my hand on his forearm, and he glances down at where we’re joined.
“I really am okay,” I tell him.
He lifts his golden brown eyes to mine. “I’m sorry I reacted like that. But no one touches my woman and gets away with it.”
His woman?
16
Viking
Well, shit.
I didn’t mean for those words to fall from my tongue, but then again, Makayla isn’t running away screaming so maybe it’s not so bad.
When I heard the shouting from inside, image after image of Mea assaulted me, and Kára’s questions lit up alongside them like giant flashing neon signs.
Do you remember what I told you on your death day?
What was on your mind when you saw Makayla for the first time?
Without thinking, I raced outside, and the moment I saw Jeff with his hands on Makayla, my brain transposed Mea’s face over hers. It was as if I was back in my home village, waiting for the Vikings to attack.
I knew it was Makayla I was protecting, but deep in my soul, it felt like she was my wife.
“You’re spiraling.”
Makayla’s soft voice pulls me out of my thoughts, and I focus on her. “What?”
“I can see it on your face,” she says with a thoughtful smile. “You’re regretting what you just said, and you’re spiraling.”
“I…” Swallowing past the lump in my throat, I let my shoulders relax. “I didn’t me—”
“It’s okay.” Makayla reaches for my hand and links her fingers with mine. “You didn’t scare me off.”
But I’m scaring the fuck outta myself.
“You mean you’re not gonna run for the hills?” I say, forcing a teasing tone.
“I’m not too big on running,” she says with a chuckle. “And I don’t scare very easily.” Makayla tips her head toward the main road. “Well, unless I think someone is following me and means me harm, apparently.”
“I’d never let anyone hurt you, Me—” I press my lips together, realizing what I
almost said. “Makayla.”
Her forehead wrinkles in confusion, but she must accept the slight blunder as just that because she doesn’t comment on it.
“So, are we going to stand out here all night, or are you going to take me inside?”
