Page 124 of Running Winter

Chase moved beside me, and we watched her make her way over to the blond guy that was waiting for her.

He glanced at me, but as I glared at him, he refrained from doing it again.

Pussy.

"She's still not speaking to you, huh?" Chase made a face at me, and I shook my head. "Does she know it's because Jared was with Raven? That he fully deserved the ass-kicking he got?"

"Who knows," I muttered, watching as Heather and her friends made their way to the dance floor.

Instantly some dude was up against her, grinding his hips as she danced.

I turned away, not wanting to watch.

"I need another drink."

Rayna and Marianna were deep in conversation, and Chase gazed at Rayna like she was the only girl in the room.

I looked over to see Heather dancing alone.

The blond guy was with an attractive-looking man, and I realized I had it wrong. He wasn't glaring at me earlier; he was checking me out.

Heather and her friends finished their drinks, and my head ached with thoughts ricocheting through it.

I didn’t chase girls, and I sure as fuck didn’t beg.

If Heather still had a problem with me because of her fucking brother, then so be it. But Chase had a point—how much did she know?

I drained my drink, and Heather turned, catching my eye.

I beckoned her over, and she cut her eyes at me, ready to refuse. I put my hands together in a prayer-like motion, and she hesitated, long enough for me to move towards her.

"You're eager,” Heather snapped, turning to tell her friends she would be two minutes. "Not enough bimbos for you in this town?"

"I'm going to assume you don't know why I did what I did," I continued, ignoring her comment.

"Because you're a savage. A Deacon. You can't help but show your dominance on the street—"

"Nope. None of that," I cut her off, folding my arms.

She scowled at me, but I could see the warmth in her eyes. Hope danced within my stomach, and I continued.

"He was with my sister to piss me off. My little sister."

"Your sister is seventeen. She can do what she likes, with whom she likes," Heather said frostily. "You can't tell people what to do, Rafe, just because it doesn't suit your perception of reality."

"I'm not going to apologize for what I did.” I shrugged, and she shook her head in disbelief. "But."

"There's a but?" Heather rolled her eyes, turning back to her friends.

"I'm sorry it upset you. That part I am truly sorry for."

"He is my brother, Rafe. Of course it was going to upset me! You can't do that to him!"

Her lower lip trembled, and I reached out, stroking her chin lightly. She moved her head defiantly, but she intoxicated me.

"I miss you," I confessed, turning Heather towards the wall as her friends looked on with interest.

My hand ran down her waist; my head rested on her forehead as she put her hands on my chest.

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