Page 52 of Running Winter

New beginnings and all that. Plus, it would be good to go with Rafe and maybe allow him to show me how to relax a little.

I was sick of being uptight.

PRIVATE

R A F E

I woke up the following morning to see my mother sitting by my bed, gazing at me silently.

My heart pounded in my chest, and I winced as I sat up.

Those fuckers sure went to town on my ribs.

"Your dad found them," Mom said quietly, her voice strained.

Oh, shit.

"They were from a town not far away, and they were trying to take your father down."

"That went well." I yawned as Mom walked over to my bed.

She was so beautiful.

I often wondered if she would ever age. She still looked young and pretty, and she had this way of looking at you like she was reading into your soul. Her green eyes flickered as she studied me before her lips grazed the top of my head. Her perfume was suddenly so comforting, and I allowed myself to fall into her arms when she held me.

"It's okay to admit you’re afraid, Rafe."

"I'm honestly not," I truthfully said as she pulled away. "What did Dad do?"

Mom smiled faintly before pushing her platinum curls over her shoulders.

"They dared to touch his son. With a knife and steel-capped boots. I'll let you wonder about that."

I nodded, my mind moving back to Chase. I couldn't believe Rayna had told him she wasn't interested, as if she wasn't. I saw the way she looked at him.

"You're thinking about a girl," Mom said with surprise as she cocked her head at me. "In a serious way."

"Not my girl, Mom."

This caused her to smile further before folding her arms.

"She has a boyfriend? Don't tell me she is married."

I let out a low laugh before shaking my head.

"No. Rayna likes Chase. Well, I thought she did.'

"Is this that girl who came here for dinner? Rayna?" Mom frowned, observing me.

"Yeah," I quietly said as Mom nodded.

"I thought Chase liked her. Best friend, though, right?"

I nodded.

“Rayna isn't interested, though, and Chase is full-on in love with her. Not being funny, Mom, but he could have anyone."

"Clearly not anyone." Mom shrugged, still watching me with a strange expression on her face. "Is this the girl you went to see at six am?"

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