Page 31 of Too Hot

“Looks like it,” Rafe said.

“It’s about damn time,” Kaley said. Everyone looked at her. “Hey, we work behind the bar together, and we chat.”

Max shook his head. “I’ve been missing a lot, apparently.”

“No, you haven’t,” Damon said, coming up to them with Tessa on his arm. “This was something out of our control.”

“Damon’s right,” Tessa said.

“I do think we need to figure out how to prevent it from happening again,” Max said.

Brianna leaned back against Rafe and tilted her head to look at him. Her eyes were filled with concern but also questions. “Go ahead, sweetheart. Speak your mind,” he encouraged her.

Max looked at her, and Brianna stiffened.

“Rafe is right. What’s on your mind?” Max settled on the stool next to her.

“Sir, you couldn’t have prevented this. The attack didn’t happen in the club. I know you feel responsible.” Brianna raised her hand but didn’t touch Max until he nodded.

Rafe swelled with pride. She was asking for consent.

“We can’t be responsible for things that happen outside our control. Trust me. I want to protect my kids at school and at home. I’ve had to deal with stuff I’d hoped never to see in my career, but I also had to come to the realization that I can’t control what happens when they leave my classroom. Put the blame where it belongs—with the person who committed the horrible deed.”

Max stared at Brianna in silence. “Brianna, you are a treasure.” Max glanced at Rafe, and he nodded. Max put his free hand over Brianna’s where it laid on his arm. “Thank you for your words. Sometimes I take on burdens I don’t need to.”

“I tell you that all the time,” Sierra commented, coming up behind Max and slipping her arms around his waist to hug him.

“I know you do.”

Brianna dropped her hand.

“I still don’t understand how he slipped through every safeguard we have.”

Logan let out a loud sigh. “Max,” he started. “The man was good at hiding what he was. A predator. Yes, he slipped up a time or two, but not enough to make us suspicious. I know you want to control everything, but you can’t control others.”

“Only my sub.” Max grinned. “I get it. I do. It doesn’t sit right with me; that’s all.”

“Of course it doesn’t,” Rafe said. Gazes turned to him. “You’re like all of us. You want to protect and take care of what’s yours. Sometimes we can’t do that, and we blame ourselves.”

Max closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “Damn right. Okay.” He took another breath and let it out. “No more recriminations. Let’s enjoy ourselves tonight.”

Rafe glanced down at Brianna. “Let’s go chat for a minute,” he said softly.

She nodded. Rafe excused them from the group and took Brianna over to the quiet area. He sat down and then pulled her into his lap. Her startled gaze met his. “I want to hold you.”

“Yes, Sir.”

“What you said to Max was what he needed to hear. Thank you.”

“I don’t want him to feel bad. This isn’t his fault. Ward is a predator. I’ve seen it before, Sir.”

“In teaching?” He didn’t like the thought of her being around people like that.

“Yes and in the world in general.” A shiver swept over her.

He hated the idea of Brianna seeing the violent side of the world. It wasn’t something he could completely protect her from, but he’d do his best.

“You’re stronger for it.” The words flowed out of him because he did see her strength.

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