Page 9 of Tender Wild

When Diablo returned to Sin & Steel, he noticed both Miguel’s motorcycle and Jared’s car parked outside. After what just happened today, he headed inside the tavern through the rear entrance.

Not that he was a coward. He just didn’t want to ruin Miguel’s time with the cheetah. Yeah, he knew they were a thing. Hadn’t been hard to figure out when the wolf’s face lit up every time he got a call from the pussy cat.

Opening the bedroom door closest to the back entrance, Diablo lay down on the bed, feeling the tension in his muscles as he tucked an arm behind his head.

I’m a big ole target and you keep missing!

Had he really taunted those mutts, daring them to tranquilize him again? Did he really value his life so little now that he’d been willing to die?

Diablo turned to his side, feeling his beasts’ restlessness stirring inside of him.

Seeing those mangled shifters in the warehouse had fucked him up in ways he hadn’t realized. To the point he hadn’t cared if he died.

Worse, he’d put Miguel’s life in danger. Diablo deserved that punch and so much more.

My parents would roll over in their graves if they’d seen what I’d done today.

Shame filled him, but the fucked-up part? Diablo was beyond caring what anyone thought. He was basically human, the part of himself that made him who he was now locked away. Maybe forever.

Diablo didn’t even know who he was anymore. He sat up, ready to go grab a fifth when his phone rang.

What he needed to do was apologize to Miguel, but knew the brother wouldn’t want one right now. He was still riding the fear and adrenaline, and would more than likely slug Diablo again.

“What?” Diablo bit out when he answered, rubbing his eyelids with his thumb and index finger.

“Did I catch you at a bad time?”

Hand dropping, Diablo sat up straighter. “Brett?”

“Sorry it took me so long to call you,” the redhead replied. “Things just…came up that required my attention.”

Diablo hadn’t forgotten about the flustered little cashier who worked in the hospital gift shop. He just never called the male, waiting to see if Brett would be brave enough to call him first.

“It’s cool.” Diablo lay back down, arm tucked back under his head. “What’ve you been up to, cariño?”

“Sweetheart!” Brett said enthusiastically. The guy was probably blushing hot enough to combust.

Diablo chuckled. “Very good.”

The human had no idea just how much Diablo needed this right now. Normalcy. Flirting. To know he was making someone smile while he was falling apart.

Chapter Three

Miguel was definitely not okay. When he’d seen Jared’s texts, he’d felt a mix of excitement and hesitation.

He should’ve never gone to that warehouse, but Miguel couldn’t let Diablo head there alone, especially after what the brother had been through in that place.

Now Jared wanted to play darts. The irony was not lost on Miguel. He just couldn’t bring himself to touch them.

“Chicken?” Jared teased.

The cheetah had no idea what Miguel had just gone through or the horror he’d witnessed. Jared stood there with a strained smile, gripping his arm, looking at Miguel like he was barely keeping it together.

He was thrilled to see Jared again, loved that he’d made the trip to see him, but the timing couldn’t be worse.

“I shouldn’t have come.” Jared dropped his hand and looked away. “Seems like I’m interrupting something. Just text me when you can.”

Miguel cursed under his breath as he watched Jared head for the door. His mind was still a mess, filled with images of those mangled bodies, the roar of the sportbikes, and that dart flying past his ear.

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