Page 110 of Broken Wolf Heart
He hesitates.
I can feel everyone’s eyes on us, on him. Trying to understand what’s happening. Dutch presses in close, and I know he’s preparing to put himself between us like he did at the warehouse.
“You need space,” I say. “I’ll be okay. Besides, there’s someone waiting for you there.”
Or I hope there is.
His lips crash into mine—rough and desperate. A promise and a plea all at once.
Then he’s gone. Shifted into his wolf and running so fast for the trees that he’s nothing but a blur by the time he vanishes through the tree line.
“Do you want me to follow him?” Dutch asks.
“Just…make sure he gets there safely, but don’t stay.”
He nods, and then he starts jogging toward the woods.
Partway there, I see Crow intercept Dutch, and my shoulders sag in relief. Between the two of them, I know Grey will be in good hands.
I turn back to Charlie.
“You’re not coming inside. Not until my guests are gone.”
He nods like he expected that.
“But there’s a guest house in the back.” I hesitate, wincing at the irony of my next words. “I’ll have to put guards on you. For your safety.”
“I understand,” Charlie says.
“I don’t trust you,” I tell him plainly. “Not entirely. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry about that.”
I motion to Mia, who approaches us with enough relief that I know she was listening after all. “I’ll get him settled,” she says.
“And assign Donahue and Camila for watch.”
She flashes me a look of gratitude. “Done.”
Later,after the defectors have officially sworn loyalty and Andy has found a safe place for them to go where Vincenzo can’t find them, I finally let myself breathe.
Kind of.
Andy finds me on the back patio where I’m nursing a glass of wine and hiding from any remaining guests.
She sits in the chair beside mine and holds out a piece of cake.
“It’s got rum in it,” she offers.
I take it without hesitation. “You’re a goddess.”
“I know.”
We sit in silence for a minute.
Then she says, “Dutch asked me out.”
I choke.
