“Sounds like you’re well rid,” Hunter said.
Connor glared at him. Gray shook his head. “Didn’t Cady warn you not to use reverse psychology on your friends anymore?”
“But he’s being a dumbass,” Hunter complained.
“What?” Connor asked.
“Come on, man,” Finn said quietly. “I don’t know you well or this girl at all. But it’s obvious some bad shit went down in her life. She’s not going to be a trusting person with a family like she’s got. She had to protect herself, and you, from her brother.”
Fuck. Fuck.
“Could she be in danger from him?” And then there was the guy she’d seen kill Trevor. “And what about this Vince?”
“Hey, I know how they found you guys.” Jaron walked in and put a small object down on the coffee table.
“Tracking device,” Connor said. “They were tracking me.”
“Must have been watching you guys,” Gray said. “Maybe Ria wanted out of the life and her brother wouldn’t let her go.”
“So she was running from a criminal. Who now has her back. Good thought. Let’s go for that. Who’s for some breakfast?” Hunter asked.
“We can’t just leave her there without knowing what’s going on.” Connor gaped at him.
“Why not? She’s a liar, right? You don’t want a sub who lies, who breaks your rules whenever she feels like it.”
Connor glared at him. “You’re an asshole.”
“I swear he gets worse as he gets older.” Gray sighed.
“I need to figure out what the hell went on between her and her brother. We also need to find out who this Vince is.”
Gray nodded. “You know we’ll help.”
“Why?” Hunter asked. “She’s not his sub anymore. He made that clear.”
“She’s more than my sub. She’s the woman I fucking love.” Even knowing she’d lied, he still loved her. Could he forgive her? Her deception hadn’t been to hurt him. Or to use him. More than likely it had been to protect him. Yeah, that made more sense. Damn woman wanted to protect the world. He needed to make it clear she did not protect him.
She’d soon learn he was serious when he had her plugged, spanked, and fucked. Maybe he’d just keep her that way most of the time. It was a nice thought.
“Ah, he’s got that look on his face. Already deciding how he’s going to discipline her. Cady hasn’t played up in a while. I miss that.”
Gray smacked Hunter on the back. “Don’t worry, after I tell her about all of this I’m sure she’s going to be so mad she’ll earn some punishment.”
“Something to look forward to.”
He’d been wrong. He shouldn’t have been so quick to let her go.
He wouldn’t make that mistake again.
“I need to go get my sub.”
“Whoop!” Hunter did a fist pump. “Taking on the Chicago mob, now that’s the most fun I’ve had in a long time.”
16
She felt completely lost.
It hurt so much. Losing him. How long would it take to feel better? These last four days, she’d felt numb. Bereft. Surely, she wouldn’t be like this forever.