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“I did, but I could tell they didn’t take me seriously. I figured if I got some evidence, they’d have to do something.” She tugged at the end of her t-shirt. “I thought I could get some at that party.”
I had to admit that Bliss’s theory sounded ludicrous, but I knew her. I knew she was fiercely protective of all her sisters, so the fact that one was missing without a word must’ve been eating her alive.
“I guess that’s it,” Bliss added with a shrug. “I just want… I want you to be careful with Nick.”
“He wouldn’t be involved in your sister’s disappearance.” Of that I was sure.
“Maybe. Maybe not. But he is a Savage. Even if he’s not involved directly, he’s guilty by association.” With that, she left through the office door, locking it behind her.
Turning, I walked back into the garage and startled when I found Nick standing just inside the door with Lucifer by his side.
I put a hand over my heart, swallowing back my rapid pulse. “Nick, you scared me.”
His expression grew darker. Rage beaded off his body, and for half a second, my mind conjured up the scenario where he knew who I was—who Ireallywas. As if sensing the dark thoughts,Lucifer whined at Nick’s feet, looking between us.
“Nick?”
His chest was heaving, the muscle in his jaw ticking with each deep inhale he took. My gaze traveled down, finding dark stains on his black shirt—stains that looked as if they’d been sitting there for a while and gone stiff. I knew what they were without having to touch them.
Gnawing on my bottom lip, I fought the urge to run. To hide. A shudder ran through me as his long legs ate up the distance between us, and it took everything in me not to move. He looked down at me, that anger flashing in his irises, making my abused heart thump too loudly in my ear. Nick stayed there for a long minute, each of us sharing breath.
That was when I felt it.
What the anger was masking.
Pain.
Suchintensepain.
Moving slowly, like he was a skittish horse about to bolt, I lifted my arms and wrapped them around his shoulders. I stepped closer into his body, feeling how taut he was holding himself. Every inch of him was rigid. He was holding back, trying to keep the pain at bay while seeking solace. For a long time, hedidn’t reciprocate the hug. Squeezing him a little more tightly, I urged him to let go. To let himself feel.
When he’d told me about his brother’s murder, I could tell he didn’t want to pick at the scab that hadn’t even had the chance to start healing yet. How could he have grieved in that time? I knew everyone went through the stages differently, and there wasn’t an end date on coming to terms with the loss of someone you loved, but I wondered whether he’d actually grieved at all.
I squeezed a little harder, resting my cheek against his chest. His heart was racing. Nick eventually inhaled deeply, and when he let the rough breath go, I felt the walls begin to crumble. With his arms banding around me, he tucked his head into my shoulder, and I held him. He never made a sound, but the wetness on my shirt that soaked through to my skin told me everything I needed to know.
I stroked his back, wishing I could take away some of this pain. When he eventually pulled away, he turned his head so I couldn’t see his tears. With rough, almost angry movements, he swiped at the wetness until all that was left was his red-rimmed eyes.
“What happened?”
A cold breeze blew through the open garage door, ruffling his hair. His nostrils suddenly flared, and he started to lower the garage doors. He kept his eyes on the darkening street—one hand on the door controller, and the other on the small of his back where a gun was snugged against his spine.
When he finally turned to face me again, his mouth was a tight slash of disapproval. “It’s not safe for you here.”
Trying to ignore the echo of my father’s words, I asked, “Nick, what’s going on?”
Running a hand through his hair, he walked through to the office. I could hear him rattling the front door, testing the lock. When he returned a moment later, the same barely restrainedviolence from before was back, riding the strong slope of his shoulders and angled jaw. “You’re in danger because of me.”
“Because of you? Nick, what the hell happened?”
Ignoring my question, he said, “I want you to take Lucifer for a couple of days.”
I looked down at the dog, then back at him. “Why?”
“I have to go away on club business. Leaving tomorrow morning. Back on Friday.”
Lucifer whined like he understood every word that was being said.
“Nick, I don’t?—”
