Page 59 of Dark Surrender

Here.

Why in the hell is he here?

The man in question rests his tatted forearm on the edge of my doorjamb and leans in.

“Hi, Iris. It’s nice to see you again,” he purrs, and since I’m struck dumb, unable to form a single coherent reply, he chuckles. It’s as warm as melted chocolate and…

Really… Truly… What the fuck is he doing here?

Flashing me a devious wink, Dark reaches into my truck and across me to unlatch my seatbelt. His body brushes mine, and every cell feels it. Good lord, he smells of all things delicious—woods, fresh air, cedar, and a hint of citrus. His scent invades my senses as he slides an arm under my legs and lifts me out of my 4Runner. And for some stupid, insane reason, I let him, as I keep staring, on the verge of a panic attack.

“Breathe,” he whispers into my ear as he carries me from the safety of my vehicle to my house, where Dee looks only half murderous on the stoop, standing next to Sola and Rot.

There’s another man I don’t recognize in the grass—wide with short blond hair and no shirt, with a teeth-print tattoo on his chest. He resumes playing with Mia’s mutt as Dark carries me to the porch, where he deposits me in front of my sister. But instead of stepping away and giving me space to handle what is sure to be a massive fight, he stands at my back. Like, touching me. His hand lingers in the curve right above my ass. It sears through the cotton of my T-shirt, and this weird, fluttery sensation goes berserk in my chest, robbing me of any thought. So when Dee’s palm slices across my cheek and pain blooms in its wake, it takes half a second too long to register that my sister just slapped me. The shock brings tears to my eyes as the person behind me growls.

“Was that fuckin’ necessary?” he snarls at my sister, and I wait for her to launch herself at him, but she doesn’t.

Dee flips him off, but keeps her gaze trained on me, like she doesn’t see him as a threat, and that shocks the shit out of me.

Touching my cheek, I sigh. “I know I deserved it.”

Dee’s curt nod agrees.

“Are we good?” I ask.

“Yes.”

“Do you forgive me for leaving without telling you?”

“Yes.”

“So can you stop barricading the front door and let me inside?” I nod to said doorway.

The slow shake of Dee’s head makes my stomach drop.

Sola steps forward. “Dee and I have been talking a lot since you left. We think it’s best if you…”

“Live your own life,” Dee fills in.

“What do you mean, live my own life? This is my life.” I gesture to this place.

Dee shakes her head, and her dark braid sways. “Not here.”

“What the fuck?”

“We need space.”

Says who?

“Is this because I left? So I could tie up the loose ends, and I didn’t tell you? Look, I understand you’re pissed.”

“It’s not that,” Dee says, looking to Sola for backup. The giant from the yard takes this as his cue to join us, and ain’t that just fan-fuckin-tastic? Now we have a crowd to witness… whatever this is… My sister disowning me? Kicking me out of her life? Replacing me with this new family?

Gritting my teeth, I inhale through my nose to keep from breaking down. I’m not gonna cry. I’m not. Nope. Fuck them. Fuck whatever this is.

Tucking a strand of red hair behind her ear, Sola looks to the blond man beside Dark.

It’s he who speaks. “This town ain’t for you.”