Page 60 of Dark Surrender

That’s just what one wants to hear after being away from her sister for nine days, who drove hours straight through to be here, only to be unwelcome.

“So you’re telling me to leave?”

“Yes,” the blond says without emotion.

Whirling around to face Dark, I clench both fists at my sides. “Did you know about this?” I growl, focusing my anger on him. Why? I don’t know. I just am.

“Yes,” he replies without hesitation.

“When did you get here?”

“Three days ago.”

“Did you hear about this before or after you arrived?”

“Before.”

“So you’re really here to do what?” I cock my head to the side and wait for the truth.

“To take you home.”

An angry growl wrenches from my throat as the urge to punch someone or something makes my skin itch. When I can’t take it anymore, I poke the big man in the chest. In a spot I can’t be certain he doesn’t have stitches, but it doesn’t matter. “Well. Newsflash. I don’t have a home.”

The asshole’s lip twitches as if he thinks me being pissed off is cute. “Yes. You do. It’s just not here.”

Ah yes. Elusive bullshit, again. Dog-tired from driving for hours on end, I don’t even try to stop the urge when I poke him again. This time, I know I hit a tender spot when he flinches. “Then where the fuck is it?”

Dark

The words with me tingle on the tip of my tongue as I stare into the most beautiful eyes I’ve ever seen. They’re wet with unshed tears. Red around the edges. This is hurting Iris. We knew it would, and my heart aches for her. But this is necessary for her and her sister. If Iris needs someone to take her frustration out on, that’s fine by me. Poke me in the chest. Slap me. I can take it. Cry. Don’t cry. It doesn’t change that I’m not leaving her.

When I talked to Cell about Iris, she told me she sent them to Kings Cursed. In less than an hour, I was on the phone with Rot and Sola, who’ve gotten to know Dee over the past week, but that’s not my story to tell.

I’m here for Iris.

To bring her home with me.

To give her a soft, safe place to land, close to Cell and other women like her. But away from Dee, who needs to figure out shit on her own. They need space and real time apart.

Wanting to shoulder this with her, I take a leap I know I shouldn’t, and cup Iris’s face in my hands. She startles but doesn’t yank away.

“I’ve got a place for you to stay. A new home for you. A place that’s just yours.”

A single tear breaks free and rolls down her cheek. I swipe it away with my thumb to hide the evidence. “Where?” Her bottom lip wobbles as she wraps her dainty little fingers around my wrists. Not to push me away, but as an anchor—or that’s how it feels to me—and damn if I don’t love it.

“Just a block or two from Cell,” I explain.

“By your family.”

“Yes.”

“Why are you here?”

“I don’t know, but I am, and I’m not leaving without you.” I couldn’t if I wanted to. I can’t get her out of my head. I have to do this.

“I don’t want to go.” Iris sniffs, breaking my damn heart.

I caress her cheeks with my thumbs. “I know, sweetheart, but you’ll be happy once you do.”