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“Yup,” Regan grunted. “Small and not very effective.”

Effective.

I wanted to throw myself around Elena. Hug her tight against me since I was unable to stand the thought of what that meant.

This fucking perilous life was so wrong for her.

Wanted to lift her out of it.

Convince her to go. To just fucking leave. It wasn’t right.

All while I wanted to chain her to me.

Hazel eyes stared at me. Wide and wild.

“Lena, baby.” The words were out before I could stop them. Maybe it didn’t fucking matter because I was pretty sure what I was feeling was written all over me, anyway.

“I’m fine. I’m fine. It’s fine.”

I stood and scooped her up, an arm under her knees and the other under her back. Held her so fucking tight as I looked between the five men.

And I snarled, “Find that motherfucker and do it today.”

FIFTY-ONE

ELENA

“I think that’s it,” I breathed, releasing a puff of air that scattered my bangs as I looked around my store.

Though it wasn’t close to being as scattered as my nerves.

It was fifteen minutes after three, and I was honestly shocked that I was even standing there. That I’d been allowed to come in today after what had happened this morning.

But I’d told Trevan I wasn’t letting this asshole intimidate or deter me. Had told him I’d walk to the boutique myself if that’s what it required.

There was no way I was going to keep the gift shop closed on its first real day of business.

Trevan had tried to argue, and Silas had basically threatened to lock me in my room.

“We chose this life, and we have to find a way to live in it.”

It was the one thing that backed both of them into a corner.

But the bottom line was I knew Trevan would keep me safe. The way he’d done this morning, even though when they had inspected the explosive, it was deemed not to be very powerful.

Brody had laughed, said it barely counted as a firecracker. Trevan had snarled that it wasn’t funny.

The Crows had been segmented into three.

A third at the compound, a third here, and the other group on the hunt.

Of course, Trevan had been attached to my hip the entire day, not that I minded.

We’d been extremely busy, which was both a joy and a great distraction, though my thoughts never strayed far from what had happened between me and Trevan both last night and this morning.

A shiver zipped down my spine when I thought of the way he hadn’t been able to resist when he found me this morning. When I decided to show him what I had to offer.

The feel of his penis…right there. Just inside me. So close to fulfilling everything I needed but not nearly enough.