Rogan and Fridge enclosed Sadie in a hug and held her tight.
Pain split my chest apart as I realized once again I was on the outs of our mating group. I’d been late to the party, and even now, when I was doing everything I possibly could to protect them, it wasn’t enough.
I turned and fled, wondering if I’d made a mistake in choosing to follow my heart to this woman and the two men who loved her.
And whether it was too late to undo that choice.
Chapter 3.
Sadie.
I sobbed into Rogan’s chest and grabbed tightly the comforting hand Fridge offered me.
That had been so close. I could feel it now. The danger that left the room the moment Bartholomew had gone. He’d wanted to hurt us.
His purpose was to threaten me, to get up in my face so that I would react in a way that gave him an excuse to inflict harm.
And we’d fallen for it, hook, line and sinker.
I pulled myself back and wiped at my wet face. “Oh my God. That was terrible.”
“Yeah.” Rogan agreed, allowing me to pull away. “Vincent should have stayed out of it.”
Fridge crossed his arms over his chest and nodded.
My mouth hung open. I knew the guys didn’t really like Vincent despite everything we’d been through so far together. But were they really that blind? That stupid?
“You aren’t serious?” I spun around when I heard the door open, expecting to see Vincent leaving, but instead, there was Lucas, one of the hunters from my dad’s workshop.
“Where’s Vincent?” And where had Uncle Terry slunk off to? I didn’t see him leave, but he’d disappeared around the same time Vincent had shown up.
“Who?” Lucas asked, walking in with a bottle of golden-colored whiskey and several glasses.
“My.... Never mind.”
I took one of the glasses, as did Rogan and Fridge. We accepted the alcohol and drank what was offered. I shared a look with my two mates, promising we’d sort out all our issues after the wake.
“The guys told me to come in and grab you. What’s taking so long?” Lucas asked.
I sniffed and wiped my nose. “Nothing at all. Let’s go get drunk.”
We were swept into an afternoon of food, too much booze, and wonderful stories of my father’s life.
The men in the room knew everything about him. His temper, his power, his graciousness.
It was only when I was paying the bill and finally leaving, did Terry sneak up next to me again.
“Sadie,” he hissed. “I need to speak to you.”
When I turned around to look at him, I was seeing double and giggled to myself.
Damn, I drank too much. Again.
What was wrong with me lately? Oh, yeah...
I grabbed for Rogan’s arm and clung to it to stop myself from toppling over. “What?”
“Not here,” he insisted, and I glanced up at Rogan, who was blinking and looking confused, just like me.
“I got a cab!” Fridge called from behind us.
I looked over to where my dragon shifter mate was falling into the taxi. It had been a terrible week for us all, and we’d needed the release.
“Can you call me tomorrow, Uncle Terry? I can barely stand up,” I managed to say as Rogan slung my arm over his shoulders and hoisted me up into his arms.
Terry grabbed my hand. “Sadie. You need to know who killed your dad and why.”
I swallowed hard, annoyed that the tears that I’d fought so hard to keep at bay all afternoon were now, once again, flowing.
“I know why. They wanted information on my mother’s bloodline. But he wouldn’t give it up. As for who... it must be one of the Fathers. Though exactly who, I don’t know.” I was singing the words now and my eyelids were drooping.
“Sadie,” Terry insisted urgently.
I let my eyes close and my head fall onto Rogan’s chest. “Tomorrow, Terry. I can’t take any more. Not today.”
Rogan stumbled over to the taxi and Terry let us go.
That was the last thing remembered until I woke up the next morning with a pounding, ear-splitting headache, and a room that stunk like liquor.
I gagged as I tried to swallow, wetting my lips. “Damn. Someone needs to open a window. We stink.”
“I agree,” came the sudden words from beyond the bed, and a breeze floated through the room as a window was forced open.
I tried to open my eyes, but the pain in my head only increased. “Damn.” I put a hand to my forehead. “Vincent?”
It had to be him.
“Yes, Sadie?” he asked quietly from closer to the bed.
Warm hands ran over my middle, but they were closer and obviously from the men sharing my bed.
I forced my eyes to open and prayed for a painkiller.
Vincent was standing over me, his mouth drawn down into a frown.
I glanced down at the bed around me. We were all still fully clothed, except for Fridge, who seemed to have gotten rid of his shirt somewhere after the funeral and was snoring happily on the pillow beside me.
I looked up at Vincent once again and forced the words from my mouth that I’d been wanting to say since he’d left the funeral home. “Thank you for stopping us yesterday. I think you saved our lives.”
Vincent’s eyes widened, then a gentle smile lifted the edges of his lips. “I did.”
I wanted to laugh but I knew it would hurt too much. “I... ah, need to go to the bathroom. Could you help me up? I’m afraid I’ll puke if I move on my own.”
Vincent’s face tightened but he nodded.
I pushed Fridge’s possessive hand off my belly and put my arms up to Vincent.
My vampire swooped in and lifted me up into his arms. I clung to his neck, his cool skin lovely beneath my hot hands.
He carried me into the bathroom, then set me on my feet. “I’ll leave you to it.”
I nodded. “Thank you. But don’t go anywhere. We need to talk, I think.” As I said the words, the worry sank into my gut and spread through to my heart.
His eyes were shadowed as he shut the door so I could relieve myself.
I quickly used the toilet, splashed water on my face and tidied myself up the best I could.
“Yes!” I cried when I found a pack of painkillers in the medicine cabinet above the mirror. “Life saver.”
I took two tablets and washed them down quickly with water.
I stared at my reflection in the mirror. I was pale, but thanks to the smart move of not wearing any makeup yesterday in case I cried too much, things could have been worse.
Vincent and I needed some time together. We’d only kissed once, despite the fact I desired him. I wanted to see what was beneath his conservative suits and feel the beating heart of the man beneath.
Well, vampires didn’t have pulses... but that was beside the point.
I wanted to see him out of control. I wanted him to more than kiss me. I wanted to be mated to my vampire... finally.
When I opened the door once again, Vincent snuck into the room, putting a finger to his lips. “I think they’re going to wake up soon.”
Nodding, I lowered the lid on the toilet and sat down.
He handed me a bottle of water and leaned against the now closed door.
“Oh, thanks.” I said, opening the bottle and downing the whole thing in a few short swallows.