Page 24 of Tiger Born

“Did she mark you back?”

“No!” Dame shook his head and said it again. “No, she didn’t.”

“What’s the move then, brother?” Marsden asked. “She’s pretty muchly yours now. You claimed the Rabbit. Of all the women in the world, you looked at the Rabbit and said that’s the one. What are you going to do about Stellan?”

“I’ll figure it out.”

“How? You can’t hide her scent. You’ll wake up his tiger the second he smells her on you. You can’t carry this long-term. I give it a week and she’s dead in your arms—”

“Mars—”

“No, Dame! You killed her. You promised to protect her all this time, and you did this instead.” Mars shook his head. “You signed her death certificate, and it’ll be a fast thing. Stellan will have a bounty on his head within a week.” He looked at Misty. “And you! Do you have any idea what your death will do to Dame’s tiger? Now that he’s marked you?”

She shook her head slightly, so confused. “I don’t…I don’t understand.”

His eyes flashed brighter. “I just lost both of my brothers. Because of you!”

“Oh, like you give a fuck,” Dame spat out. “You abandoned us years ago. You lost us already.”

“Chh. Give me the keys.” He strode for Misty and held his hand out.

“I said don’t touch her,” Dame growled, and slid a terrifying look over his shoulder at Mars.

Chills rippled through her entire body at the promise of death in his eyes. Oh, he had hidden this side of himself from her today. This was his dangerous side.

She was in something deeper than she realized.

Marsden stopped a few feet in front of her. “Toss me the keys so he doesn’t gut me.”

Misty looked from Mars to Dame, and then back. She tossed him the keys, and he turned without another word and got into her car. He slammed the door shut so hard, her car rocked.

Dame shook his head as he got into Marsden’s truck and moved it out of the way. Mars peeled her car out of the parking spot and sped out of the lot, heading for the main road.

Dame backed the oversized pickup into a spot like a pro and rolled down the passenger’s side window. “I need a minute,” he said somberly as she stood on her tiptoes to see him.

“Okay,” she said softly. “Do you want me to cook you something for dinner?”

“No. I have to take care of you. I’m going to pick us up food.”

Confused by the heaviness coming off him, she nodded. “Did I do something wrong?”

“I did,” he said. “I did something wrong. Mars is an asshole, but he’s right. I messed up so bad.”

“With me?” she asked in a small voice.

He looked sick and nodded. “Yes.”

His admission felt like a slap to her face.

Hurt warred with anger inside of her. She clenched her jaw and backed away from the truck. “You don’t have to bring me food. You don’t have to take care of me. I’m fine on my own, same as yesterday. I don’t need you or anyone else. Thanks for the fun afternoon, but you don’t owe me anything. You’re off the hook, Dame. Go take a shower, get my scent off you, forget I exist. I’ll do the same.”

She turned and blinked hard against the burning in her eyes.

She didn’t turn back on her way to the stairs, and she made herself not turn around when she heard the rev of the truck engine as he sped out of the parking lot.

Stupid boys. Stupid men.

I messed up.