He tilted her head back. “No one’s getting killed.” Her hazel gaze searched his, making the ache in his chest ten times worse. She doubted him now—because of what he’d done. He could see it, could feel it. So he added, “But if it comes down to them or us…”
She nodded. “He’s a ‘them.’ I know.” She blinked away the tears in her eyes.
“Olivia…” What could he say?
“Go.” She tried to shrug out of his hold, to put space between them, but he couldn’t bear it. “You’ve got stuff to do.” Her eyes flashed.
“Kiss me?” he pleaded, leaning forward.
The brush of her lips against his wasn’t going to cut it. Only cupping her face, savoring the softness of her mouth, sliding his tongue inside would satisfy. The kiss went on until her posture eased and her hands gripped his shirt, holding on to him—he needed her to hold on to him.
The rev of the engine was hard to miss. Someone laid on the truck horn.
She broke away from him. “They’re waiting for you.”
He nodded, staring long and hard at her before leaving the room and slamming out the front door.
“Better?” Anders asked as Mal climbed into the truck.
He pulled the door shut, peering out the window at the empty front porch. No, it wasn’t fucking better. Knowing what he’d done to her? Fuck no. His chest hurt. But worrying about Olivia wouldn’t do any of them any good. He shoved it all down and tuned into the conversation taking place.
“You want a knife?” Gentry asked. “In case Chase is a threat?”
Mal shook his head. “It won’t come to that.” He’d given Finn his word, and he’d keep it, no matter what. “Chase isn’t a fighter. If he suspects anything, he’ll run.”
“How do you know?” Anders asked.
“When they jumped him, Olivia tried to stop it. He ran—leaving her.” He bit out the last two words, trying not to think about the state she had been in when they’d met.
“You shitting me?” Gentry called back from the driver’s seat.
“No.” Mal’s hands fisted at his side. She was one of them now, the surge of anger and hostility filling the cab of the black SUV confirming it. “She wants him to live.”
“He’s still her brother.” Dante nodded. “But damn, that’s got to be a hard pill to swallow, knowing everything.”
“He’s sort of the bad guy here,” Anders reminded them.
“No,” Mal argued. “Chase is a waste of humanity, but he’s not the prize. Cyrus is. We find out where to find him, how to hunt him—we have an edge. We have surprise.” He didn’t want a pack war any more that Finn did. They might be stronger than the Others, but their numbers couldn’t compare. There was no guarantee Chase would know something to help them with Cyrus, but if they could help those girls—expose the trafficking ring—that was more than enough.
Dante nodded. “Not that I’m opposed to seeing this Chase kid bleed a little.”
Mal grinned; he couldn’t help it. “Agreed.”
...
Jessa was in labor. Mal had been driving away when her first cry reached Olivia. For the past thirty minutes, Jessa’s ragged moans and screams spilled down the hallway. Olivia was helpless—and useless. Hollis and Ellen were with Jessa. Finn was with her.
At Finn’s request, Brown was in the control room, tracking Mal’s group while staying close to Tess—Brown was never far from his daughter.
Tess hadn’t moved. She sat, staring down the hall, at Jessa’s room.
“She’ll be okay,” Olivia said to her. She talked to the woman all the time, unable to pretend she wasn’t there. She was a living, breathing person, even if she didn’t necessarily act like it. “She’s strong. Ellen and Hollis know what they’re doing.” Maybe Hollis didn’t, but Ellen did. At least she acted like it.
An especially loud cry echoed down the hall. Olivia winced, gripping the kitchen towel in both hands. Poor Jessa. Poor Finn. She hurt for them.
Pain was a part of a normal childbirth. This wasn’t normal. She wished Mal were here. Even with her mad at him, he’d ease the anxiety in her gut.
Oscar was playing on his mat on the floor, content and clueless. She joined him, needing a happy distraction. “How’s your day going? You look pleased with yourself.” She held one of his little fists in each of her hands. “Yep, you’re getting stronger every day.”