Macen looked as flexible as a brick wall. “River’s unstable. Maybe he took too much shrapnel to the brain. Or hey, maybe he’s as fucked up as their old man. Either way, we’re here with our thumbs up our asses, and she’s god knows where.”
Liam didn’t need Hammer’s rant to remember what was at stake. In fact, the longer Raine was gone, the more worry began to creep in.
Doubt was a sly son of a bitch.
“I told you, she’s not alone. Beck and Seth are—”
“Not you and me. What if they can’t stop River and something happens to her?”
That possibility had skidded through Liam’s brain more than once. “I know it’s a risk, and I’d never be able to live with myself if—”
“Trust me. You wouldn’t have to.” Hammer speared him with an angry glare, pacing across the living room floor.
“I have to believe she’ll come through that door any minute now.” That gut instinct his mother had told him to home in on said so.
And if he was wrong, if Raine didn’t return, he’d end River Kendall in every gory way he could conceive.
Before Macen could start the argument again, Raine slipped in the house with a jangle of her keys, Beck and Seth flanking her. Relief spread through Liam.
He clapped Macen on the back. “See, mate? She’s good as gold.”
Hammer wasn’t listening. He scooped her up in his arms and crushed her against his body for a long heartbeat. Then he reached down and swatted the hell out of her ass.
“Ouch!” she yelped.
Liam maneuvered his way between Hammer and their girl, rescuing her backside—for now.
When Raine skittered back, they caught sight of her face. She’d gone blotchy, her eyes red and puffy. Worry choked Liam by the throat.
Hammer gripped her shoulders. “What happened? Are you hurt?”
“No, Macen.” Her soft voice sounded weary. “I’m perfectly fine.”
“Bullshit. You’ve been crying. What did that motherfucking bastard do to you?”
“Nothing. Talking to him, dredging up the past, was just very emotional.”
Hammer clenched his jaw, clearly trying to rein in his temper. “But nothing else is wrong?”
“No.”
“Good,” he barked. “Do you have any idea how out-of-my-fucking-head I’ve been? You promised you’d stay away from that nutjob, yet the first time I turn my back, you run off to meet him.”
Beck and Seth sidled up to Raine as if they weren’t finished protecting her. She merely raised a hand to stop them and shook her head. “I’m sorry, Sir.”
In a graceful swoop, Raine lowered herself to her knees at their feet, palms up over each thigh, head bowed.
Liam’s heart skipped a beat. Clever girl. Pride swelled inside him.
A hush fell over the room.
Macen released the pent-up breath he’d been holding and dropped to one knee, cupping her chin so he could lift her gaze to his. “Why?”
“To help you.” She met his stare, as if willing him to understand. “I had to convince River to tell the police he’d been wrong about you.”
“Did I ask for your help?” Hammer arched a brow.
“No. You never would. But my family has brought us enough grief and pain. I felt like it was my responsibility to end that for good. I’m sorry I worried you.”
Liam cast a sidelong glance at Macen, who clenched his teeth, looking ready to explode.
“Mate…” Liam tried to be the voice of reason.
“Responsibility?” Hammer’s nostrils flared. “The responsibility for your mind, body, heart, and soul belongs to Liam and me. What your family does is not a reflection on you, so it’s not your job to clean up their fucking messes. Assuming the role of your own protector is the equivalent of taking back your submission.”
Liam couldn’t argue with that. He hoped Raine didn’t try.
“That’s not how I meant it,” she assured. “But I’ll accept whatever discipline you decide to mete out.”
“Damn right you will. Later. And when I’m done, you’ll remember never to play one Dom against the other again.”
“Yes, Sir.” She bowed her head.
Her acceptance seemed to ease Hammer. He lifted her to her feet and hauled her against his chest once more. “If anything had happened to you… Jesus, Raine.”
Then he claimed her mouth with brutal tenderness. Liam’s heart kick-started back into a regular rhythm. He gave them a moment more before embracing them both, peppering kisses up Raine’s neck.
When Macen released her lips, Liam swooped in, framing her face with both hands and kissing her soundly, savoring her softness and warmth. “We were worried about you, love.”
“Are you going to punish me, too?” Confusion furrowed her brow.
“No. It’s Hammer’s permission you didn’t have. But I’ll not stand in his way. You could have waited to ask him, too, and you chose not to.”
“But—” Raine pressed her lips together, shelving her argument. “I didn’t.”
“Be glad I’m not the one dishing out the punishment, princess. It’s possible Hammer will go easier on you.” Then Beck glanced at Macen’s face. “Or not.”