Mastered by Malone (Haven, Texas 6)

Alec gave her an impatient look. “She is my responsibility, Molly. I need to know if she’s going to do anything stupid.”

Molly raised her eyebrow, looking unimpressed it his speech. “If you’re asking me if she’s going to hurt herself, then I would tell you it’s highly unlikely.”

The relief hit pretty hard, but he just gave her a nod. She looked at him thoughtfully. “She’s pretty closed off, wouldn’t talk about much. I think she’s buried it all deep.”

That didn’t sound healthy. He should know, he was the king of burying shit.

“This isn’t something you get over easily, certainly not just with one session.”

“You coming out here regularly might garner attention.”

She nodded. “I can do Skype sessions if need be, you can talk to her about that. Do you know what triggered the panic attack?”

“Triggered it?”

“Often there’s a trigger. Something that sets them off. Maybe a loud noise or an image of something that reminds the person of their trauma. For some it’s a certain scent.”

“No. I don’t know.” But he could try and figure it out, prevent it from happening again.

“I can prescribe drugs to help with the symptoms. And hopefully she’ll continue our sessions. Mia went through something horrific. She needs help to cope with that. To learn to live with it. She’s lonely. She’s scared. She could do with a friend. And considering she’s a sub, she could also use a Dom.”

“Who says she’s a sub?”

“Don’t play that game with me. We both know she is.” Molly gave him a look.

“Don’t you think she has enough going on right now?”

“Maybe it could help her cope with everything.”

“She can’t go to the club to play. She’s not leaving the ranch.” And he didn’t like the idea of her going anywhere without him.

“Hmm, too bad there’s no one around to help her explore her submissive side,” she said.

He narrowed his gaze. “I don’t teach inexperienced subs.”

“We all started somewhere. There was a day when you didn’t know anything about being a Dominant. Someone taught you, right? Maybe you could teach her about being a sub.”

“That’s not my job here.”

Molly studied him for a moment then nodded. “Fine. I get it.”

Oh, he doubted it.

“Just, treat her kindly, all right? She’s strong, that’s clear to see. But she’s dealing with a hell of a lot. Her tendency is to put other people first, and I don’t think she’s very good at asking for what she needs. She could really use someone looking out for her.”

Before he could say anything else, she got in her car and closed the door. He found himself staring after her as she drove away, her little car banging up and down over the potholes. She was driving too fast and he shook his head. He hoped she got pulled over by one of Jake’s deputies and got her ass reddened by her husband when she got home. But he knew, like with most of the woman in Haven, that wouldn’t deter her from doing what she thought she had to

do.

The men in this town might think they were in charge, but it was the woman who had the ultimate control.

He ran his hand over his face, thinking over what she’d said. Hell. Like he didn’t have enough going on in his life to worry about. He wished he’d never waited around to talk to Molly. What the hell was she trying to get him to do? Enter into some kind of BDSM therapy with Mia?

“Malone?” The low voice came from behind him.

He turned and saw her standing on the porch. He didn’t really think about it, just raised his hand and cooked a finger at her.

“Everything okay?” she asked him as she got closer. He noted the way her shoulders had tensed. Molly was right. She was wound up tight. No wonder she couldn’t sleep.