His answer made Raine nod miserably. “You’re right. I can’t stand to see them so upset, to watch them struggle against whatever’s happening and do nothing. I just… My head keeps going back to places that scare me.” She closed her eyes, remembering the terrible rejection in Liam’s stare as he’d watched Hammer fondle her in the car. “Liam was so jealous earlier today.”
“Yes, he was, and that’s an issue he has to work through.” Seth stood, paced. “I’ve known Liam a long time. After Hammer moved out here, I spent a lot of my weekends with Liam. He doesn’t give his heart away freely. Hell, hardly at all. He can be a very private, closed man. But the fact that he fell for you so quickly and completely told me even before I met you that you must be a special woman.”
Raine didn’t think there was anything particularly special about her. She was simply a woman in love with two men and lucky enough that they loved her and one another enough to accept that.
“But given Liam’s past, trust isn’t easy. Jealousy is,” Seth pointed out.
His past? “Oh, his ex-wife.”
The one who’d cheated on him so horribly. Sometimes, Liam seemed so sure of himself that she forgot he was a man with his own insecurities.
Seth nodded. “Gwyneth is a part of his problem. The bigger part is you. Did you ever think it’s been daunting for Liam to know you’ve been in love with Hammer for close to an eternity?”
It hadn’t really occurred to her. She’d fallen for Liam so quickly. It had been as easy as taking her next breath. One minute they’d been talking in her kitchen about the cuts on her fingers from broken china. The next she’d been pouring out her heart to him and hoping he didn’t feed her any more pickles. Then suddenly, she’d been wearing his collar and…
How could she not love Liam? He’d listened to her, sheltered her, treated her like a desirable woman, and done his best to help heal her. Knowing she’d failed to see how she could comfort and love him more made her feel ashamed. In fact, she’d approached this whole day more like a woman lost in her own insecurities than a sub who wanted to surrender herself to her two loving Doms.
“It’s got to make him wonder, Raine, where he stacks up in your heart. Will you ever love him as much as you do Hammer?”
“Of course! If he has to wonder that, then… Oh, I’ve fucked up.”
“Language, little one.” He shot her a warning stare.
“I know but it’s true. Every time I think I’ve learned something, I turn around and screw it up again.” She beat her forehead with the heel of her palm. “I haven’t been the submissive they need today.”
He laughed. “The day isn’t over. You still can be. Consider what I’ve said. Follow your heart. Be open and loving and—this will be tough for you—patient.”
Raine wanted to be annoyed with Seth, but he already knew her too well. She speared him with a glare, but a smile lurked under it all. “Ugh.”
He pulled her to her feet and gave her a brotherly hug.
She embraced him in return. “Thank you, Seth. I know you didn’t have to do this.”
“I did. You might have kicked me in the balls if I refused to help you.”
She giggled and rolled her eyes. “I’m so scary.”
“Let’s just say I wouldn’t want to cross you, little one. Now go. I need to make some phone calls. And you have some Doms to suck up to.”
Raine sent him a soft smile of thanks. “Yes, Sir.”
With his handgun tucked beneath his suit coat, Hammer hovered over a bank of monitors in the security room, watching live images from the parking lot, as well as the external doors. Liam’s text about Bill stalking the parking lot enraged him. Hammer didn’t see any signs of the wretched asshole, but he couldn’t shake an ominous feeling.
Leaning back in his chair, he closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. Stress and lack of sleep were taking their toll. He’d resisted napping for fear another crisis might arise, as if there hadn’t been enough already.
Thankfully, Liam had removed Gwyneth from the club, but that nightmare was far from over. And with Bill’s reappearance, Macen felt a choking need to protect Raine that wouldn’t subside.
Rising, he strode down the hall, back to his office. He grimaced at the stack of mail awaiting his attention. The phone calls he had to return didn’t hold much appeal, either.
He’d barely settled into his chair when he heard a knock on his door. Hammer raised his chin as Raine peeked her head into the room.
“Do you have a minute?” She wore a solemn expression that told him she had something heavy on her mind.