Mine to Crave (Mine 4)

He’d promise her the whole world. And he’d give it to her.

I will never feel that agony again—I will never lose her again.

“Promise me that Maxwell won’t hurt you. That we will stop him.”

Easy enough. “I promise. Princess, I’ve got resources that you can’t even imagine.” And all of those resources were in play then.

He’d found her. He’d get Maxwell. End the nightmare.

Jasmine gave him a smile. Not the one that made her dimples wink, but one that still had his heart aching. Then she looked toward Noah. Tentatively, hopefully, her gaze flickered over him as she backed toward the stairs.

No one spoke as she turned and climbed those stairs. When she disappeared at the top, Drake wasn’t surprised to see both Saxon and Victor head toward him.

“What in the hell…” Victor grated, voice low because Drake knew the guy didn’t want Jasmine overhearing this, “are you doing? You screwed her, and now you think you can take over her life?”

“She took my life.” He faced off against the two men and knew that both Noah and Trace had closed in behind him. They always had his back. “And I will protect her with every bit of power that I have. She doesn’t need to be afraid any longer—”

“Because she has you?” Saxon cut in. “I didn’t see you doing a whole lot of protecting back at that cabin—”

Drake drove his fist into Saxon’s gut. The guy grunted.

“For the cabin,” Drake murmured. “Because it was my grandfather’s, and I loved that place. You should’ve found another way inside.”

Saxon’s eyes glinted. Not with the rage Drake had expected. Almost with…humor? “I thought you’d hit harder.”

“If you hadn’t gotten her out of that warehouse, I would’ve.”

Saxon nodded.

“This is bullshit!” Victor wasn’t softening at all. “Jasmine is under federal protection. You can’t just take her out of here! I won’t let you!”

“Your federal protection didn’t stop me from finding her. It won’t stop him.” Flat. True. “You need more power than the Feds are giving you. Work with me. We’ll take out Case, and then you’ll know that Jasmine is safe.”

Victor’s face twisted. “I don’t like you, dammit!”

“Because I’m the asshole who—”

“You aren’t good enough for her.” Victor’s words fired out. “You’re too dangerous and you’re unstable. You lack control, and you live on the edge too much. Jasmine needs someone different. Someone safe.”

Drake knew he would never be safe. And the edge—that was the only place he knew. He also knew one more thing. “You’re right. I’m not good enough.”

Surprise rippled across Victor’s face.

“And I’m dangerous and uncontrolled, just like you said. But maybe that’s what she needs. Maybe she needs someone who isn’t afraid to kill in order to protect her.”

“I’m a federal agent, you can’t tell me—”

“I would break any law, I would do anything, to keep her safe. No one will hurt her, not ever again, because I’ll be with her.”

Beside Victor, Saxon gave another grim nod. “That’s what a man should do. Kick the ass of anyone who threatens his woman.”

“Jasmine isn’t his.” Victor was still furious. “They just met. She’s something different for him. She’s—”

“She is different, and she made me…different, too.”

Then he heard the faint sound of Jasmine’s footsteps. Coming back.

“You’ll throw her away when you’re done.” Victor’s eyes blazed. “Throw her to the lions at the door.”

Drake shook his head. “No one will take her from me.” He paused a beat. “Not Case. Not you. You may be her family, but I’m going to be her future.” His low words were a vow.

“I-I’m ready.”

He turned toward her voice. Jasmine was at the base of the stairs, a small, black bag clutched in her left hand. Her right hand was curled around a piece of paper. No, not paper. As she moved toward Noah, Drake saw that Jasmine was actually holding a photograph.

“I thought you might like this. Our…our mother is the one holding you.” Her lips hitched up in a half-smile. “And the people behind her—well, you know them, right? The thing I liked most about that picture…you can already see the love in their eyes.”

Noah’s hand trembled when he took the photo.

Jasmine gave him another of her dazzling smiles. Noah just stared at her, lost.

I know the feeling, buddy.

Then Jasmine hugged Noah. A quick, fast hug. She tried to pull back, but Noah’s arms locked around her and he held her tightly. He whispered something to her, but Drake couldn’t catch the words. When Jasmine pulled back, her eyes glinted.

She eased toward Drake. “Wh-what’s the plan?”

She had tears in her eyes. But Jasmine quickly blinked them away.

He frowned at Noah. “The plan is that Noah and Trace will stay here, keeping guard and making sure we aren’t followed. You and I are heading for the helicopter. We’re getting out of here, now.” Because his intel told him that this place had been compromised.

That’s how I found it. The location had already been compromised. I was just lucky enough to beat the bastard here.

Victor shook his head. “Jasmine, you don’t have to leave with him. We can protect you.”

The guy needed to let it go. Drake glowered.

“I do have to go. Because when I left without him before, it ripped my heart out.”

Drake’s gaze flew toward her.

She was staring at him. “I want to see what can happen.”

I’ve never been in love, Drake, but I think…I really think I came close with you.

He took the bag from her. Twined the fingers of his left hand with hers. He didn’t head for the front door. His motorcycle was back behind the cabin. Hidden in the trees.

Noah crossed his path. “Keep her safe.”

Always.

Then Noah leaned toward him. “I love you like a brother, man, but if you do anything to hurt her, ever, I will bury you.”

Drake nodded. Fair enough. It looked as if Saxon and Victor weren’t the only angry big brothers he’d be facing.

But for Jasmine, he was realizing that he’d face anyone. Anytime.

He slipped from the cabin with Jasmine at his side.

***

Saxon crossed his arms over his chest and studied Trace Weston and Noah York. “So what happens now?”

“Now…we spring our trap.”

Victor was wobbling on his cast. The guy liked to pace when he was angry, and Saxon knew that cast was seriously cramping his buddy’s style.

“And if that trap backfires?” Victor wanted to know. “What if Drake winds up getting Jasmine killed?” Victor stopped wobbling and pointed at Noah. “If she’s really your sister, you should be scared as all hell. Drake Archer doesn’t have the kind of history you can trust. He’s a playboy and an adrenaline junkie!”

“He loves her,” Noah said simply.

Saxon nodded. He’d already figured that out for himself.

Victor’s mouth hung open. “What? There’s no way. He doesn’t love anyone or anything—”

“You saw him when that warehouse exploded.” Trace Weston’s voice was low. “You already know how he feels, but you don’t want to admit it because you don’t want to lose her.”