Chapter 9

Sloane sat in the car, rubbing her neck and shoulders in a futile attempt to relieve the pain shooting into the base of her skull. At the edge of the headlights’ beam, Mateo spoke with the tall, golden-haired man she figured had to be Rory. Every few seconds, he’d look in her direction before turning his attention back to Mateo, nodding his agreement. Even with his hushed tones, she made out most of the conversation through the broken windows of the car. It was much the same as the conversation he’d had with his friend on the phone, and his decision to hole her up somewhere while he went somewhere else to heal.

She was all for him finding a place to heal, but just the thought of him injured and alone had her dragon’s scales grinding together and fire churning in her gut. What if the hunters found him? Surely, separating would be more dangerous than staying together.

When Mateo returned, he didn’t go to the driver’s door. He came straight for hers. The bent metal groaned and creaked as he pulled it open for her.

“Sloane, this is Rory. We’re going to go check you into a different hotel so you can get some rest,” he said when she was upright and standing next to him. “Rory will stay with you until I can come back.”

The blond-haired man stuck a hand into his front pocket and lifted the other in a little wave. He met her gaze—barely.

“Nice to meet you, Rory. I appreciate the offer, but that won’t be necessary. I’ll stay with Mateo until he’s healed.”

Mateo sighed. “I’d rather you went with Rory. I’ll be back before you know it.”

She straightened her spine and tilted her chin up. “Be that as it may, I’ll stay with you.”

“Sloane,” Mateo said, his voice exasperated.

“Mateo.”

“Right. I’m going to sit in the car until you two decide what you’re doing,” Rory said before he spun on his heels and went back to the SUV he’d driven to get there.

“I thought we decided you’d go with Rory, and I would go somewhere to heal.”

She snorted. “You never asked me, and I never agreed. Where will you go?”

Mateo ran his left hand through his hair. “I don’t know yet. I’ll get out of the city and find a wooded area.”

“What happens if hunters are waiting for you?” Sloane huffed.

The corners of his lips tipped up. “You’re worried about me.”

“Of course, I am,” she snapped. “Besides, do you know how long that will take? Even if there is little traffic, you have to drive at least two hours. Add to that the time you’ll need to heal. That will take you into later in the day, so coming back will take a lot longer.”

The grin he’d almost sported crashed, and he scowled at her.

“I’ve never needed protection in the city before, but the hunters won’t give up. It’s foolish to believe otherwise. What’s to say they won’t come after me while you’re gone?” Using her security and his need to see her safe was a dirty trick, but the more she thought about it, the more her instincts told her she was right. They needed to stick together.

“You’ll have Rory here to protect you.” The confidence in his voice wavered.

She shook her head. “I don’t mean to be difficult, but I don’t know him. I’d rather stay with you. There’s a place where we can go to rest, and you can shift without fear of being discovered.”

Mateo readjusted his arm, wincing as he did.

“This is crazy. Come on. If you don’t like the location or feel it isn’t safe enough once you’ve checked it out, then we’ll go with your plan.”

Mateo assessed her for a moment then shook his head. “Life with you is going to be interesting, isn’t it?” His tone was grave, and he didn’t smile, but the sparkle in his eye didn’t lie. He wasn’t as upset by the knowledge as he let on.

She bit her lip to keep from smiling. “You have no idea, mate.”

***

Sloane turned and walked toward the SUV, the sway to her hips natural—mesmerizing—and Mateo had to smother his moan. Not only was his mate sexy as hell, but she was feisty, something both he and his dragon could appreciate. She’d used his need to protect her against him, and he’d been powerless to resist. She wanted him close. She could kid herself into thinking that he needed added protection due to his broken arm, but the truth was, being away from your mate was never comfortable. Hell, he didn’t want to be separated from her, either, but he’d seen no other viable solution. Just the thought of having her alone with another male so soon after their mating was sending his dragon into a rage. If the location she brought them to was secure, it would suit him just fine.

He caught up to her as she climbed into the back of the SUV. He didn’t try to hide the fact that he’d been looking at her ass when she turned and caught him doing just that. Rather than get into the front seat, he climbed in next to her.

“Change of plans. I’m staying with you guys. We’ll need to make a pit stop at a retail store so I can pick up a few things, then we’ll go…” He looked over at Sloane and raised his eyebrows. He had no idea where they were going.

“183rd street,” she piped in without missing a beat.

Rory met his gaze in the rearview mirror as he pulled out onto the road.

“You heard the lady,” he said. Mateo glanced at Sloane, and she smiled. The tension that had coiled tight in his chest since the attack at the hotel unfurled. His mate was safe. Injured or not, if the hunters showed up, he’d take care of it—even if it was in the Bronx.

A short while later, Rory pulled into a parking lot with half the letters of the lit-up sign either out or blinking with broken bulbs. He’d have thought the big-name chain would ensure their stores were always impeccable, but maybe in that part of the city, even the chain stores didn’t care quite so much.

A few vehicles littered the parking lot, all of them in rough shape, making their rented SUV stand out more than he would have liked. “Pull up to the doors and then go for a fifteen-minute ride. The locals don’t seem that friendly,” he said, inclining his head toward a group of men hanging out in the shadows.

“And then what?” Rory asked. “You’re covered in blood and have a broken arm. You don’t think that will draw some attention?”

Mateo growled. What was it with those two questioning him? “It won’t be anything they haven’t seen in there before, I’m sure. If we park the SUV, you and Sloane will be in trouble in less time than it takes me to get through the front door. And unless you want to shop for my mate’s underwear, then you’ll do as I say.” If his growl resurfaced stronger and meaner as he finished the last sentence, he couldn’t help it. No other man would shop for Sloane’s underwear, that was for damned sure.

“I can just sleep in my dress for tonight,” Sloane offered.

Rory pulled up to the front of the building. The flickering sign lit up the vehicle’s shiny black paint.

“I appreciate that, but I need a few things, too. I won’t be long.” Mateo craned his neck and gave her a quick kiss before opening the door. He paused just long enough to hear the click of the locks engaging before heading into the store. A quick glance to his left showed the men coming out of the shadows. Fuck. He’d hoped they would keep their distance, but he wouldn’t be so lucky.

He paused outside the automatic door, not crossing the threshold until the SUV was moving and on its way out of the parking lot.