Page 10 of Broken By Her Mate

After a beat of silence, his boom of laughter circulated the vehicle’s interior. All she could do was gawk at him because the sound of his laughter always did something to her. It was deep and smooth and seemed to touch a place deep inside her. Maybe it was because he didn’t laugh often. He was always on the serious side unless he was with her.

Laila had been the one to draw him out of his somber shell, and before she knew it, he had mellowed out and was sharing lame jokes that she always cackled at. She gazed at him with longing at the memory of how much she adored those lame jokes… Catching up on herself, she cleared her throat and looked away from him.

“I’m not crazy, Laila… even though I’m acting like it.”

She shook her head. “Tolliver, I refuse to sit here calmly and let you take me to God only knows where.” I haven’t seen you for years. Idon’ttrust you. If you don’t tell me what’s going on right now, I swear I’ll jump out of this moving vehicle.”

A muscle ticked in his jaw as he glanced at her. “All right, fine. I’ll explain everything if you just calm down and hear me out.”

Laila shook her head. “I refused to go any further with you in this car.”

Tolliver’s sigh was deep and slow as if he was gathering his patience.

“I’ll hear you out somewhere public,” she said.

“Laila, come on. I’m not some stranger. Youknowme.”

“No, I don’t,” she snapped. “Five years,Tolliver.”

Maybe it was the pain that resonated in her voice—pain that she didn’t bother to hide—that made him give in. Oneglanced at her, and he folded. “Let me just get you a little further from Cedar Ridge, and I’ll find somewhere where we can talk.”

Laila exhaled loudly. “Okay.”

Chapter 5 - Tolliver

Tolliver was on high alert as he and Laila sat in the small, dimly lit bar just outside of Cedar Ridge. The hum of music playing in the background mingled with the low murmur of conversations from the few patrons scattered around. He’d assessed everyone when they entered. They were surrounded by humans, so he relaxed slightly.

He picked a corner table, far from the windows and the door, where he could see anyone coming in or out. Every instinct in him screamed to keep moving, to get her far away from any potential danger, but Laila had made her stance clear. She wasn’t going anywhere until she got answers, and he had to respect that.

She took in their surroundings, not paying him any attention, so he was able to study her with admiration. Laila had grown into her own. She wasn’t the same innocent 20-year-old he’d claimed as his mate eight years ago. She seemed stronger, more decisive, and more confident. He wasthoroughlyattracted to her.

“Would you like something to drink?” he asked when she returned her attention to him.

“No, this isn’t a date, Tolliver. We’re here to talk.”

“At least get a beer or water so we don’t look too out of place.”

She sighed. “Fine. I’ll take water.”

Tolliver got up but paused, wondering if leaving her was a good idea.

Laila huffed and rolled her eyes. “I’m not going to run. I said I’d hear you out.”

That was no comfort to him. As he walked to the bar, he kept glancing over his shoulder to make sure she was still seated. When he ordered two bottles of water and made his way back to their table, he scanned the room again, taking note of the exits, the layout, and every face. His wolf stirred uneasily beneath his skin. Danger could be hiding anywhere. His job had made him hyper-paranoid.

As he sat across from Laila, she watched him with her arms crossed and an expression of skepticism mixed with frustration. She hadn’t softened, and he hadn’t expected her to. He placed the water bottle in front of her, and she opened it and took a sip.

“So…” she said, tapping her fingers impatiently on the table. “Start talking. What exactly is going on, and why should I trust a word you say after all these years?”

Tolliver rubbed his jaw, wondering where to begin. “Look, I didn’t want to come back into your life like this. But I had to get you away from the bakery and out of Cedar Ridge. You’re in danger.” He glanced around the bar. “You still are.”

“Howam I in danger?”

Tolliver sighed before he pulled out his phone, tapped on the screen, and handed it to her. Laila reluctantly took the device. She glanced at him warily before looking at the screen. Her eyebrows puckered. It was a grainy image, but she was easily identifiable.

“Play it,” he instructed.

Taking a deep breath, she hesitantly did as he said. Tolliver watched as her eyes widened to saucers and filled with horror as the scene played out before her. She swallowed hard. “This is CCTV footage from the town square,” she noted.