Page 12 of Wicked Stranger

“I appreciate that, but I don’t want to involve anyone else,” Raina said, though she was really liking this protective feeling she was getting from Zane. It was hard to find alpha men, and Zane was definitely an alpha, which made him even more attractive. “I’m sorry, Wicked. I don’t have anyone else, and I didn’t think. I should have told you before I showed up here.”

Wicked gave Thorne a glare before looking back at Raina. “Yes, you should have told me, but I would have told you to come here so there is nothing for you to be sorry for.”

“I want to apologize for being harsh earlier,” Thorne admitted, looking a little sheepish.

“You were just protecting your family as you should,” Raina replied with a small smile. “I don’t think anyone will look for me here, if they are even looking for me at all. I could just be paranoid, but I had to leave New York. As soon as my car is fixed, I’ll find someplace else to go.”

“You most certainly will not.” Wicked frowned, shaking her head. “You will stay here.”

Raina didn’t say anything because she knew that couldn’t happen. This was a very small town, and she knew there would be no way two tattoo artists could survive here. Tattooing was all she knew how to do to earn a living.

“We can discuss that later.” Wicked said as if she knew exactly what Raina was thinking, and she probably did. That was what was special about their friendship. Each of them knew the other to the point they knew each other’s feelings and thoughts. “I’ll show you where you can sleep. You can get a shower and some rest when your stuff gets here.”

“It’s here. They dropped it off about fifteen minutes ago.” Thorne held up his phone. “Keys are in it.”

Raina nodded, relieved that her things were here. “Oh, okay. I’ll just get what I need for tonight.” She started for the door but stopped looking at Thorne and then Zane. “Thank you both.”

“You’re welcome,” Thorne said with a nod, but Zane remained silent, just staring at her.

Once outside, she headed toward the driveway taking a deep shuddered breath. Never in a million years did she think her life would take such a turn. Once confident in what she was doing and where she was going in life had been shattered into not having a clue about anything. It was hard to hold it together, but she was a fighter, and yet, the fight was growing old.

Reaching her car, she opened the trunk, which was packed tight with some of her things. She just stood there staring at it, not even knowing where to start. Stepping back, she closed the trunk and stood there wrapping her arms around herself. Tilting her head back, she just stared at the sky.

“Do you need help?” Zane’s voice came from behind her. The comfort she felt at just his voice scared her a little, and yet she was drawn to it.

Bringing her head back down, she stared at her car, “Everything I own is in there.” She whispered as if just now realizing that fact. “I was so stupid.”

“No, you were lied to, tricked, and taken advantage of,” Zane responded, still behind her. “Big difference.”

She turned to look up at him. “I should have known better.” She refused to give herself a break. Opening up the back door, she reached in to get her backpack tossing it out before climbing further in to find a change of clothes.

Climbing back out, she shut the door, but before she could pick up her bag, Zane grabbed it. They walked back to the house in silence. Taking her bag, she smiled at him. “Thank you…for everything,” Raina said, wishing for a quick second that she was back in those arms again. Shaking those thoughts out of her mind, she frowned. “You didn’t eat.”

“What?” He asked, looking confused.

“You didn’t eat anything.” Raina nodded toward the kitchen. “Make sure you eat.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He chuckled, which made her smile.

“Goodnight, Zane,” Raina said as she turned to walk to where Wicked was waiting for her.

Walking up the steps, she slowly looked over her shoulder to see Zane still standing there watching her. Their eyes held until she turned the corner. Her body quivered with emotion at the look he was giving her. “Wow.”

“What?” Wicked’s voice brought her out of her thoughts of Zane.

“Nothing,” Raina said, following her into a room. Putting her things on the bed, she glanced around the room.

“This is one of the guest rooms on this floor.” Wicked informed her, turning on the lights. “Our room, as well as the baby's room, is downstairs. You and Zane will have to share a bathroom.”

“Oh, ah, he lives here?” Raina said, trying not to have any emotion in her voice at all.

“No.” Wicked smirked. “He’s helping Thorne build on to the house, so he is staying here until they finish. He has a place down in eastern Kentucky. Why? Does that bother you?”

“What? That he’s staying here?” Raina snorted as she tried to look busy arranging her clothes. “Of course not. I was just curious.”

“Curious, huh?” Wicked grinned, wiggling her eyebrows. “I saw you curiously checking him out. He is a very good-looking man, isn’t he?”

Raina sighed, sitting down on the bed with a flop. “He’s gorgeous.” Raina laid back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. “And very protective.”