Which means we have no framework for how to deal with the fact we both know I just fucked Monroe.
Shiloh saves us from standing here indefinitely in silence by leaning around me to glance at the door I just came out of. “So that’s Monroe, huh?”
“Yeah.” Gods, this is awkward, and I don’t know what to say to make it less so. “The Amazon heir.”
She gives me a small tentative smile. “I guess there are worse Brides you could have to spend time with over the next year. She’s gorgeous.”
Maybe I’ll call her name instead.
I try to shove Monroe’s sultry voice from my head, but it’s no use. I can’t help following that memory to its inevitable conclusion. I bet her pussy tastes just as sweet and innocent as she looks. “Stay away from her,” the words come out too harsh, too dominant, but it’s too late to take them back.
Shiloh raises her brows. “That’s not going to be possible. Cohen has me on guard duty for her, at least while we get the new living situation figured out.”
That fucking asshole. I don’t know if my brother did it on purpose to needle me or if Cohen honestly has no idea how I feel about Shiloh. With him, it’s difficult to tell, but I explicitly told him to keep Shiloh away from Monroe when we were discussing our plans. Apparently he decided to ignore that request.
Sabine Valley isn’t safe for anyone. Not my brothers. Sure as hell not Shiloh. I can’t change that, but I already made the mistake of putting Shiloh right in the middle of Monroe’s crosshairs. I’ll be damned before I put her within Monroe’s grasp, too. “I’ll talk to him.”
“No, Broderick. You can’t do that.” She shakes her head. “You know our deal. No special treatment just because we’re friends.”
“It’s not special treatment. Monroe is dangerous.”
She shrugs. “So is every other Bride chosen tonight. So is being in Sabine Valley. So is every other city we’ve stayed in since I joined up with you. I appreciate you wanting to look out for me, but I’m here and I’ll do my part.” Shiloh smiles, though it doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “Monroe’s just one woman. It’ll be fine.”
That’s the problem, though. I’m not sure it will be fine at all. It took Monroe all of two minutes to figure out that Shiloh is a glaring weak spot for me. She’s too ruthless to do anything but exploit it. Shiloh’s capable as hell, but can she really hold her own against Monroe?
I want to think so.
I’m afraid I’m wrong, though.
I don’t know what the fuck I would do if something happened to Shiloh. I can’t think about it. Just like I can’t think about how us being back in this cursed city means there will be far too many people gunning for us. Now that Abel’s orchestrated us retaking the Raider faction, they know right where to find us, too.
The Bridal peace will hold. It has to.
I try for a smile, but it doesn’t quite work out. “Just…be careful.” The words feel awkward on my tongue. Everything about this feels awkward and strange. Things changed with me and Shiloh when Abel announced it was time to return to Sabine Valley. She put distance between us that I don’t know how to navigate. Or maybe I was the one who unintentionally put distance between us because my head is so messy with the thought of coming back to the place where so many fucked up things happened to the people I care most about.
“It’ll be fine, Broderick.”
I wish I could believe that. “Just promise me you’ll be careful. Please.”
Her smile warms up a bit. “You know you don’t have to worry about me. I have things under control.” She nudges my shoulder with her fingertips. “If you’re finished…”
“I am.” I sling my arm over her shoulders, loving and hating how good it feels to have her pressed against my side. Being this close to Shiloh is pure agony because it makes me want things I can’t have, but I wouldn’t give up this casual intimacy for anything. No matter how much it hurts sometimes. “If you want, I’ll keep you company for the rest of your watch.”
“Of course. I have a deck of cards around here somewhere. We can play for a bit.”
“Deal.” And maybe by the time the sun rises, I’ll have figured out what the hell I’m going to do about Monroe.
Chapter 4
Shiloh
Three Weeks Later
* * *
Coming back to Sabine Valley was a mistake. No one else seems to agree with me, so I’ve kept my opinion to myself, but there’s no shaking the dread that dogs my steps every waking moment since we breached the city limits. Three weeks of jumping at shadows, startling at every loud sound, and looking over my shoulder for an attack that never comes. It’s frazzled my nerves and me wonder what the hell I was thinking returning to a city that shares such a complicated history with me.