Dane shakes his head, blowing out a harsh breath. “Nah. Wren, Rye, and Tag have this. They’re not coming tonight because they’re up at the vineyard, doing what they can to piece Kade back together. He keeps lashing out at everyone. I think Raya just needed a break. She’s a hell of a lot stronger than most people.”
“No,” I say, sighing. “She just loves him a hell of a lot more than people realize.”
I’ve seen the way they both look at each other, so I’m surprised Kade is pushing her away right now when he needs her the most.
The talk of death goes away the second Maverick walks through the door, and we all yell surprise in unison.
***
TRIA
Raya is fast asleep on my bed. She finally cried herself to sleep. After Rain left to go meet the guys at the surprise party, I brought Raya to my house.
I’m not as good with consoling as Rain is, but I’ve done everything I knew to do, including calling Brin and Ash over to help me.
“She’s asleep,” I say with a sigh as I head into the living room.
Ash smiles softly while taking a sip of water. Brin and I both grab the wine bottle we’ve almost finished off.
“No wine?” I ask Ash.
“I wish. But no. Tag rode with Wren and Rye out to the vineyard, so if Melanie calls with an emergency for Trip, I need to be stone-cold sober.”
“Are you worried there will be an emergency?” I ask, concerned.
“Always. It sort of goes with the territory of being a mother.”
I grin at her before getting comfortable on the couch next to Brin.
“You can head to the party,” Brin says, nudging me with her shoulder. Ash doesn’t know about Kode, so Brin doesn’t elaborate.
“Nah. I’ll stay in case she wakes up.”
Ash starts to speak, but someone knocks at my door, prompting me to run over and answer. Brin says something that has Ash laughing hysterically, and I smile like I’m infected on the way to greet whoever.
Since it could be Kode, I stop in front of the mirror to make sure my hair isn’t wild all over my head. Then I swing open the door, only to gasp in shock and try to slam it shut immediately.
My heart fires out rapid beats, thumping and pounding against my chest as panic sets in. A heavy black boot lands in front of the door, halting it from closing, and Pete Mercer shoulders his way in.
“Thanks,” he says sardonically. “I’d love to come in.”
I stumble backwards, looking at his freshly shaven head, his twisted grin, and his dark eyes that didn’t used to scare me so much. Blood hums through my veins, leaving me with a fearful fever. There’s not an inch of him that isn’t covered in menace.
Man, maybe I do have daddy issues if I slept with this psycho.
“You’re breaking the restraining order,” I say, pissed that my voice breaks three times.
He laughs while shaking his head. “Prove it.”
His long body is clad in jeans and a red T-shirt—blood red. His arms are corded with bulging muscles he didn’t have when we were together. If he were to hit me now, he’d probably break me with very little effort.
“Why can’t you just leave me alone?” I ask cautiously, stalling for time.
“Why? Fuck, Tria, it’s your fault I went to prison. You have no fucking clue what happens in a place like that. But I’ll show you. I’ll make sure you understand the hell I endured.” He grins the scariest smile I’ve ever seen in my life, and he cracks his fingers. “We’ll have long lessons that explain exactly what I went through.”
Swallowing hard, I look up to see the determination in his eyes. It’s sharing space with his hatred that is seeping through every visible feature on his body. Even his muscles are straining with rage.
He keeps stepping closer and closer, but suddenly he’s backing away, eyes wide in confusion. “Who the fuck are you?” he spits.