by Shayla Black
Seth tilted her chin up and stared at her, studying her every nuance, pinning her against her headboard with an almost dissecting gaze. “If you were whole, as you put it, and they were on good terms, would you have any qualms about letting either one into your life again?”
“No.”
“Would you let either of them be your Dom?”
“If I knew I wasn’t going to hurt Liam again, yes. Hammer…” She sighed. “He puts on a big show, but if he didn’t want anything to do with me for six years, I don’t think he truly wants me. And now that he’s not speaking to me anymore, I’m sure that will never be an option.”
“If you believe that, you’re fooling yourself. How about both of them?”
She reared back. “Beck, the guy who brought me back here, suggested the same thing. I think you two are nuts.”
“Or it’s possible we’re the only sane ones in this mess.” Seth shrugged. “If Liam and Hammer agreed it it, would you have them both?”
Why was he trying to crawl in her head? “In a perfect world, of course. It’ll probably happen on the twelfth of never as hell is freezing over, but I’ve fantasized about it.”
“Because you love them?”
She sighed, wishing she could tell Seth that she didn’t want to play Twenty Questions anymore. “Yes.”
Seth smiled smugly. “Why don’t you get some sleep?”
Raine didn’t want to, but she probably needed it. If it made Seth and his questions disappear, even better. “Sure, but would you please make sure they don’t get too drunk? Hammer will down tequila and he’ll have a terrible hangover that will make him a bear tomorrow. Liam is probably drinking Scotch. He really needs a friend now. He and Beck don’t get along. If Hammer turns his anger on Liam, he’ll be outnumbered and—”
“I’ll take care of it.” He squeezed her shoulder. “Get some sleep. Things should look brighter in the morning.”
Raine certainly hoped so because everything looked damn bleak now.
#
Storming into the bar, Hammer grabbed a bottle of Patrón. He tore off the cap and slid onto an empty barstool, tipping the bottle to his mouth for a long swig. Beside him, Liam tossed back shots of Scotch. Beck sat around the corner of the L-shaped bar. The big pussy nursed a bottle of beer and looked at him expectantly.
“Don’t I get a thanks for bringing Raine back? And she’s even in one piece,” Beck drawled.
Hammer really tried not to punch him.
“Shut the fuck up,” Liam snarled and shot back more Scotch.
“What he said.” Hammer glared.
“You’re not happy to see her?” Beck mocked.
Happy? Laying eyes on Raine again had been like Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Easter, and a kick-ass New Year’s Eve all rolled into one. He’d never been so damn relieved in his life. But now that she’d returned, his latent rage boiled up. She’d run off without saying a fucking word. And when she’d returned, had she wanted his protection or comfort? Oh, no. Instead, she’d warded him off by shoving a hand in his face. While still reeling from that silent “fuck you very much,” she’d had the balls to ask him for a Domme.
Not on your life, precious.
“Of course I am,” he finally managed.
There. That didn’t sound like he wanted to rip Beck’s face off. Or give in to the impulse to snag Raine by the arm, haul her ungrateful ass over his lap, and paddle her backside. Sucking in a breath, Hammer cordoned off his anger. If he punished her now, that would make him the worst sort of player. No real Dominant should ever punish a sub who asked for help. Raine might not have come back for him—or Liam—but someday she would understand the depth of her betrayal. Then… Well, his hand itched for that day.
“It doesn’t show. She decided to come back all on her own and ask for help. That’s a big step for her.”
Tossing back another gulp of tequila, he shrugged. “Huge.”
The small part of him that wasn’t horrifically pissed off felt proud. He’d never seen Raine so resolved to grow and blossom. The rest of him? Downright furious at her version of “help.”
“Just drink your beer.” He didn’t want to talk to Beck. Or anyone. He had to figure out what the hell to do.
“Stop soaking your brain with tequila and use it for a minute. Raine has a good idea. A female Dominant could teach her the basics.”
“Raine has lost the bloody plot! A Domme?” Liam shoved his tumbler aside, opting to swig from the bottle instead.
Yeah, this was going to get down and dirty. Hammer was so there.
“It’s a terrible fucking idea, Beck.” Hammer glared. “Until Raine feels the connection with a Dominant who commands her body, heart, and soul, she’ll be like a race car with a compact’s engine. She’ll run, but not like she should.”
He slammed back more booze. The tequila burned, but he welcomed it, hoping it would numb the sting of Raine’s desertion.
She needed more than another woman could give her. Goddamn it, she needed him—his guidance, his boundaries. His love. Fuck if he didn’t want to banish everyone from Shadows and wrap Raine in his arms until he’d bound her to him in every way possible. But damn it, her little speech tonight had tied his hands. Yeah, he could still tell her that he loved her. He probably should. But then he’d have to stand back and let the chips fall.
The control freak in him hated that idea.
“Exactly,” Liam agreed, leaning onto the polished wooden surface and looking past him to stare at Beck. “What the fuck did you do to her these last few days? Brainwash her?”
“Good question. I never thought I’d live to see the day that Raine sought out a woman.” Hammer shook his head.
“Pull your heads out of your asses,” Beck complained. “She just wants happiness.”
“I can make her happy,” Liam countered. “But I don’t think I could bear to see her give her affection to anyone else. How did everything get so fucked up?” Liam tipped his bottle back once again. “I’ve gotta figure out how to win her back. I need a plan.”
“In case you haven’t been keeping score, you’re batting a big fat zero with your last two grand ideas,” Hammer jeered.
Liam flipped him off. “At least I tried.”
“Yep.” Hammer nodded. “You’re the most trying man I’ve ever met... Just saying.”
“Ha fucking ha,” Liam sneered.
Beck nearly fell off his barstool laughing. “You two are hopeless, you know that?”
“What the hell do you know about love?” Hammer bristled. “Someday, somehow, Raine is going to choose one of us…then, of course, the other will have to die.”
Slugging back another drink, he wondered if Raine would ever let him love her the way he should have all along.
Liam peered at him. “I might be tempted to beat you ugly so that she’d never want you, but I swear I’d never kill you. That’s just bad form.” Liam frowned at Hammer. “There’s only one person that I’d like to unload a forty-five on, and that’s her dad.”
“Here. Here.” He agreed, raising his bottle and clinking it against his old friend’s.
“Neither one of you paid attention to her hands when she came in, did you?” Beck piped up.
Both he and Liam turned. The burly sadist wore a grave expression.
“Her hands?” he asked, wondering what part of the conversation had slipped past him.
“Yeah. She went to visit her father yesterday.”
Hammer’s heart nearly stopped.
“What the bloody… You’re serious?” Liam blinked.
“You’d better not be,” Hammer warned.
When Beck gave a curt nod, he felt as if he’d been blown clear to the other side of the room. Anger burst in his veins. Raine had gone back to that shithole, to see that animal, without him. She could have been hurt. Or Bill Kendall could have killed her.
With cold precision, Hammer turned his head, leveling Beck with an icy glare. “Why?”
“Do you really ha
ve to ask?” Beck sent him a mocking stare.
No. Hammer had known she’d eventually seek out Bill for answers, vindication…closure. But damn it, he’d imagined he’d be beside Raine, supporting and protecting her. “You didn’t fucking let her go alone, did you?”
“Of course not, ass-hat.”
“Tell us what happened before I beat the truth out of you,” Liam demanded.
Beck shook his head. “Whatever. You’re so… what is it you guys across the pond call it? Pissed. Yeah. You’re so pissed drunk, you couldn’t beat yourself off.”
“I’m Irish, not English, you bloody twit,” Liam growled. “And yes, I could, if I wanted to.” He scoffed, drinking down more Scotch. “But I don’t. And don’t change the subject.”
“Did Bill touch her?” Hammer added. “If he did, you’re taking me there right now so I can plant a bullet in his miserable head.”
“Settle down, Lone Ranger. I already covered that contingency.” Beck gave him a condescending pat on the shoulder. “I had my gun out and sited right between the son of a bitch’s eyes every fucking second. But she didn’t need me. You remember those self-defense classes you enrolled her in years ago?”
“Yeah.” It took him a minute for the puzzle pieces to fall into place, but when they did, Hammer grinned. “She kicked his ass, didn’t she?”
“Like a ninja.” Beck grinned.
“Fuck, yeah!” Hammer cheered. “That’s my girl.”
“She’s my girl, motherfucker,” Liam insisted, slurring.
“She was. And she could kick your ass, too. ‘Cause I got her lessons,” he preened.
“Jesus, I wish I was recording this. All the fet folk we know would howl.” Beck laughed.
“Shut up and tell us what happened when you took her to see that fucker,” Hammer snapped.
“She slayed her dragon, more or less. It was good for her. You know, you two aren’t the only ones who care about her.”
Liam stood, wobbling, looking ready for a fight. “You better not have fucking touched her!”
“Yeah.” Hammer felt his skull about to explode and reached out to throttle Beck.
The other man shoved him away. “I didn’t. Jesus, you idiots… Give it a rest. I’m tempted to lay you both out cold, but you’re both too drunk to fight.”
Hammer glanced at a weaving Liam. Sadly, Beck was right. Besides, unloading all the fury roiling inside him onto the doctor wouldn’t help anything. He’d already seen vividly that displacing his guilt and anger led to bad things. He had to buck up and fly right.
“Sorry, man. Thank you for keeping her safe. Now tell me what happened. Details!” Hammer slammed his bottle on the bar.
“Did you hear what she said to that sniveling douchebag?” Liam prodded.
“Oh, yeah. Raine let old Bill know, in no uncertain terms, that he was a steaming pile of dog shit.” A smile tugged at the corners of Beck’s lips. “You two would have been proud.”
“Good lass,” Liam whispered. “But what the devil would we have done if he’d hurt her?”
Something clogged Hammer’s throat. Maybe it was too much anger, or the booze talking, or simply relief that Raine had come home, where she belonged. His eyes stung.
“Don’t even think that. But I can guarantee they’d never find a single part of Bill’s body.” Hammer reached up and gave Liam’s shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “The question we should be asking, since Raine’s plan sucks, is what’s the best way to help her?”
When he felt a slap upside his head, Hammer turned to find Seth delivering the same smack to Liam.
“Good to hear you say that, Macen,” the other man announced from behind him. “Because after talking to Raine, I know.”
“How?” Hammer bristled. “You’ve known her all of five fucking minutes and suddenly you can read her mind?”
“Pretty much.”
Liam turned and steadied himself on the bar, wagging his finger at Seth. “If you fucking touched her...”
“Chill, Conan. As much as I wanted to introduce her to my most amazing skill...” Seth licked his tongue over his teeth, slurping nosily. “We just talked.”
“Damn good thing because I would have cut your tongue out,” Hammer vowed. “You should have asked her to teach your pansy ass how to make coffee.”
“Busting my balls isn’t going to help Raine, so zip it. Would you rather the girl stayed fucked up? Or do you want to help her?”
“You already know the answer,” Hammer grumbled.
“I’ve been trying for weeks now. You’re not leaving me out, damn it!” Liam insisted, looking up with bleary eyes at Seth.
“Good to see you both agree.” Seth looked between them. “How long do you think you can act like big boys and play nicely together?”
“About five more seconds,” Beck piped up with a mocking grin.
“Get stuffed, you bastard,” Liam barked.
Beck just shook his head as he laughed.
“We’re getting along fine right now.” Hammer glared. “Spill it before I lose my patience.”
“Here’s the deal…” Seth began. “Raine is about the most torn woman I’ve ever met.”
“It’s that asshole father of hers,” Liam blurted.
“No, I don’t mean broken, though I suspect she’s that as well. I mean she’s in love with you lug nuts, and your constant, hellaciously annoying bickering has torn her heart in two.” Seth shook his head. “Can’t imagine why she loves you both, but…”
Liam plunked down on his barstool, grabbing the bar to balance himself and stay upright. “Because we’re dashing and handsome and—”
“Good in bed, goddamn it,” Hammer added.
“That, too.” Liam raised his bottle, and Hammer clinked it again.
“And so modest,” Beck drawled.
“Do you think you two could sober up so we can discuss this?” Seth arched a brow.
“Hang on. I’ll be back. But don’t say too much,” Beck announced, then sauntered from the bar. “I don’t want to miss this.”
“I’m not dunk. I mean, drunk.” Liam thrust his shoulders back and raised his chin.
Hammer elbowed him and tried to decide which of the two images of Seth swimming in his vision was real. “We’ll keep up.”
“Just a guess here…” Seth said wryly. “But neither of you wants Raine with a Domme, right?”
“Absolutely not!” Liam pounded his fist on the bar.
“The whole idea is bullshit,” Hammer agreed.
“Congratulations. So far, you’ve both scored a hundred percent on the quiz.”
“Quiz?” Liam blinked, then looked at Hammer, his eyes wide. “Shit, we didn’t study, mate.”
“If Seth is giving the quiz, we’re good. He can’t be smarter than us,” Hammer said in a stage whisper.
“Spare me sloppy drunks.” Seth shook his head in disgust. “This will wait until tomorrow.”
“Nah, this might help.” Beck set down two steaming mugs of coffee.
Hammer pounced on it and took a sip, moaning long and loud. “Son of a bitch! You know how to make good coffee?”
Beck scowled at Hammer. “You’re so helpless that you don’t?”
“I used to like you,” he muttered.
He and Liam sipped their steaming brews as fast as they could. When they’d drained their mugs, Beck refilled them. Staring at his watch, Seth waited impatiently.
Before long, Hammer’s thoughts turned right-side up. The glazed look in Liam’s eyes began to dissipate.
“We’re sober enough. Get on with it,” Hammer demanded.
“Finally… Here’s the deal,” Seth said, staring first at Hammer, then Liam. “Like I said, Raine is in love with you both. If her heart is torn in two, how do you expect her to heal with just one of you?”
Hammer froze. Share Raine? That’s what Seth was suggesting. Beck had, too. It wasn’t a foreign concept. Hell, he’d had a woman between himself and Liam. But the thought of sharing Raine�
� Hell no. The possessive caveman in him wanted to drag her off by the hair and keep her for himself.
Then again, Seth asked a really good question, and there seemed to be only one answer. He turned to look at Liam.
“We have to work together?” His old pal grimaced.
“You don’t have to like it, but yes,” Seth answered. “I came because you asked me to help you reach the girl. I think this is the only way it will work. If you can’t handle that, take your bottle and stumble on down to your room. I’ll help him instead.”
“The hell you will!” Fury thundered across Liam’s face.
Hammer couldn’t stand the thought of being shut out of her recovery either. No way would he roll over and play dead.
“Then fucking agree and get along already,” Seth insisted. “It’s what she wants. You’ll have to figure out specifics, but if you would stop thinking with your pride—” he glared at Hammer “—and your jealousy—” he shot Liam a pointed look “—you’d know I’m right.” Seth rolled his eyes. “I told you this shit a month ago.”
“Exactly. I talked to Raine about this, too” Beck said. “She didn’t hate the idea at all. So stop pissing on her like she’s a damn hydrant and do what real Dominants do. Help her.”
“It’s up to you.” Seth rose. “But if you don’t, she’s a pretty girl. She won’t be alone for long. In fact, feel free to keep fucking this up. Once she leaves your sorry asses, I’d be so happy to tap that.”
Chapter 12
If Liam hadn’t felt exactly sober ten minutes ago, he did now. Work with Hammer to heal Raine? After a month of arguing, it boggled the mind, really. Hammer had been part of the problem for so bloody long, crushing her fragile spirit with his indifference, then dragging her to his bed and fucking her within an inch of her life. Liam didn’t see this working.
But nothing else he’d tried had helped, either. Though he hated to admit it, no one knew her background, habits, and tendencies better than Hammer. After nearly a month with Raine as her Dom and her lover, Liam knew her better sexually, maybe even emotionally in some ways. More importantly, together they knew her inside and out. And they probably needed every bit of knowledge to reach her because he feared Seth had a point that a heart divided couldn’t heal without both parts.
