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He gazed up at the illulass shelves behind the bar, eyed the rows of colored bottles that called to hi sweet oblivion But he couldn’t risk it He needed to keep his wits in case they got a lead on her whereabouts There was too much at stake to have his brain muddled with booze

Still, re the floor like a lunatic was a bloody chore Shadows felt haunting and empty without Raine Every moment clawed at his composure

Over and over, he kept reliving their lastfrom her eyes He’d felt it Hell, he’d nearly been able to taste it in the air In thatthat he had finally, unequivocally reached her

The unadulterated bliss had vanished when Raine had been unable to tell him how she felt She’d backpedaled behind her walls and shut hihtened her so badly? She hadn’t trusted in their bond, despite his painstaking effort to build it Surely she knew he’d never let her fall, that he would be her safety net, no matter what

Then again, maybe she didn’t know

His visit to the Kendall house rolled through his brain like a bad horror film Her vile excuse of a father, coupled with the pictures of her frail body beaten and bruised, had gouged out a chunk of his soul And he’d only witnessed the heartbreak She’d lived it, and he could only iine what that had done to her psyche

If he’d known then what he kne, he’d never have re, wrap her in his arms and reassure her that she’d never have to feel lost and alone again He’d promise her that she could reveal all the secrets she hid deep inside, and no , and loving her

Seth said so Liam’s attention back to their conversation He s lost in the dreaers

A strange creaking from the vicinity of the front door broke the hush of conversation Hanize the sound, but Hammer tensed, braced his hand on the bar The lines of worry on his face gave way to so like anticipation Lia on, but he turned to the sound, da his breath

“Anybody home?” a deep voice echoed from the entrance

Beck

Liaainst his ribcage He shoved away from the bar, and his stool crashed to the concrete floor with a deafening booht Raine Right on the heels of that thought came the worry that the prick had stashed her somewhere and simply meant to rub more salt into their wounds If so, Liam vowed he’d beat the bloody crap out of the bastard

Heart chugging, blood surging, Liaed for the front door Hammer dashed beside him They rounded the corner Beck slid past the a familiar suitcase as he and Hammer both stopped and stared toward the portal

With raven hair pulled away fro a sweatshirt that nearly sed her whole, there Raine stood