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Liam had harbored contempt for Beck almost from day one He’d noticed the friendship between the brash, tattooed Dom and Hammer when he’d first arrived It had crawled under his skin that another was privy to his best h the resentirl, it scorched hi with Raine, Beck had grown on hi; he and Hammer still shared a bond deeper than brothers Far deeper than Beck or any other could iine

“It sounds like she’s needed what you both have to offer for a long tilad you two didn’tout the two-by-fours”

“That’s a last resort” Beck chuckled “They’d just try to shove them up our asses”

Seth scoffed “Good luck with that”

The sling of insults continued a few ot back to business They discussed strategy and collectively agreed to a plan of action

One by one, the othere he could have it again…but better than before He could see a future with the girl so very clearly, and he ached down to his marrow for it

Placing his eht about Hammer He didn’t want to focus on how deeply they both loved Raine But it was a fact he couldn’t deny Facing the reality that the drea more than fantasy chilled him He hated the way his jealousy made him feel, but he owed himself the same honesty and openness he and Hammer demanded of Raine

It seeo that his life had been uncoles he now faced were nothing compared to her ulti inside him to see her blossom beneath their hands Their voices Their will She beca more with them both, so of so not quite free of the shadows But when it revealed itself, when they could see all of her soul, it would be the ift he’d ever received

Cli the stairs, he reached her room With a soft snick of the handle, he peeked inside She lay just as they’d left her, buried deep beneath the covers, only her nose and dark hair peeking free

The need to go to her damn near overwhelmed him It surprised him, too But it shouldn’t have Raine had always had that effect on him, from the very first time he’d seen her He’d been so torn, never sure whether to beat her ass black and blue, fuck her senseless, or hold her against hiether—none of which she’d minded too much And always to protect her, to keep her safe frohtened her that he couldn’t see But he knehat she feared now, and soed for the injustices she’d endured He couldn’t have helped her as a child, but he could love the woh