Page 2 of Breaking the Surface
Lou shoved Peter again.Peter stumbled down, his back hitting the coffee table.Pain radiated up his spine, stealing his breath.Lou was standing over Peter, fists clenched, his expression twisted with rage.He looked like a stranger, or maybe Peter was finally seeing him clearly.
“You’re mine.Not Vincent’s.Not Ronan’s.Mine.And it’s time you remembered that.”
Peter curled in on himself, protecting his vital organs.He fought every instinct that screamed at him to shift and run.His skin itched with the need to transform, but if he shifted, it would be so much worse.Lou hated shifters.If he knew Peter was one of them and had been lying to him for so long, well.Peter didn’t want to imagine what Lou would do.
The first kick caught him in the ribs.The impact pushed the air out of Peter’s lungs.The second kick hit his shoulder, and something crunched in a way that made his vision go white.Peter bit his lower lip to keep from screaming.He tasted blood, but he knew that screaming wouldn’t help.Nothing would.
“You think you can just leave whenever you want?”Another kick, this one to Peter’s hip.“You think I don’t see what you’re doing?Getting ideas about leaving me?”
Peter couldn’t answer, even if he tried.He couldn’t breathe.
“Answer me!”Lou’s foot connected with Peter’s stomach, and Peter cried out.The sound seemed to satisfy something in Lou because he stepped back, breathing hard.“You’re not going anywhere, Peter.You’re staying right here with me, where you belong.You understand?”
Peter nodded.Everything hurt.His ribs felt like they were shattered.
“Good.”Lou’s voice turned almost gentle.“I’m going home, but I’ll see you tomorrow.And, Peter?Think about what you’ve done and how you’ve been disrespecting our relationship.When I get back, we’re going to have a serious talk about boundaries.”
Peter heard Lou walk away, then the apartment door open and close.He waited, still afraid to move.Sometimes, Lou came back, but he didn’t this time.Peter was lucky because he was pretty sure that another beating would kill him.
He had to get away.
* * * *
BRADEN’S EYES FELTgritty.He blinked, hoping to get rid of the sensation of having something stuck there, but he didn’t.His eyes just burned, reminding him that he needed to stop staring at his computer screen and go home.
He sighed and leaned back in his chair.He really should do that, but he still had work to do.When he’d started his agency with his best friend, he’d known it would be a lot of work, but he hadn’t expected to spend as much time as he did in front of a screen.He’d gotten into it to help people, and they did.He just hadn’t expected helping people to come with so much paperwork.
He blinked his eyes open.He was almost done reviewing security protocols for the pack.Once that was done, he could go to bed.Unfortunately for him, he wouldn’t get nearly as much sleep as he needed, but it was better than none.He had to be back at the office early tomorrow morning to talk to a potential new client.Remi used to do that, but since he’d moved in with the pack, it was easier for Braden to do it.He lived closer to the office, at least until they opened a new one in Rosewood.
Braden tapped his fingertips on his desk.There had to be a way to do this kind of meeting using the computer.He knew that some people wouldn’t like it, but he didn’t like talking to most potential clients anyway.A lot of them were rich assholes, especially since the agency had started getting good word-of-mouth reviews.Most of the jobs felt more like babysitting than anything else, which was one of the reasons Braden was happy that he was one of the owners rather than one of the guys doing security, but sometimes, even he had to get his hands dirty.Remi had gotten out of that by leaving town.Braden couldn’t do so yet, although he was tempted.
He missed his best friend.One of the reasons he’d agreed to open the agency was that he enjoyed working with Remi.Unfortunately, that was something they seldom did these days, and it had taken some of the shine out of the job.Maybe Braden could move to Rosewood, too.It might complicate things for a little while, but he could have someone in charge here at the office so he could focus on more serious clients.After what he’d seen when they’d rescued Pembroke, he was sure there were plenty of people out there who needed to be rescued from similar situations.That was something he wanted to focus on.That was something he wanted to be a part of.
He’d need to talk to Remi.He didn’t think his friend would have anything to say against it, but they still needed to plan.It might take a while, but by the end of it, he’d be much happier than he was now.
He liked working with the pack.He felt more useful and like he was doing something important than he did babysitting barely grown teenagers with too much money in their bank accounts.He suspected that Remi would understand that.Considering he now lived with the pack and the way they’d rescued his boyfriend—his mate—from a dangerous situation, how could he not?
Braden’s phone vibrated on the desk.He picked it up, grateful for the distraction, and squinted at the screen.It hurt his eyes, but he ignored the pain when he saw he had a text from Remi.
Are you coming over tomorrow?
Braden was quick to answer.You know that I don’t have to visit every time we need to make the point of the situation, right?Braden wanted to visit the pack, but he needed Remi to know that.He missed his best friend, and he enjoyed spending time with the pack and the people who lived there.Everyone had always been nice to him, and Pembroke was a very sweet person who loved Remi.Braden was happy for them, almost as happy as he was jealous.
He was human.He knew he didn’t have a mate, but was it too much to ask for him to find a partner?He doubted he’d ever be as lucky as Remi had been.He was human, too, but he’d been lucky being Pembroke’s mate.He hadn’t expected it—no one had—he was happier than Braden had ever seen him.That was what Braden wanted, too.He suspected that was what most people wanted.
Braden would settle for a relationship with another human.He didn’t need a fated mate, although he would love to have one.No, he just needed a partner, but he couldn’t remember the last time he’d dated someone.
Part of that was on him.He spent most of his days working, so the only people he had contact with were coworkers, which meant people he paid to work for him.He couldn’t date any of them, even if he were so inclined.It wouldn’t be right.Thankfully, he didn’t feel any kind of way toward any of those people, but that worried him a little, too.If he really thought about it, the last time he’d been in a real relationship had to be almost ten years ago.He’d still been young back then.Did he know how to be with someone after so long?Would he ever get the opportunity to find out?
His phone vibrated again.Sue me for missing one of my best friends.Are you coming or not?Remi had written.
Of course I’m coming,Braden answered.I miss Pembroke.
Anyone would miss Pembroke,Remi answered.He’s perfect.
Braden snorted.What could he say to that?Remi was smitten with the man.They were so in love that watching them together hurt, but Braden was happy for them.They both deserved it, especially Pembroke after everything he’d been through.
That we can agree on, he answered.And I’ll definitely see you tomorrow.
