Chapter 3

Holdar cursed and tucked Trish closer against his chest as she fell asleep. He was still angry with her for her foolishness, but he was angrier at himself. How could he have misjudged Danny so badly? True he'd had little contact with the other guard but he'd assumed he was exactly what he appeared to be - a young, slightly overeager, ex-soldier. He shouldn't have been so lenient when he discovered him watching Trish's room.

At least he'd been right about where she was headed. She'd been talking to one of her friends about the club that afternoon, although she'd ended the conversation with a sigh, bemoaning the fact that her father and her grumpy bodyguard would never allow her to go. She'd aimed a pout at him as she spoke, but he should have noticed the mischief in her eyes and realized she was up to something.

Thank God he'd found her when he did. He'd traced her familiar sweet scent through the club and outside, arriving just in time to haul the bastard off of her and shake him like a rag doll. Only the sight of her tear-filled brown eyes had kept him from killing the man, especially when he caught the additional scent underlying hers and realized the bastard had tried to drug her. Getting her out of there was more important than dealing with Danny right then.

Fortunately he'd left his truck parked behind the club and no one intercepted them as he carried her to it. As he lowered her carefully onto the bench seat, more of her dress slipped down, gathering around her waist. Doing his best to ignore the expanse of smooth golden skin and the bountiful breasts threatening to overflow the almost sheer bra, he fumbled in his bag for a t-shirt.

He always had an emergency bag stashed in his vehicle, as well as in his room, ready to move on at a moment's notice. Since he hadn't taken the time to grab any of her clothes, they would have to share for now.

Her body was almost completely limp as he dropped it over her head, carefully manipulating her arms through the armholes, and he checked her pulse. Slow, but strong and steady and he breathed a sigh of relief. She mumbled in her sleep, a soft, worried sound that tugged at him and he pressed a gentle kiss against her temple.

"Don't worry, princess. You're safe now. I'm going to take care of you."

Her eyelashes fluttered but didn't open.

"Promish?"

"I promise," he said softly, then frowned as he buckled her seatbelt.

What if I let her down too? The thought haunted him as he closed the door and went around to the driver's side, but he pushed it aside. I won't fail her.

As he put the truck in gear he picked up his phone to call Banner but it went immediately to voicemail.

"She's with me and she's safe." He hesitated for a moment before deciding it would be better to let Banner handle the bastard who'd betrayed her. "Danny tried to drug her. Take care of him or I will."

He hung up, then headed out of town, avoiding the highway and checking to make sure he wasn't being followed. It was possible he was being overly paranoid but whoever was targeting Sinclair clearly had both money and resources. Using the backroads would take longer but he would be harder to track as he headed home.

Home?He hadn't realized until that moment that he'd automatically decided to return to Fairhaven Falls. Which is not my home, he reminded himself grimly. However the town was the closest thing he had to a home and he knew every inch of it. Not only that, strangers were much easier to spot in a small town.

And so were familiar faces. The news of his arrival would be all over town as soon as he drove down Main Street, which meant he'd have to face his brother. He frowned unhappily. He had no doubt Trogar would be happy to see him, but he was equally sure that he'd be both angry and hurt that Holdar hadn't been in contact with him since a flying visit at Christmas.

The hurt would be much worse than the anger, piling another layer of guilt on top of the existing mountain. He could never forget how badly he'd failed his brother when he was young. Every time he saw Trogar, he didn't see the strong, happy adult he was now. Instead he saw the scrawny ten year old cowering away from their stepfather as Holdar tried desperately to protect him. Or the even thinner twelve year old bent over his drawings in a cramped room with a stained carpet and a single hot plate.

He's happy now, he reminded himself. He's living a good life. He's not alone. His brother had a mate and a child and a real home in Fairhaven Falls. As happy as that made him, the fact that he also felt a pang of envy for everything his brother had also added another layer to his guilt.

Because he has what I will never have.

He couldn't resist a quick glance over at Trish, her head lolling to one side as she slept off whatever Danny had given her. She looked remarkably innocent and peaceful despite her uncomfortable posture and he sighed, then adjusted his position so that she could nestle against him. Fuck, she felt right there.

No. Even setting aside the barriers of wealth and privilege, he was far too damaged for such an innocent little female. For any female. He'd learned that lesson the hard way. Although some females were initially attracted by his size and strength, most of them sensed the deep well of rage inside him and were sensible enough to flee. The ones who didn't were worse.

The first time he'd left bruises on a female he'd been horrified - only to find she wanted more. She'd wanted hard and rough but something inside him had shriveled at the idea. He'd fled with her screaming insults at his back. After one or two more similar incidents he'd given up. Celibacy was easier than the thorny path of relationships. If he got truly desperate, his hand was good enough.

A hand I might have to put to use soon, he thought as Trish slipped down his side, pillowing her head on his thigh with a contented little murmur. His shirt was much too big for her and it had slipped down to reveal the delicate line of her neck and shoulder. Unable to resist, he ran a gentle finger down that graceful curve and she rubbed her cheek against him like a kitten.

Stop that, he ordered himself, putting both hands firmly back on the wheel. He needed to decide what they were going to do once they reached town. That was what he did - he made plans and executed them. Despite that he spent most of the long drive back to Fairhaven Falls thinking about how soft she was, and how sweet, and how close she was to his aching cock - but he couldn't bring himself to push her away.

By the time they reached town he was more aroused than he'd ever been in his life, and more frustrated. But as he turned down Main Street just as the sun rose, he had the oddest feeling that he really had come home this time.