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I’d trust you with my life. And I’m not calling you a wimp either, you just aren’t as strong as Victor or his goons. That’s fact. I know you’d die trying, but that’s just it, Lainey, I can’t take that chance.”
    Wow. “I…I…” He couldn’t not go and wonder how Dev was, wonder if things turned out okay. He had to go keep an eye on his mate. If he could just watch, he knew Dev would be okay. He could stay out of the fight, if that made Dev feel better, but—
    “Promise me you’ll stay here. I need you to do this for me, Laine.”
    Laine wasn’t sure what made him do it, but he knew he couldn’t promise and he couldn’t lie, not to Dev, so he crossed his fingers and nodded.
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    Thankfully, Dev seemed satisfied with that. “I’ll call you as soon as it’s over, okay?”
    “Okay.”
    Dev kissed him one last time and headed towards the front door of the condo.
    “Dev?”
    The big man stopped with his hand on the doorknob. “Yeah?” He turned to face Laine.
    I love you. “Be careful.”
    Dev grinned. “I will. Caroline will be up in a second. Lock the door once she gets in.”
    Laine went to the door and watched Dev go down the stairs.
    Cole and Caroline stood at the bottom of the stairs. Cole waved and Caroline started up the stairs. She stepped in the doorway and turned to watch Cole and Dev drive off in Dev’s truck.
    When Dev’s taillights disappeared around the corner, Laine shut the door.
    “How long should we give them before we follow?” Caroline asked.
    Laine chuckled. “Caroline, if I liked women, I do believe I’d have to fight Cole for you.” He kissed Caroline’s freckled nose.
    She hugged him. “I’m nervous, Lainey. I know they’re strong and capable and all that crap, but I need to go.”
    Laine sighed. He knew how she felt, but he couldn’t take her. Cole would never forgive him. And Dev would be pissed as hell. It was bad enough Laine was about to defy his mate and go, but he couldn’t in good conscience take an unarmed, non-wolf into a fight for dominance. She didn’t have the fast-healing abilities that wolves did. “Caroline—”
    “Don’t you dare.” She pulled out of their hug and glared at him.
    “All right. Give me the keys and come on. I’m driving.” He snatched the keys out of Caroline’s hands.
    He’d think of something by the time they got there. He knew damned well she wasn’t going to leave it alone, any more than he would. If he left her, she’d find a way to follow, because that is exactly what he’d do. One thing he could say for Caroline, she was easy to figure out.
    Caroline climbed into the passenger seat and gave him a hesitant look. “Are you sure you don’t want me to drive?”
    Laine groaned and started the engine. “Yes.” He backed up, somehow managing to run up on the curb.
    Caroline grabbed her seatbelt, putting it on, biting her lip. “I’m not saying a thing. Just get us there in one piece.”
    Sheesh. Yeah, getting them there in one piece was the easy part. Finding a way to restrain Caroline was…wait. Restrain. That’s what he had to do, he had to find a way to tie her up. “Caroline, is there Page 45
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    any kind of rope in the car?”
    “What do we need rope for?”
    “A weapon?”
    “No. Not unless there is something we can use for a weapon in the trunk.”
    Now, that was an even better idea, he’d lock her in the trunk. Laine hit another curb when he took a corner too fast, making Caroline squeak.
    “Uh, Laine. I hate to be rude, but honey, you really do drive like shit.”
    Yep, she was so going in the trunk for that. She was supposed to be on his side.

    * * *

    Dev and Cole stepped out of the truck and looked around. They were fairly high up in altitude. It really was pretty out here. It helped to center his thoughts. He could smell several wolves, all through the trees.
    He could even pick out Victor’s scent.
    “I smell him.” Cole stripped off his shirt. He pitched it in the bed of the truck and started on his shoes.
    “Yeah, me too. You ready for this buddy? You know, you don’t—”
    “Don’t even start that shit, Dev. We’ve been friends for over thirty years. Have I ever once not been there when you needed me?”
    “Nope. Not once.” And that was really all there was to say about that. He knew Cole was in this until