Free [Southern Arcana 2.0] Crossroads by Moira Rogers Page A

where we sit here and casually discuss how the father of Nick’s niece or nephew needs to be executed.”
    Luciano stared at him, and Nick sighed. “Michelle isn’t a threat, I swear. We just need a few days to figure something out. Can you stall?”
    He offered her a gentle smile. “I can tell Mom we’re talking things over. I’m sure she’d like to hear how successfully I’m wooing you.”
    Derek didn’t realize he’d tightened his fingers until the arm of the love seat cracked.

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    “Okay.” Nick took a deep breath. “Alec, can you walk Luke out? And, please, leave Alec your cell number and the number at your hotel.” She didn’t move. “Thank you for doing this.”
    “You’re welcome.” Luciano’s expression held a surprising sympathy.
    She glanced at Alec. “Can you—?”
    Derek almost winced as Alec speared him with a pointed look. “I’m fine, Alec.”
    “You sure?”
    “Yeah.”
    After a moment Alec nodded and rose. “C’mon, cowboy. Let’s clear out.” When they were gone, Derek shifted his attention to the arm of the loveseat. “I can fix this,” he promised, the words shaking a little. He’d snapped the wood, and he hadn’t even been thinking about it. If his hand had closed on Nick’s shoulder…
    “I don’t care about the furniture.” She knelt on the love seat beside him and took his face in her hands.
    “I care about you.”
    There was no doubt about it, not with the way she watched him. Derek closed his eyes and inhaled her scent to steady himself. “I’m scared of what happens if I lose my shit and I’m holding something more important than a chair.”
    She kissed him softly. “After we’ve helped Michelle and Aaron, we’ll lock ourselves in a hotel room for the weekend and not talk to anyone who isn’t bringing room service. You just need time , Derek.”
    “Yeah. Time would be good.” After a few seconds, he trusted himself enough to curl his fingers around Nick’s waist. “Do you trust that man? Luke, I mean. If we reach the point where people are trying to hurt Michelle—” Or you. “Do you trust him not to be one of them?” Nick turned and eased onto his lap. “Luciano’s in a tough place. His mother has grand plans for him, but he’s not interested. I know how that feels.” Her tone was light, but it held an undercurrent of pain.
    “Luciano isn’t alpha. He couldn’t handle control of the Conclave, and Enrica just won’t see that. Me? I’m just a selfish bitch.”
    The words sounded like something she’d been told before, probably more than once. Derek cradled her cheek with his hand and rubbed his thumb along her jaw. “I’ve been watching the sort of shit you left behind for less than twenty-four hours, and I don’t blame you a bit.”
    “That isn’t the point.” She turned her face to his touch. “I was born with responsibilities. It’s the way things are. Part of all those polite rules.”
    Rules he’d never understand. Hell, at this point, rules he didn’t want to understand. “I’m sort of useless, aren’t I?”
    “No, you were dealt a crappy hand, and you’ve been busting your ass to deal with it for two years.” Her nose brushed his jaw as she nuzzled her face to his. “I don’t think you’re useless. I think you’re beautiful.”
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    Crossroads
    “Yeah, well, I think he’s a hunk,” Alec drawled from the doorway, “but we probably have more important things to discuss.”
    Derek groaned. “You’re not nearly as funny as you think you are.”
    “Whatever, I’m a goddamned laugh riot.”
    “Nothing else to discuss at the moment,” Nick told him. “They know my sister’s here, and they know they can’t get to her. So we’ll gather some things together for her and Aaron, make damn sure that safe house is impenetrable…and then I’m going to plan a trip.”
    Derek stiffened, and he fought to keep his fingers from tightening around