Free You Complete Me by Wendi Zwaduk Page A

know for people you aren’t sure you can trust. We’re a screwed up bunch, but we’re loyal. We’ve got your back, if you’ve got ours.”
    “Understood. This is where I belong.”

Chapter Six
     
     
    Hagan kept up with Kynan down the hallway of the mansion. He knew the place was big, but when they turned the corner, he realized the house was more like a maze. He wasn’t sure where he was in the building.
    A hand grabbed him, yanking him into one of the rooms. Ava plastered herself against the door and put one finger to her lips.
    Hagan rubbed his forehead. He’d finally made it to the Laing mansion and Ava wanted to cause him issues. Wonderful. “What’s up?”
    “She’s pretty.” Ava folded her arms.
    “Thanks.” He glanced over her shoulder at the door. “I should be with Kynan and the others.”
    “She’s angry.”
    Good Goddess… Why did Ava want to discuss this right now? “Wouldn’t you be angry if your life was turned upside down?”
    “I was upset. I’m not now.” She unfolded her arms and flicked a lock of her hair over her shoulder.
    He shouldn’t enter into a pissing contest with her, but the desire was too strong to resist. “I see you’ve got not one but two mates. Nice. You always wanted more than most people.”
    “The Sources dictated I needed two. They said I was wounded and needed the extra care.”
    He would’ve snorted, but what was the point? She always did get what she wanted. She’d conned him into helping her only to ditch him when he became unnecessary baggage. “I worried about you.”
    “I worried about you, too.”
    He knew this moment would come and expected her to want to argue. Fine. He’d argue. “Oh? You never came back.”
    “Because it wasn’t safe.”
    “That’s true.” He turned his back on her and admired a painting of a forest and ducks. “Because I was so safe crisping in the sunshine. I wanted to help you, but the moment I lost my importance to you was the moment I became nothing.”
    “I’m sorry,” she whispered.
    His frustration boiled over. “You were so sorry you found a life and moved on with two mates. Did you even think about me?”
    “It wasn’t like that.” She wrapped her arms around one of his. “I promise. I wasn’t planning to find them. They found me.”
    He sighed. “Ava, we were a pair. We had each other’s back. I turned away from you long enough for you to escape. I thought you’d return for me. Instead, you totally blew me off—like you have every other time—in order to save your skin. You take what you want and good old Hagan cleans up the mess. What’s worse? I did clean it up. I helped you out…again.”
    “It wasn’t supposed to be that way.” She thumped his bicep. “Come on. You have to believe me.”
    “No, I don’t. How many times did you tell me you’d be right back, but you were gone for hours? You’d take off on me for another man, then when he dumped you or whatever, you’d come running back to me. You were supposed to be my girl. I’m not sure what you are to me any longer.”
    “I belong to Joachim and Padraig.”
    “I gathered that.”
    “I’m sorry. I made a mistake. A massive mistake. I thought about you so much, but I wasn’t sure what to do.” She paused. “Is she good to you?”
    “Emily is, yes.”
    “She’s a Hunter.”
    “Someone mentioned that to me along the way.”
    “I deserve your bitterness, but you can stop at any time.”
    “I could stop, but I don’t want to.” He paused long enough to think through what he wanted to say. He could tell her to piss off, but what good would it do? He couldn’t change the past or force Ava to get along with Emily. “Look, you moved on with your …mates. I understand now. I was never enough and I accept that. We can be friends, but you have to accept Emily is with me just as much as I have to come to grips with you having two other men.”
    “You’ve grown up.”
    “My plan was always to keep you safe. They’ve got