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"Elaborate"

"And scare you off?" He shook his head "That’s not on s to do"

"Why would it scareto say that you’re a sadist or so to be a problem"

"I’etting at Given that you’re very dominant, assertive, and you have a forceful personality, I’ve already figured out that a relationship with you wouldn’t be easy Aed "I don’t know I’ve never been in a relationship"

"Never?"

"There’ve been flings, but they were short and shallow I never let et too close" Not even Marcus Before the enforcer mated, he and Trick had scratched each other’s itches occasionally Trick had let him close as a friend, but not as a partner

"So that’s all you ith ently tapped her nose "You’re different"

Frankie frowned "You mean you seelike that" He pulled his cell out of his pocket "I need to call Trey"

Frankie watched him closely as he swiped his thu like that," he’d said, an odd glint in his eyes And then her heartbeat kicked up as it all seeether The way her body reacted to him, that fierce determination in his eyes, the possessiveness he displayed, the way her wolf tested him to see if he orthy Worthy as a ht her assumption Oh hell

She wasn’t quite as shocked as she should have been, so maybe she’d subconsciously suspected they were mates Or maybe she’d just had so many shocks lately that she was iht then was unease Not because she didn’t want it to be true, but because she did She wanted Trick to be hers She just didn’t want the shit-storot a problem," he said "Or we had a proble toiletDrakeI was at the movies with Frankie He came at me in the restroom Tried to bash my head in with a steel barNo, I’m fine I don’t know if Morelli sent him, but I’ for what happened at theYeahNo, I’ the call, Trick turned to Frankie Whatever he saw on her face ether "You okay?"

She sed hard "Are we mates?"

Trick stilled Really, he wasn’t all that surprised that she’d figured it out As he’d told the pack, she was smart and open-minded He crossed to her, pleased when she didn’t back up "Yes, baby, we are" He curved his hand around the side of her neck "At first I thought this was shit ti on But I rong If there’s one thing you need right now, it’s support, someone who’s all about you Someone who’s on your side--not the Newmans’ side, not the pack’s side, just yours"