Rome's Pride, Book 6 by Zena Wynn

Author:Zena Wynn [Wynn, Zena]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Real Love Enterprises
Published: 2016-05-15T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

As they walked, Zuri tried to ignore the firm, warm pressure of Rome’s hand on her lower back and what his touch did to her insides. A task which became marginally easier when she spotted the red glow of cats’ eyes staring at her through the trees before they darted away. Inhaling deeply, she caught the scent of two of the pride’s male juveniles and frowned. “What are they doing this far from the den?”

Following her gaze, Rome said, “Patrolling.”

Zuri bit back her automatic protest. As much as she disliked admitting it, life here would never be the same again. They’d been touched by violence, and it had changed everything. She couldn’t afford to hide her head in the sand and pretend nothing had happened.

The women, even the children, of her pride had felt the ghostly fingers of violence playing with their lives. She’d been the innocent, observing from the outside the results of its damaging ways but not understanding its full impact until she’d been the one on the receiving end.

“I hate this. Hate this, hate this,” she muttered when what she really wanted to do was scream at the injustice of it all. Why her? Why them? The pride hadn’t bothered anyone, or asked for any of this to happen. Why had they been targeted?

Rome caught her close in a hug. “Hey, now. It will be all right,” he said, stroking her back in a manner designed to soothe.

She squeezed shut eyes she hadn’t realized had gone teary. Bitching about it wouldn’t change what happened so she just held on to Rome and let his solid strength ground her. Zuri wished she could go back in time and undo some of the decisions she’d made. Wished she’d left Talina to suffer her fate in her troubled life rife with poverty, drugs, and prostitution. Sighing, she gave herself to Rome’s comforting embrace and accepted the truth. Even if she’d have known how it would all turn out, she’d do it again. It just wasn’t in her nature to see someone suffering and not try to help.

“Don’t make promises you might not be able to keep.” She might let herself lean just a little, but she wouldn’t depend on him. Not in the forever scheme of things. Rome would be returning to his life in the States, and she’d be here. Alone, again, and her safety would be her responsibility.

“I don’t,” he said, he voice firm and sure. “Where’s Manny?”

Zuri wasn’t sure if he really wanted to know, or if he was trying to distract her. She answered anyway. “He took a small group on a nighttime hike. They should be back soon. He said he’d only be gone two hours. I think he took one of the wolves with him.”

“Ethan,” Rome confirmed, inadvertently letting her know he already knew her son’s whereabouts. He cupped her chin and lifted it so he could see her face. In the dim lighting, his cat’s eyes glowed. “Did you check on the pride?”

She shook her head.

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