Part 6 (1/2)
Hector stormed toward him, but Rafe kept his ground. Nearly eighteen years in the army had taught him a thing or two about dealing with other alpha men.
When Hector finally stopped six inches away and leaned his face toward Rafe's, Rafe merely c.o.c.ked an eyebrow. ”Are you supposed to scare me?”
Hector narrowed his eyes. His voice was like steel as he said, ”Watch yourself, human. You claimed my daughter without my permission. Only because I don't want my grandchild to grow up without a father am I not beating the living s.h.i.+t out of you right now.”
Rafe shook his head. ”Nikki doesn't need your G.o.dd.a.m.n permission. She's twenty-six years old and has survived a f.u.c.king war zone. Let her make her own decisions.”
Rafe half-expected Hector to clock him, but the dragonman fell silent. After a few seconds, Hector finally nodded. ”If this is how you stand up for Nikki, then I imagine you'll go further for your own child.”
Rafe blinked. ”What the h.e.l.l are you talking about?”
Slapping Rafe's shoulder, Hector took a step back and looked to Delphine. ”What do you think, sweet?”
Smiling, Delphine answered, ”He's gruff on the outside, but inside, he's softer than he lets on.”
”What-”
Hector cut him off. ”Good, because that makes this next bit easier.”
Nikki finally spoke up. ”What did you do, Dad?”
Hector looked over his shoulder. ”I made a deal with Bram.”
Rafe eyed Hector with suspicion. ”Without talking with either of us?”
”Nikki won't mind,” Hector answered with a shrug. ”And considering I could have you thrown in jail, you don't have a choice.”
Walking up to them, Nikki raised her chin to meet her father's eyes. ”I repeat: what did you do?”
”Bram is asking Rafe's commanding officer to let him stay here to better cement your plans concerning the dragon hunters,” Hector answered.
Some of Rafe's tension eased. ”I rather you would've asked, but if Bram can manage it, then that buys us some time to find a long-term solution.”
”Rafe,” Nikki bit out. ”Did I not make myself clear before? I'm not keeping the child.”
”What?” Hector roared.
Rafe jumped on his chance. ”That's fine, Nikola Helen Gray, because I'm going to raise the child with or without you.”
Nikki's jaw dropped. ”Say what?”
Moving closer to Nikki, he kept his tone firm. ”I want to be a father, Nikki. Even if it means raising her alone, I will.”
”Are you crazy? There's no way the DDA will allow a human to raise a dragon-s.h.i.+fter.”
”With Jane's help, I'm sure I can manage.”
Nikki placed her hands on her hips. ”And you made all these grand plans without me? Use your head, Rafe. Humans in the UK might think dragon-s.h.i.+fters are interesting at the moment, but it could all change in a heartbeat. The Head of the DDA will be selected next week, and I can tell you right now that Jonathan Christie won't b.l.o.o.d.y well agree to your half-a.r.s.ed plan.”
Aware of Hector and Delphine watching, Rafe reached out a hand and took a hold of Nikki's wrist. ”We need to discuss this in private.”
He half-expected Hector to yell and stop him, but the dragonman didn't stop Rafe from leaving with Nikki in tow.
Once they were in the living room, he released her wrist and placed his hands on her hips. Nikki's eyes flashed with anger. ”You are b.l.o.o.d.y crazy, Rafe. Do you know what happened to humans who tried raising dragon-s.h.i.+fters on their own in the past? The dragons went rogue and ate the humans.”
”Maybe so, but I can pet.i.tion help from my sister's b.a.s.t.a.r.d mate. Probably your parents, too.”
Growling in frustration, Nikki slammed her hands against his chest. Rafe barely managed to keep his balance. She did it again, and he fell back.
Landing on his a.r.s.e, Nikki kicked his s.h.i.+n. ”G.o.dd.a.m.n you, Rafe Hartley. You, out of everyone, I thought knew how important being a Protector is to me. And now you're betraying me by making choices without me, choices that will shape my future without my input. My father will never allow me to give up the child now.” Her voice cracked. ”You're no better than the elder dragon-s.h.i.+fters, forcing me into a life I'm not ready for.”
She turned to leave. Rafe clutched her ankle and pulled until she was on the floor. Covering her body with his, he said, ”I'm not f.u.c.king betraying you, woman. I know how important being a Protector is to you. h.e.l.l, you work harder than almost anyone I've ever met.”
”Then why are you waving a future I can't have in front of me? It's hard enough to have you after all these years and have to let you go. But now you're trying to prolong the pain by sticking around with a nave idea about us raising a child together. Can't you just go?”
”It's not a nave idea,” he answered in a steely voice. ”And what do you mean about having me after all these years and letting me go?”
”Just let me go, Rafe. You obviously don't remember.”
”If you mean what happened four years ago, then yes, I do.”
Chapter Six.
Nikki's heart thundered in her chest. No b.l.o.o.d.y way.
Gathering her wits, she tried to push Rafe off her, but he wouldn't budge. Stupid muscled human male.
Nikki finally mustered a response. ”Don't lie to me, Rafe. We've worked together for nearly six months and not once did you mention the past.”
”Excuse me for not wanting to bring back painful memories. Believe me, Nikki, I remembered what I did to you all those years ago. Every time I see you, it comes rus.h.i.+ng back.”
She searched his eyes for deceit. Unless Rafe was a good liar, she sensed him telling the truth. Nikki needed to know more. ”Why did you do it?”
Rafe sighed. ”I was c.o.c.ky and trying to impress some of my colleagues.”
”That's not much of an answer. Tell me what you remember, so I know you're not talking out of your a.r.s.e.”
Easing off her body, Rafe sat up. Nikki followed suit and scooted back several inches. The distance would prevent her from punching Rafe if he started spouting rubbish.
”You had just arrived after training,” Rafe began. ”It was my second a.s.signment with dragon-s.h.i.+fters. The one before had ended badly, with my long-time friend dying when a dragon failed to take out an armored vehicle.
”I was still grieving when I was given a second a.s.signment. I blamed the dragon-s.h.i.+fters in our unit for f.u.c.king up the maneuver. The last thing I needed was to be surrounded by dragons, especially one that fancied me.”
Nikki leaned forward and put her elbows on her thighs. ”Why didn't you tell me about your friend? It would've been a whole lot nicer than ridiculing me in front of your men.”
She remembered catching Rafe on his way to dinner. Pulling him aside, she'd been under the impression they were alone. After spilling her feelings, Rafe's reply had stayed with her to the present day: Dragon-s.h.i.+fters are useless creatures who fail when needed most. Why would I want to a.s.sociate with one, let alone touch one?