Page 10 of Adding Fuel To The Flames

CHAPTER 4

“Son of a bitch! I’ll kill him!” Zev seethed and headed for the door.

Day, Morgan, and Finn moved fast, jumping to their feet, and crossing the room. They grabbed Zev, pulling him back in, as he struggled against their hold.

“Not now, man. We’ll get him, but not now. Your mate needs you,” Day said, and that seemed to bring Zev out of his rage.

He stopped struggling and looked to Jett. Zev calmed down slightly and they hesitantly released him, but stayed between Zev and the door.

“Not alone, babe,” Jett said in a tight voice and walked to Zev. He placed his arms on Zev’s shoulders and took his face between both hands, looking into his eyes deeply. “We’ll get him, but not alone.” Jett leaned in and kissed Zev softly. Pulling back from the kiss, Jett released Zev’s face, sliding a hand down his arm, and taking his hand. He gave his mate’s hand a squeeze then led Zev back to the group and sat him down at one of the tables. Jett stood behind him and wrapped his arms around Zev’s shoulders.

He, Morgan, and Finn joined everyone, but stayed ready in case they needed to act again. Day leaned against the bar and crossed his arms over his chest as he met Jett’s gaze. Jett nodded his thanks and Day returned the nod.

Morgan moved back to Angelo and sat beside him, placing an arm over his shoulders, then asked him in a soft voice, “What did you see, Angel?”

“It was…he…” Angelo swallowed hard.

“It’s okay, Ang. Just take a deep breath,” Ethan encouraged gently.

“I know this is hard, Angelo, but if we’re to keep them safe, we need to know what you saw,” Justice said.

Angelo took a few deep breaths, calming slightly, then told them everything he had seen in his vision. With each word Angelo spoke, Day found himself getting angrier and more anxious. His chest tightened and his jaw clenched. An overwhelming need to go hunt Salem down and kill him filled Day. The man was a threat to his brothers Jett and Zev, as well as Rhys, and Day wouldn’t allow any of them to be harmed. Both Jett and Zev had already suffered enough because of this man and he needed to be stopped.

When Angelo got to the end of his story, Day felt a haze of red rage so intense, it consumed him, but there was also fear. His heart beat faster and his stomach clenched at the thought of the beautiful pixie being hurt. If Salem touched one hair on the gorgeous man’s head, Day wouldn’t rest until he found Salem and ripped him apart. Day flinched slightly and shook his head internally, trying to clear the thoughts. What in the hell was he thinking? Of course, he was concerned about Rhys’s safety, he was family now, but he shouldn’t be this effected by it.

Ethan’s voice broke through Day’s thoughts and guilt slammed into him. What the fucking hell was he doing? Ethan was his life. He shouldn’t be thinking like this about anyone else. Day shifted his gaze to Jett, trying to focus on something else, and saw the tension in Jett’s body. His shoulders were tight, jaw clenched, and his eyes were blazing with anger, but Day could also see that some of the color had drained from Jett’s face.

He looked down at Zev and he was strung just as tight as Jett, but his face was burning red and his body shook. He looked like he was close to snapping and freaking out. Day’s gaze instinctively shifted to Rhys to see his reaction to what they had just been told, and his heart clenched. The poor man was standing off to the side of everyone by himself. His arms were wrapped around his stomach, his head was lowered, with his long, silky black hair cascading around his face like a veil, but Day could see that he was pale. Rhys’ gaze stared at a spot on the floor and Day could see the terror in his pretty lavender eyes.

The gorgeous man was shaking and Day had an overwhelming need to go to him and wrap Rhys in his arms. He needed to reassure the man that everything was going to be okay and that he wouldn’t let Salem anywhere near him. Day would do whatever he had to do to make sure Rhys was safe.

What the fuck was going on? Why was he thinking these things? His thoughts were betraying his mate. The love of his life, and he needed to stop this. Suddenly his heart clenched with guilt and Day needed air. He had to get away from the beautiful pixie and clear his head.

Day pulled away from the bar and walked across the room. He didn’t stop when he heard his father ask where he was going. He couldn’t stop. Fresh air was the only thought in his head at the moment and he needed to get to it. Day headed out the front door and turned left. He walked to the end of the building and stopped, taking in a deep breath, then releasing it. He bent forward and rested his hands on his knees as he hung his head.

Why? Why was he thinking about the pixie like this? Why was he having these thoughts? Ethan was his mate. Ethan was the love of his life. His phoenix mate owned his heart, body, and soul. Day’s stomach churned and twisted violently. He wanted to vomit when he thought of ever hurting Ethan. They had been together for two years now, but he couldn’t remember a time when Ethan wasn’t in his heart. He had only existed before Ethan came into his life. He loved his beautiful mate more than he ever loved anything in his whole life. He would kill for Ethan. He would die for Ethan.

“Day?”

Day’s breath caught in his throat and he closed his eyes tight against the pain the guilt brought. He could hear the confusion and concern in Ethan’s voice and it killed him. He couldn’t be dishonest with Ethan. As much as his thoughts might hurt his man, he couldn’t lie to him.

A small gentle hand rested on his shoulder and Day tensed. He didn’t mean to, but he did. He loved Ethan’s touch, but right now he didn’t think he deserved it, or Ethan’s concern. He was a horrible mate. Day straightened, bringing his hands to his face and rubbing it briskly.

Ethan wasn’t pushing him for answers, he was giving Day all the time he needed, and didn’t that just fill him with another wave of guilt? His baby was the most wonderful mate in the world and he was garbage for having these thoughts about another.

Day felt Ethan’s heat on his back a moment before his felt his mate’s lithe body press against him. Ethan slid his hand from Day’s shoulder, down his bicep, and wrapped his hand around the muscle. When Ethan moved closer and hugged his arm, then kissed his bicep, Day just wanted to cry.

“It’s okay, babe. We’ll make sure they all stay safe. Everyone is trying to come up with the best plan to watch over Jett, Zev, and Rhys, and find Salem at the same time. We’ll do this, love. We’re always stronger together and we won’t let Salem get his hands on them. We’ll protect Rhys,” Ethan said softly as he peppered kisses over Day’s arm.

Something in the way Ethan said they would keep Rhys safe pulled Day out of his self-deprecation. There was something in Ethan’s voice that told Day Ethan was feeling what he was. Day turned to face his mate, looking at Ethan with confusion.

Ethan looked back at him, meeting his gaze, and Day saw the guilt within his baby’s stunning blue eyes. Ethan swallowed hard and looked down as he bit his bottom lip.

“Baby?” Day whispered.

Ethan raised his head and their gazes met, and there it was again. Guilt, but also pain. “I don’t know why, and I don’t know what it is. I don’t…”

Day wrapped his arms around Ethan, pulling him close and holding him tight. Ethan immediately wrapped his arms around Day’s waist and returned the hug. “I’m so sorry, my love. I don’t understand this, and I never, ever want to hurt you. You’re my whole world, Day, and I would die without you,” Ethan cried into his chest and Day could feel wetness soak through his shirt.