“Babe, again, guy thing.”

“No it is not.”

He started chuckling and I kept glaring.

“Oh yeah, it definitely is,” he stated.

“So, essentially, you’re pissing in your corner and not just doing it to claim your territory with Brad but with everyone.”

His arms tightened, bringing me deeper into his body. “I wouldn’t put it like that, but, yeah. Essentially.”

“The alpha male,” I muttered irritably.

“Absolutely,” Tate muttered back with total unconcern.

“You just lost my mouth in the morning,” I hissed and he burst out laughing. “I’m not joking,” I warned into his laughter and he dipped his face close to mine.

“Right, baby, I’ll believe that when it happens.”

“It will,” I snapped, he shook his head then dipped it further so his nose could tweak my ear.

Then he spoke there. “You’re addicted to my cock, Ace, you like suckin’ me off more than I like you doin’ it.”

I jerked my head back and stated, “That is just not true.”

Though, I had to admit, maybe it was.

I knew he was teasing by the way his eyes were dancing.

“Just you wait and see,” I threatened.

His eyes danced more, showing he clearly didn’t believe me then I watched them sober.

“It’s over, baby,” he whispered.

I glared at him some more then I looked at the door. Then I sighed and relaxed in his arms.

“Yeah,” I whispered back.

“You love me?” he asked softly and my eyes went to his.

“Yes,” I replied then shared, “though, I will state, I do so despite you sometimes being a jerk.”

His grin came back. “I can live with that.”

While he was speaking, I heard the door open and I looked that way to see Frank, in uniform, walk in.

One look at him and I felt my body get tight again at the same time I knew Tate had seen Frank because I felt his body do the same.

“Christ almighty,” Tate muttered and looked down at me. “Fall break, you and Jonas and me are goin’ to a beach.”

I wanted to go to a beach with Jonas and Tate and I wanted to share that fact with Tate but I couldn’t tear my eyes off Frank who was approaching us.

“Tate –” I whispered.

“In Australia,” Tate went on.

“Tate –”

“We might not come back,” Tate concluded.

“Tate, buddy, gotta talk to you, private, in the office,” Frank said and I gave Tate a squeeze.

“You got the bar?” Tate asked and I looked up to see he was addressing me.

I started to answer but Frank spoke.

“Lauren should come with.”

My arms gave Tate another squeeze, this was automatic as my eyes shot to Frank.

Frank didn’t meet my eyes, he looked at Jim-Billy. “Billy, do me a favor, call Krystal in, yeah?”

“Oh my God,” I whispered because something wasn’t right and whatever that something was, it really wasn’t right.

“Frank, what –?” Tate started.

“Do it,” Frank ordered, Jim-Billy nodded and Nadine started digging in her purse.

“I got a phone, Jim-Billy, I got her number,” Nadine said quietly.

Frank wasted no time, he moved to the hall and Tate’s arm dropped from my shoulders but his hand curled tight around mine and we followed. Frank stopped at the office door and waited. Tate dug his keys out of his pocket and opened the door, holding it for me to precede him. I switched on the lights before I took four steps in and turned. Tate was at my side in a second. Frank closed the door and turned to us.

“I don’t even know…” Frank started then trailed off.

“Just f**kin’ say it,” Tate growled and Frank’s eyes latched on Tate’s.

“May-December murderer, Tate, buddy, f**k…” Frank yanked his fingers through his hair before his next, heinous words came out. “Buddy, he got Neeta.”

My body jerked like I’d suffered a blow and, at that moment, I could swear that it had when the pain sliced through my innards.

But Tate didn’t move, not a muscle.

“Come again?” he whispered.

Frank’s eyes came to me then went straight back to Tate and he said gently, “She’s dead, buddy.”

“Oh my God,” I whispered, my stomach tightening, my heart constricting, my head filling so full of thoughts about Tate, Jonas, Pop, Wood, Stella, even Neeta and Blake, my head so full, it instantly began to pound.

Frank took a step forward, saying, “Tate –”

Tate lifted a hand, palm toward Frank, and Frank stopped moving.

“Buddy –” Frank muttered.

“Does Pop know?” Tate asked.

“Only you,” Frank answered.

“Fuck,” Tate whispered, his voice tortured.

I turned to him and started to put my hands on him. “Baby –”

“Fuck!” he roared and walked passed me, my hands glancing off his body as he did and he picked up the desk lamp and tossed it, side armed, it flew across the room and crashed against the wall.

I rushed to him when he swept up the laptop Krys had bought after I presented my stock spreadsheet to her and he barely missed me when that followed the lamp, flying to pieces after it hurtled across the room and smashed against the wall.

I put my hands on him, one at his abs, the fingers of the other one curling around his wrist as I whispered urgently, “Tate, honey, stop.”

Surprisingly he stopped, looked down at me and I winced when the burning power of emotion coming out of his eyes seared right through me.

“Baby,” I breathed the only thing my brain could think to say.

Then his arms came around me, one at my neck, one at my waist and he pulled me to him so violently, my head snapped back and my body slammed into his. He shoved his face in my neck, I slid my arms around him and held on.

“Hold on,” I urged.

“Fuck,” he whispered into my neck and his arms got tighter.

“Hold on, baby,” I whispered back as my arms got tighter around him and the tears welled over, spilling down my cheeks.

“Jonas,” he whispered.

“I know,” I said quickly.

“Fuck,” Tate repeated.

“Hold on,” I begged.

He held on and I held him while he was doing it.

After awhile, I pulled in breath and advised using the word, “Band-aid.”

His head came up and he looked down at me, his eyes carrying anguish.