Read Online Dare To Love Series: Icy Dare (Kindle Worlds Novella) by Aliyah Burke - Free Book Online

Her glares were soft as a porcupine, but he ignored all of it, for he was too busy convincing himself she would be better off away from the drunk he was.
    Nice houses and he shook his head. This was the life for some, not him. He just needed to get back to Seattle, recover his bag, and get back to his quiet world. He’d done well staying away from the drink, other than the beer in the bar she’d worked at, but the urge was riding him hard. The urge to drink and forget. To lose the memories and the pain. To have it all be nothing but a blur.
    PTSD, the doctors said. Yes, he wasn’t an idiot—he knew that. He also knew that alcohol worked just fine in keeping those memories at bay. A lot cheaper than therapy and paying for medication. Tasted better, too.
    He pulled up a drive and parked the vehicle behind a shiny white Audi. Slanting his gaze to his passenger, he sighed when she merely opened the door and stepped free of the car’s interior. He killed the engine and got out. Together, they headed up to the front door.
    The back of Dorian’s neck prickled, and he scoped the area. Nothing he could see, but the Ranger in him found a good deal of hiding places in the area where a tango could be hiding. He shook his head. They weren’t tangos; they would be considered perps, now. He was no longer in a war zone—technically.
    They climbed the brick steps, and he reached out and pressed the doorbell. Tilting his head to Sakharre, he hated the look of resignation on her face. The moment the handle began turning, her face was wiped clean of any and all emotion. Leaving the blank slate he’d first seen on her in the bar.
    A woman in a maid’s uniform stood there. “Yes?”
    “We’re here to see Louis,” he replied.
    “Who may I say is calling?” She tucked some dyed blonde hair behind her ear from where it had escaped the bun.
    “His sister,” Sakharre said.
    “One moment, please.” The door closed, and they were alone, again. Each with their own thoughts.
    Dorian wanted to reassure her things would be fine. He had no doubt that Tyler’s men would keep her safe. You know you should stay with her , his conscience reprimanded him. No, this wasn’t what he did. Tyler’s men were professional at this.
    “I’m not a solider, anymore,” he said, turning her toward him. “You understand that, right? I don’t protect people, anymore.”
    Pain flashed before it was masked by an icy sheen. “No one asked you to. In fact, why don’t you leave now so you can get back to whatever is so damn important for you to do?”
    Damn it, he wanted to explain it to her. The words wouldn’t come. Besides, if she were upset with him, perhaps it would be easier on him to leave her.
    “Mr. Dare’s men will be by soon. We just got here sooner than expected.”
    She dismissed him with a glance. “Makes no difference to me.”
    The door opened, and they were face to face with a large man. Damn, he’s big on television but bigger in person. She’d not been lying when she said he was over three hundred pounds. He’d put the man between three-twenty to three-forty. It wasn’t fat with him, but solid muscle. Wouldn’t want that on the other side of the ball coming after me.
    His expression was serious until he laid his eyes on Sakharre. He smiled and looked like a little boy.
    “Sakharre!” he boomed. “I was so worried about you.” He picked her up like a doll and hugged her.
    “Louis,” she said, voice muffled by his size. “Put me down, please.”
    Dorian could see the reluctance from Louis as he did as she’d requested. She tugged on her shirt hem once her feet had been returned to the ground. Louis looked at Dorian and stuck out his hand.
    “Louis Reiss. Thank you so much for finding her and bringing her home. You’ll see, Sakharre, all will be better, now. Mr. Dare has his brother on it. That guy won’t be able to breathe in your direction. Please come in. Mr. West, surely I can get you something to eat and drink. In