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would never let him go to work alone again. He could already hear the southern man losing his drawl.
    The sound of sirens filled the air.
    A PRIDEFUL MATE
    Amber Kell
    30
    Within minutes the fire department was putting out the burning husk of his car and a couple of cop cars arrived to divert traffic and investigate the scene.
    “Are you the owner of that truck?” An officer in a blue uniform approached.
    “Yes.”
    “Baby, are you all right?” Kevin rushed through the crowd to wrap a supportive arm around Payce.
    “My truck…” Payce pointed to the now foam covered carcass that was his vehicle.
    “What happened?”
    “That’s what we’re trying to figure out,” the cop pointed out. A frown marred his forehead as he looked at the pair of men. “I’m Officer Young, could you tell me how this happened?”
    “I-I just pressed my alarm button and it exploded.”
    “So we’re talking about a bomb of some sort,” the cop said.
    “Apparently,” Kevin said. “My m-boyfriend is in shock. I need to get him home. He can come in tomorrow and talk to you. He doesn’t know any more than that he pressed his alarm.”
    As Kevin put a protective arm around him, Payce resisted the urge to burrow into his mate’s arms.
    The cop nodded and handed over his card. “Give me a call. I’m on duty all day tomorrow.”
    “Thank you,” Payce said over his shoulder, because Kevin was already moving them towards a battered truck.
    He didn’t say anything as he was stuffed in the truck and buckled in like he was a two-year-old. Payce decided he liked being taken care of. None of his boyfriends before were the nurturing type. Despite his dominant nature, Kevin was extremely nurturing. Payce wondered if it was because he was used to being around his kids.
    “We’ll get you home and pack you a bag.”
    “What do I need a bag for?”
    “Because we’re getting you the hell out of town.”
    “I have to talk to that cop tomorrow. I want this bastard caught.”
    “Have there been any other things happening?” A PRIDEFUL MATE
    Amber Kell
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    Payce turned to look at his mate. “Nothing I thought was on purpose. My foreman hit me with a piece of wood the other day and an iron beam fell and knocked my shoulder out of joint two weeks ago.”
    Now that he was thinking about it, there had been a series of accidents. Accidents that he’d put out of his mind once they were over, because he always healed.
    “Someone is trying to kill me.” The words left his mouth as soon as the realisation set in. He regretted them as soon as he saw the expression of horror on his mate’s face.
    Kevin’s mouth tightened and Payce could see his mate’s hands turn white on the steering wheel. “Who do you think it is?”
    “My foreman’s the one who hit me with the wood.” Kevin shrugged. “That doesn’t necessarily make him the bad guy. That could’ve been an accident.”
    “Maybe, but the guy has always given me the creeps.” It didn’t take long to get to Payce’s place. He let Kevin help him out of the truck and into his apartment.
    “Where’s your suitcase?”
    “Hall closet.”
    “Go collect your clothes.”
    The southern lion’s accent was completely missing.
    Shit.
    Kevin was pissed. Looking at his mate’s face he saw the sparkly, laughing gaze was gone, in its place were eyes of solid gold, hard, flat and dangerous. A predator peered out at him. Kevin’s lion was close to the surface, roaring to get out and protect his own.
    “I-I’ll get my stuff.”
    Familiar with his own cat, Payce didn’t run down the hall. He walked slowly, carefully and as casually as possible. The first rule in dealing with a predator was to not to make yourself prey.
    Gathering a collection of shirts, pants and shorts, Payce grabbed some extra socks and his favourite pair of shoes.
    “Here’s your suitcase, darlin’.”
    Payce had never felt so relieved to hear a southern drawl in his life.
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    Amber Kell
    32
    “Thanks.” He