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Misty looked toward the house, wishing she had a good answer that wouldn’t make her sound as pathetic as she felt. “Can we just not do this?”

“No. We are doing this.” Vin picked up the bag and guitar he’d set down when she stopped. “Come inside and talk to me. If you still want to leave afterward, I’ll take you wherever you want to go.”

That had her looking at him. “You will?”

“Yeah.”

Misty didn’t know whether to believe him or not, but she finally nodded and followed him inside. Vin set her things near the stairs as she stood in the middle of the room feeling completely out of place. Earlier she’d pictured herself staying here, taking a hot shower and maybe finally sleeping somewhere she didn’t have to worry about the roof leaking on her head. Now she couldn’t stop thinking about how stupid she’d been to let herself hope for any of it.

“Talk to me.” Vin stood across from her, waiting.

Misty wrapped her arms around herself. “What do you want me to say?”

“The truth would be a good place to start.”

“The truth?” A humorless laugh escaped her. “The truth is my stepbrother traded me to settle a debt and conveniently forgot to mention I had to mate with some Crow to actually pay it off. The truth is everyone in this town is going to know about it because nothing stays private in a place this damn small. And anyone stupid enough to associate with me is going to get dragged right into the middle of it. It’s Crow business and most of the Crows are going to hate me for leaving the Murder. Not because they ever knew me or liked me, but you don’t leave the Murder. And I’m sure Griffin and the others will have all kinds of things to stay about me...true or not. I’ve been through this before.”

Vin’s expression hardened, but Misty continued before he could say anything. “Billie Ann has a business to run. She doesn’t need trouble because she hired me. Bruce is already calling in Zelda and sticking his furry ass into something that isn’t his problem. And you beat the shit out of six Crows because of me.”

“I beat the shit out of six Crows because they deserved it.” Vin pointed out.

“That’s not the point, Vin.” Misty shook her head. “I don’t want any of you paying for my problems. People are going to look at me differently now, and I can deal with that. What I can’t deal with is them looking at the people I care about differently because of me.”

Vin stared at her for a second. “People you care about?”

“Don’t.” Misty looked away, knowing exactly what he was getting at. “You know I care about you.”

“Do I?”

Her gaze snapped back to his. “Seriously?”

“Yeah, seriously.” Vin moved closer. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you’re making decisions for everybody else and then running before any of us get a say.”

That hit harder than she wanted it to. Mostly because he was right, but admitting that didn’t change how she felt. “Maybe because I’m the problem!” Misty threw her hands up, the emotions she’d been holding back finally breaking loose. “Every Murder I’ve belonged to has ended the same damn way. I don’t fit. I don’t follow their rules. I piss people off. Maybe it isn’t them. Maybe it’s me.”

“Or maybe their rules are fucking stupid.” Vin cocked his eyebrow as he stared at her.

Despite herself, Misty almost smiled, but it disappeared just as quickly. “You don’t understand. I’m not good for you, Vin. I’m not good for any of you.”

His expression changed. “Where the hell did you get that idea?”

“Look at me.” She pointed toward the bag sitting near the stairs. “Everything I own fits in that bag and a guitar case. I have no home, barely any money and apparently a talent for bringing trouble wherever I go. You can do better than me.”

Vin stared at her for so long Misty wanted to crawl out of her own skin. When he finally moved, he stopped directly in front of her. “You finished?”

“Probably not.”

“Too bad, because now it’s my turn.” His eyes held hers, and there was something in them that made her heart begin pounding. “You’re my Mate.”

Misty froze. For a moment, she honestly thought she’d heard him wrong. “What?”

“You’re my Mate.” Vin ran a hand through his hair, giving a short shake of his head. “My Jaguar knew it before I did. Hell, the bastard has probably known since the first time I saw you. I just took longer to figure out why I couldn’t stay the fuck away from you.”

“No.” Misty backed away, shaking her head. “Vin, no.”

“Yes.” Vin followed her. “Misty, yes.”

“You’re wrong,” she whispered, still shaking her head until the door stopped her from moving any farther. “You deserve better.”