Lawe's Justice - Lora Leigh [50]
“Bullshit.” Diane was in her face, nose to nose, leaning over Amber and glaring in her sister’s eyes, though she kept her tone soft, gentle, without a hint of anger or emotion that would awaken Amber. “It’s that easy. You find David, you ask him what the fuck his problem is. You get to the bottom of it, or I swear to God I will.”
Rachel’s eyes widened at her sister’s tone. “You’re serious.”
“Why so surprised, Rachel?” Diane asked between clenched teeth. “I protected you when you were little. I fought for you. Do you think there’s a chance in hell I’d not do the same for your baby? My niece?” Diane reached out, touched the tears on her sister’s face, wanting to cry herself. “Rachel, you’re my sister. We’ve been through hell together, and I’d walk through hell for my niece. Don’t you realize that?”
Rachel shook her head and Diane realized her sister feared the same things now that she had feared as a child. That her actions would hurt someone else she loved or somehow offend someone she respected.
“Jonas is a big boy and David’s parents are reasonable adults,” Diane told her sister gently. “Your mate is as alpha as his leader is. Does he even know what’s going on?”
“Not fully,” Rachel answered.
“Fix it, Rachel,” Diane ordered as she leaned close and hugged her gently. “Fix it for Amber, or I’ll do it for you.”
Diane moved from the bed and headed for the window she’d used as an entrance.
“You’re leaving, aren’t you? To find the Roberts girl,” Rachel whispered, a vein of fear filling her voice. “Alone.”
Diane turned back slowly. “You have Jonas,” she stated firmly, her voice low. “Your loyalty is to Jonas and his causes, and that’s how it should be.” She forestalled her sister’s protest with a firm look and a quick raise of her hand. “I have my own battles to fight, Rachel. There are things I have to do and I can’t do that if I’m shackled to your side, or locked inside Sanctuary.”
“I don’t want you to risk your life for us,” Rachel cried suddenly, the softness of her voice made hoarse by her tears. “That’s what you’re doing, Diane, and I can’t bear it. I’d die inside if anything happened to you because of us, because you feel you have to protect us.”
Diane shook her head. “That’s not what I’m doing, Rachel.”
“It is.” She heard her sister moving from the bed. “You’re still chasing information on Brandenmore, aren’t you? You’re still trying to save Amber.” Those tears were thicker in her voice now. “Trading your life for hers. That’s why you won’t accept Lawe—”
“No.” Diane turned quickly, furiously. “I’m not his pet, Rachel. I’m not a child he can lock in a room for my own safety. I fight.” It burned in her gut, it flamed through her mind. “I do what I need to because that’s who I am. That’s what I am. And he wants to take it from me.”
That hurt. It broke her heart. It tore at something she wasn’t even certain she recognized. It tore at her sense of justice and her sense of self.
“He wants you to be here for us,” Rachel whispered, her voice hesitant and concerned.
“Even if I’ll die confined, Rachel?” she asked painfully. “You always dreamed of a family, of a place to settle down and have babies. Jonas and Amber, they are your dream. This was what you always wanted.” Moving to her sister she caught Rachel’s hands and held them firmly, staring into her eyes, desperate to make her understand. “What about my dream? Did you ever ask yourself what my dream was or if I had the right to it?”
“You do it because of Mom and Dad and how they were killed. Uncle Colt convinced you—” Rachel cried. “That is why you fight.”
Diane shook her head again. “No. I fight because that’s my dream, Rachel. I don’t want a jailer or a protector. I want a partner. I want someone who will let me fight when I need to fight and let me rest when I need to rest. I don’t want to be told when I need to do either one because, trust me, I know what I need and I know when I need it. And what I don’t need is