Page 25 of Bruiser's Reckoning

“Yeah, baby, brace for what’s to come your way,” he says, that smirk tilting up into a panty-melting grin. “Now, stop trying to get me to fuck you by looking fuckable and listen, ‘cause what I’m gonna tell you is going to be unpleasant.”

Licking my lips, I nod. “Okay, shoot. Let me have it.” It has to be important, otherwise, he wouldn’t be turning down a chance to fuck me silly.

I take in the grim expression on Bruiser’s face and the way his body tenses. Not in the way I like either. Yeah, whatever it is, it’s not only important but also going to be ugly.

“Go ahead and get it out, Bruiser,” I murmur, dreading what he may say.

Bruiser sits back down and takes one of my hands in his. “Cy was doing some digging. Trying to figure shit out.”

“Okay . . .” I draw out the word and lick my lips. “Did he find something?”

“Yeah, you can say he found something.” He grunts, lips thinning in a grimace. “But I’ve got to ask you something ‘cause it’s not sitting right with me. The way you spoke about her and The Spa . . .”

Now, it’s my turn to tense. “What about my mom?”

“Did you know that she’s not your biological mother?” he asks me, eyes boring into mine.

Sucking in a breath, I nod slowly and answer. “Not because she told me or anything like that. Angie and I did a DNA test to find out ancestry. Simon had told me about the family having done one. I didn’t know it until then, but it doesn’t surprise me. I’ve kept it to myself. I mean, regardless of blood relations, she’s the woman who raised me.”

“Right,” he says, his jaw visibly ticking. “You didn’t know this beforehand?”

“No.”

“Then this may hurt you, what I’m about to tell you,” he mutters more to himself than me.

“Whatever it is, just say it, Bruiser. I’m a big girl and can take it,” I snap, getting frustrated by the minute.

Bruiser reaches out, cups the side of my face, and strokes my cheek. “Remember me telling you the other day I’ve got your back? This is me doing just that. Protecting you. Not dropping a bomb on you that could hurt you more than you’ve been hurt in the past.”

My stomach flutters and tightens. I really like that he’d say something so sweet to me. No one has ever said anything so sweet to me in my life. “I appreciate it, but just rip the Band-Aid and tell me everything.”

Nodding, Bruiser continues to stroke my cheek and rips the Band-Aid right off. “Cy found an email between her and Johnathan Bryant, the man who I saw your brother meet. In the email, she pretty much told him to kill your brother, and he could have you.”

Whoa.

I didn’t see that coming.

She loves Simon, and yet she’d kill him? That doesn’t make sense unless her show of affection for Simon was just a mask to the rest of the world.

“What else is there?” I ask, knowing deep down he’s not done yet.

A moment passes in silence before he breaks it. “During church, we’ve all agreed Simon is to be sent to a safe house to keep him out of the line of fire. Unfortunately, though, we can’t find where Johnathan is holding himself up. However, we did find out he’s associated with a group that calls themselves the Supreme Masters, but we also know the organization was crippled majorly when one of the head honchos was killed. Those are details I won’t share. It’s not something you need to know.”

“Trust me, I don’t want to know how somebody was killed.” I shudder at the thought. He probably deserved it. I don’t know what the Supreme Masters organization is, but the way Bruiser speaks of it, like it leaves a bad taste in his mouth, it has to be bad.

“This bastard is one sick fucker, though. He doesn’t want just you. He wants Willow and Honor. I’m willing to put money on it if he could take CJ, Rebel, and Avery, he’d snatch them up too. Make it a full collection,” Bruiser mutters, shaking his head.

Full collection.

Why does that sound familiar?

“We need to keep you safe. Keep the other ol’ ladies safe.”

“I’m not an ol’ lady,” I blurt, not meaning too.

“Princess.” The warning in his voice is the only thing I get before he’s over me once again, me going to my back. He cages me in and gets in my face, nose pressing to my nose. “Don’t try to argue with me on this, ‘cause I’ll tell you now, you won’t win. When it comes to you and me, you’re damn well mine. My woman. My ol’ lady. Fuckin’ mine.”

He slams his mouth to mine, and all other thoughts go out of my mind.

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