Page 137 of Mark & Don't Tell

“Like hell, you will. If that little twat wants to leave my house, he can leave everything I bought for him,” Mom growls.

“I paid for half of it,” I argue.

She shakes her head. “Try and take it, Daria. I’ll have the cops here to haul your ass away.”

“Fuck. I’m out of here. You’re not off the hook, Mallory.” The guy skirts around us, looking at the floor as he passes Kai.

Mallory has the phone in her hand, dialing 9-1-1.

A laugh bubbles in my chest. “Are you delusional? You wanted to sell your son. They’ll lock you up before they take me away!”

She scowls and hangs up the phone, dropping her hands onto her hips. “You’re not taking anything from this house. If you want that ungrateful little shit so much, you can have him, but you’re not taking my things.”

I paid for most of his clothes, but Kai is tugging me toward the door, quietly urging me to let it go for now, and as much as I want to stay and have it out with her, as soon as Kai says Marco needs me, I’m done.

There’s nothing left to fight for. No love. No affection. My mom—no, this woman—has nothing to offer me. And I’m officially done giving her access to me. Marco is safe. I’ll do whatever I can to keep him from coming back to her.

“Yeah, that’s right. Run away like a scared little bitch,” she screams, but I block her out as my focus zeroes in on the shadowy figure in the back seat of Kai’s car.

My heart threatens to break all over again as I climb into the car, and he collapses against me, sobbing and trembling.

“I was so scared,” my little brother rasps, clinging to me.

“I’ve got you.” I hold him tighter and blink rapidly to keep my own tears at bay.

Kai gets into the driver’s seat, glancing back and frowning. He glares at Mom’s house before turning on the car to take us home.

Home.

The pack wanted me to move in, but will they accept Marco too?

Forty-Seven

DARIA

Thanks to a quick text from Kai on the way home, Vic and Lincoln have a spare room ready by the time we arrive. Marco is still upset, so I take him into the room without pausing for introductions. When I close the door, he releases a harsh exhale.

“Who are these guys?” His muscles are stiff, trepidation filling his gaze as he studies the room.

No sense in lying to him. He’ll figure it out one way or the other. “They’re my scent matches.”

Marco’s red-rimmed eyes widen, and he brushes tears from his cheeks, sniffing hard. “Really?”

“Uh, yeah.” I nod and tuck my lip between my teeth. “We work together, so my marks are covered, but we’ve bonded. We’re a pack.”

It’s so nice to say that out loud.

“That’s great, Daria,” he says with a shaky smile. Shock from what happened still trembles through his form. “That’s really great.”

“I’m happy,” I confess, features softening as I take him in. Marco is taller than me, but he still has that gawky teenager build, still yet to fill out and bulk up. He’s weak in comparison to adults. Perfect to take advantage of. “Are you okay?” My throat constricts on the last word.

Marco turns away. “I’m fine. It’s not a big deal.” But his words are punctuated by a hard sniff as his shoulders start to shake with a repressed sob.

“Oh, honey.” I hug him and he cries again. All I can do is hold him, tell him he deserves the world. Tell him he’s safe. And I hope he’ll believe me. I hope I can keep the promises I’m making. I hope the pack will forgive me for bursting our little bubble of happiness with the damage from my family.

Eventually, Marco falls asleep, exhausted from crying and the adrenaline. I smooth my hand over his hair and drop a kiss on his head before carefully slipping out of the room.

The guys are waiting for me in the kitchen, a soft conversation flowing between them, looks ranging from pissed to full of rage. My shoulders try to slump. I force them back and clear my throat, padding into the room. All eyes fall on me.

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