Page 22 of Bear

I smiled up at him. “My last name’s Garrison.”

“Yeah. Crush found it when he went digging. Different last name than your father.” They had gone digging. I’d never mentioned my father’s name.

“I’m not his biological daughter. I was two when he and my mother married.”

“You call him your father. Not stepfather. Yet he didn’t give you his name?”

I shrugged. “My family is complicated. He insisted I call him Father. Not by his first name or indicate in any way I was a stepdaughter.”

“Then why not give you his name? Or adopt you?”

“That’s something you’d have to ask him. Honestly, I think it kept a distance between us. He was good to me growing up, but the second my mother died, everything changed.”

“What happened to your mother?” He’d stopped getting ready to leave and moved closer to me, reaching out to brush a stray curl out of my eyes.

“Honestly? I don’t know. I came home from boarding school for summer break, and my father told me she’d died. I had questions but he just said it wasn’t important. All that mattered was that she’d passed away, and I needed to accept it and move on.”

Bear’s eyes widened. “Accept it and move on?”

“Yeah. I was thirteen and more than a little terrified of him. Always had been. So I didn’t question him any further. My mother and I were never really close or anything. I was probably closer to the nannies and teachers at my school than I was her. But it still hurt.”

“Come here, baby.” He pulled me into his arms. “I’m sure it hurt.” He rested his chin on my head, his arms wrapped solidly around me.

I took a breath. “I never want my children to feel the way I felt, Bear. I want them to know they’re loved by both their parents.”

“That’s something you never have to worry about. I never thought I’d have kids, but when you’re ready we’ll have as many as you want. And I will make sure with every breath I take they know they’re loved.”

I snuggled against his chest for several seconds before looking up at him. “I need to do this, Bear. My father might not be with them, but I’m betting they know more about my life than I do. If they’re blackmailing my father, then I know they do.”

“Let me take care of this, then we’ll confront your father together.”

“Bear…”

“No, Liv. This guy is dangerous.” He gripped my shoulders and leaned down to make his point. “My brothers and me would protect you with our lives, but I’d rather not take the chance and put you at risk in the first place. I won’t lose you just when I found you.”

“You won’t lose me. I’ll do exactly what you say without question, but I want to be there. I want them to know they don’t intimidate me. Not anymore.”

“They don’t matter, Liv. Their opinions don’t mean shit. You’re not doin’ their biddin’ no more. I’ll make that clear. Whatever they decide to do with that information doesn’t matter.”

“No. It’s my father who’ll pay. I’m good with that. But Mr. Black is the man who sent me here. I think he saw it as a one-way trip, but that the ends justified the means.”

“He sent you here… to die? And you went?”

I shrugged. “Everything in my life has always been about what my dad wanted. Most of the friends I made in school had families that were the same way. I guess I knew it wasn’t right, but I went along with it because he’s all I have left.”

“No, baby. Not anymore. You’ve got me. Once you get settled in, you’ll have everyone here too. Apple already thinks the world of you, and you haven’t known her much longer than me.”

I smiled. “Apple is a wonderful person. I need to apologize to her for using what she gave me in trust against the club.”

“You didn’t. You did what you were supposed to do. You came to us, and we’ll keep you safe.”

Bear’s assurance wrapped around me like a blanket, his embrace solid and unyielding. The club behind him was a fortress, a brotherhood that didn’t just offer protection -- they provided a sense of belonging that I had never known in my life of privilege and isolation. They’d all given me a small taste of that inclusiveness and I wanted more. I wanted it all.

“I know you mean well, Bear,” I whispered, pressing my face against the warm leather of his cut. “But this isn’t just about safety. It’s about facing my past, ripping out its roots so it doesn’t poison my future.”

Bear pulled back slightly, his eyes scanning mine with a mix of frustration and admiration. “You’re one tough little pixie, aren’t you?” He brushed a gentle thumb over my bottom lip before dipping his head to kiss me in a soft, lingering kiss. Then, with a sigh, he pressed his forehead to mine. “You have to do exactly what I tell you, or I’ll have a prospect cart your ass away and keep you at a distance until this is finished.”

I smiled up at him. “Thank you.”

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