Page 97 of Brutal Savage

“You’re funny.” He hikes a brow. “I met her when I was doing a deal at a hotel and saw how badly she was being treated. So I offered her a job, and she took it. That was five years ago.”

“Does she have family?”

He shakes his head. “Her only son died in the Army, and her husband passed away years before.”

“That’s so sad,” I whisper.

“We’re her family now.”

“I can see that.”

Brody continues to stare at us with bulging eyes, like he really can’t believe this. I don’t blame him, because neither can I.

“This must be confusing for you,” I tell him. “But I promise, I’m still going to be your teacher. I’ll just be living here.”

“Right,” Tynan throws in. “I’m sure you’ll like having Ms.—” He chuckles. “I mean Mrs. Quinn all to yourself after school.”

“But…” I turn toward him and narrow my eyes before looking back at poor—probably confused—Brody. “I’ll still be Ms. Hill at school.”

“For now,” he says, and I swear I’m about to take a fork to his eye.

“Do you have any questions?” I ask Brody.

He shakes his head.

“Great. Let’s all eat now,” Tynan adds.

I force myself to pop some bacon into my mouth, and as soon as it hits my tongue, I groan slightly. I must admit this is the best piece of bacon I have ever tasted.

“Good, I know. Ruby is the best cook around.” He takes a sip of his coffee before he reaches into his pants pocket. “I almost forgot to give you this before I go.”

He hands me a credit card.

I stare blankly at it.

“It’s a credit card. Not a bomb.”

“Why are you giving it to me?”

“To use?”

“You already set up that account for me. I don’t want any more of your money, Tynan.” I peek at a curious Brody before I continue with a whisper. “I appreciate the flowers, the clothes, and the cards. But you can’t just buy me with money. It’s not gonna work. I’m not that woman.”

Am I being ungrateful?

He forced you to marry him! Of course you’re not!

He groans. “For fuck’s sake, Elara. I’m trying, okay? I want you to be happy. Just because I told you I won’t love you doesn’t mean I don’t want to take care of you, and this is just one way I can do that.” He roughs a hand through his hair. “Just take the damn card. That money I set up in your account is for you to save.”

He places it in front of me. “There’s no limit on it. Unless you spend over five hundred in one day, my bank doesn’t even call me, so buy whatever you want for you, your grandparents. Whatever you need.”

“Five hundred dollars? Why would I need to spend that much?”

He’s already giving me enough to cover my grandfather’s housing costs. And I can pay for Gran’s place easily now too. I don’t need his credit card.

He laughs. “Five hundred thousand, babe.”

My eyes almost fall out. “Uh, I’m pretty sure I’ll never need to spend that much. Ever.”

---