Page 86 of Whatever It Takes

“You have a cage under your bed?” I ask, examining the giant round-cut solitaire now on my finger.

“Yes, but I opted to go a more traditional route to woo you.” Easton stands, squeezing my hips. “I want you to see that I respect you as my partner. Which is it? Torture or an easy death?”

My heart races.

Fuck, it would feel good to see Titus suffer, but he’s a bloody, gruesome mess that I don’t want to deal with.

I also don’t want him anywhere near our house. It feels like there’s a good chance that he would find a way to taint my memories of it.

My eyes fly up to Easton’s. “Kill him.”

Easton chuckles. “Yes, ma’am.”

Calder pulls me to him once more, and a silenced gunshot fills the air at the exact same time Titus stops wailing.

I honestly didn’t think I’d survive Avan Barrett, but not only did I outlive him, I survived myfatherandbrother. Sure, I had help to make that happen, but it still feels like a monumental achievement.

Those evil men got what they deserved, and the world is a little safer because of it. I’ve got three capable husbands, and I intend to put them to work helping to ensure other women are looked after too.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Calder

We were wrong when we thought what Briar experienced in Virginia was her heat. The entire trip from Boston to Vermont consists of us taking turns helping keep her fever down. Thankfully we aren’t arrested for indecent exposure. That would be a hell of a thing to get popped for when we successfully wiped out Titus Manzo and his inner circle.

It was a blessing Easton let the teams manage the cleanup after our marriage announcement massacre. That way, we didn’t have to stick around.

I’m still not sure Briar understands it, but Easton coordinated that whole experience in an attempt to help her erase any negative feelings she might have toward weddings.

Really, it only makes sense in Easton logic, so the rest of the world would miss it. I did until he explained it while huffing, like I should have known all along.

Making it to Burlington is a relief, though Easton makes us ride in the back of a delivery truck for the last ten minutes of our trip. It’s smart and ridiculous all rolled into one. The truck will also take away the team that originally brought the SUV to Vermont, so that’s convenient. It’ll drop them off at the car they’ll be taking to wherever they’re headed next.

Briar takes over the pack bedroom as soon as we make it back. Well, kinda the bedroom, but it’s mostly the nest. It’s several days of dirty sex before the post-heat cramps start.

It sucks that Briar doesn’t feel well, but it’s a nice assurance. When an omega conceives during a heat, menstruation doesn’t come.

We’re all in agreement that children aren’t in the cards for us, and I even searched doctors to get the ball rolling. It makes more sense for us to have vasectomies than it does for Briar to have a major abdominal surgery, but she’s going to keep her IUD until we get our post-op sample test back to ensure we don’t have any issues.

We still have to ride out the investigation of Jameson’s disappearance, and my computer alerted me this morning that his mother reported him missing.

The house is so big that it has intercoms that chime, notifying every device when the doorbell rings.

Briar lies on Keir’s chest on the pack bed, and her adorable face perks up. “That must be my chocolate!”

I snort and bend closer, giving her a quick kiss. “I’ll go tackle the delivery driver for your goodies.”

“You’re the best,” she says, patting my chest and giving me one last peck before she rests her head against Keir’s shoulder.

He stares down at her with proverbial hearts in his eyes, and it’s pretty clear he’s as head over dick in love with her as I am.

Shoving myself off the bed, I make my way to the hallway and head toward the stairs.

I need to find a way to tell Briar that I love her. It’s been on the tip of my tongue for the last few days, and knowing my luck, it’ll slip out at an inopportune time if I don’t make a point of telling her in a romantic way.

Being able to feel her thoughts and emotions in the bond makes everything more intense. It might be quick, but I’ve had a killer crush on her since before she and Jameson even broke up. Also, isn’t that the entire goal of being bonded andmarried?

Love is the end goal, right?

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