Page 79 of The Savage Outlaw

“Oh…”

“The baby is Darrow’s,” Priest said.

“Whoa.”

“Yeah. It’s a little fucked up. I’m still playing catch-up on some of this stuff. I was in a fucking coma when all this went down. Fitz put me in that coma, doll.”

Eden turned right around. Priest touched the washcloth to her chest and moved it down to her breasts. The sensation of the rough washcloth, the soft soap and the presence of Priest made her nipples knot up tighter than ever.

“He attacked you?” Eden asked.

“We caught the fucker and had him held,” Priest said. “He was desperate and slippery. He managed to get himself free and I had my back turned for a second. He smashed me in the back of the head and left me for dead. That’s why all that swelling happened and the coma and everything. I still feel pain. Migraines. I see white spots.”

“Priest. Why didn’t you tell me? We can find someone to help with that. You’re supposed to report any symptoms!”

Priest slid the washcloth up to Eden’s throat and gently gripped. “Are you yelling at me, doll?”

“Yes,” Eden said. “I’m yelling because I love you. Because head injuries are no joke. Brain injuries are serious.”

Priest moved the washcloth to the back of Eden’s neck.

“There’s a process when someone turns on their club. It requires a vote. And then it goes from there. I told you to leave so you wouldn’t see me like this.”

“Covered in blood?”

“Yes.”

“I want to see it all, Priest. I want to know what I’m allowed to know.”

“You might be the one with the head damage then, doll.”

“What did you do to him?”

Priest shook his head. “You’ll never know. Just know it’s not good. You do not turn your back on your club. Wearing that leather cut means something. You took a fucking oath and you abide by that oath.”

“I understand that.”

“Fitz wanted something else and he paid the price for it.”

“And Mara is okay?”

“Yeah. The marriage wasn’t exactly wanted. That’s a whole other story. I told you long before, it’s tricky out there in the clubhouse. There are certain rules. You have to be careful if you’re not wearing the right ink.”

“So you’re telling me someone can just, what,claimme? Take me? Force me to marry them?”

Priest pulled Eden close against his body, looked down at her and curled his lip.

“Anyone who even looks at you runs the risk of getting their eyes gouged out by me,” Priest growled. “And if someone touches you? I’ll cut their fucking hands off. You are mine. Nobody goes near you. Ever.”

“What about the…”

“What, doll?”

Eden took a deep breath. “What about the ink thing?”

Priest stared for a few seconds. Long, quiet seconds. Priest dropped the washcloth and cupped Eden’s face.

“You’re fucking around with forever now, doll,” Priest growled.

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