Page 45 of Tempest

Tempest’s voice was steady. “Yes, sir. I am.”

Dad’s eyes met mine, a storm of emotions swirling in their depths. “And you, baby girl? This is what you want?”

I swallowed hard. “More than anything, Dad.”

Probably not the time to tell him I could be pregnant, right? I mean, sure… It wasn’t likely, but I knew a lot of the women around here got pregnant within the first few months of being with their men. At times, I’d heard the ladies joking there must be something in the water at the compound.

He let out another long breath. “Fuck.” He turned back to Tempest, his voice gruff. “You hurt her, I’ll end you. Slowly.”

Tempest nodded once. “Understood.”

I felt lightheaded, hardly daring to believe what I was hearing. Dad was… accepting this?

“Don’t make me regret this,” Dad added, his tone carrying a clear warning.

“Never,” Tempest replied, his hand finding mine and squeezing gently.

The tension in the room evaporated. I released a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding, my knees suddenly weak. Tempest’s hand tightened around mine, steadying me.

Dad’s eyes softened as he looked at me, a look of resignation passing over his weathered features. He reached over to a table and picked up a sack I hadn’t noticed before. My heart skipped a beat. What was he giving me?

“Here,” Dad grunted, holding out the sack. “Figured you’d be needing this.”

My hand trembled as I reached for it, and when I saw the property cut inside, I felt tears gather in my eyes. The patch was everything to me -- it was acceptance, belonging, a symbol of my place in this world I’d grown up in but now had become an even more integral part.

“Thank you,” I whispered, my voice thick with emotion. “But how did you know I’d need one?”

Dad’s eyes flicked to the side, landing on Wire. The tech guru was leaning against the bar, a barely-there smirk on his face. Of course. Wire always knew everything. In fact, it was likely him who’d help locate me when the traffickers had snatched me off the beach. Although, it was clear no one had told my dad about that part of our trip. I wasn’t looking forward to him finding out, but I had a feeling sooner or later, the truth would come out.

“He likes to talk. A lot.” Dad’s gaze swung back to Tempest, his eyes narrowing. “This isn’t just for her. It’s for you too. You’re responsible for her now. In every way.”

Tempest nodded, his jaw set. “I understand. I won’t let either of you down.”

I could feel the tension radiating off Tempest, knew how much was riding on this moment. Dad might have given his grudging approval, but one wrong move could shatter his acceptance. Then we’d be back to flying fists.

Dad held Tempest’s gaze for a long moment, searching for something. Whatever he saw must have satisfied him, because he finally nodded.

“See that you don’t,” he said, his tone a mix of warning and something that might have been respect.

The room exploded with cheers and whistles. Hands clapped my back, voices congratulating us. Through the chaos, I caught Tempest’s eye. His intensity hadn’t dimmed, but there was something softer there now, just for me.

“You good?” he murmured, his breath hot against my ear.

I nodded, leaning into him. “Yeah. I’m good.”

The celebration swirled around us, but in that moment, it was just us. His eyes searched mine, a whole conversation passing without a word. Promise. Desire. A hint of fear, quickly masked.

“Let’s get you home,” Tempest said, his voice rough.

Home. The word sent a thrill through me. Not my childhood bedroom. His place. Our place now.

As we made our way to the door, the reality of what was happening hit me. This was it. The moment I’d dreamed of for years. And it was nothing like I’d imagined. It was better. Scarier. More real than any fantasy.

Tempest’s bike rumbled to life, and I climbed on behind him, my arms wrapping around his solid frame. As we peeled out of the lot, the clubhouse growing small in the rearview, I felt a chapter of my life closing, and a new one, full of promise and passion, was just beginning.

But first I had to go pack…

The ride to my parents’ house was short but intense. Every curve of the road, every rev of the engine, reminded me that my life was changing forever. Tempest’s body was a solid wall of warmth against me, grounding me in the present.

---