Page 35 of Secret Shifters Next Door

She sighed into my chest. “He put on a good act. When we first met, he seemed so nice. He took care of me, he was nice to the girls, and he offered to help in any way he could. He even pulled some strings and helped me get the girls into a private school. Everything was great for the first few months. I’d been hesitant to take things from casual to more serious. It was just so difficult. Sam had been gone for almost three years when I met him, so it was tough. Things started changing when we were officially a couple. He treated me more like a possession. Controlling and manipulative. Then I started suspecting that he was cheating on me. It was a week or two before I met you, but he tried to make me think I was crazy.”

“I’m sorry.” It was all I could think to say.

“Yeah. Me, too. It was a toxic situation. I’d finally gotten proof of his cheating, and I broke things off over the phone. He actually tried to tell me I’d brought it on myself. And then the stalking and the harassment started. When I was getting the restraining order, Maddox—Sam’s old partner on the force—toldme he, Luis, might have targeted me years ago. Sam had been investigating the mob, and… well, I might have caught his eye back then. I never knew anything about that part of Luis’s life, but after all that has happened, it makes sense.”

“Holy shit,” I murmured.

She nodded against my chest. Then, surprisingly, she chuckled. “My life is pretty fucked up.” She lifted her head and looked at me. “I wanted to get away from Luis, but then I found out I was pregnant. I felt terrible. I didn’t even know who the father was.”

I grimaced. “I’m also to blame. I didn’t think to use a condom.”

I couldn’t tell her that I never wore condoms because I had no need for them. Shifters couldn’t catch or transmit STDs. Also, until not that long ago, I didn’t believe a shifter could impregnate a human woman. In all my life, I’d only known shifter men and shifter women to have kids. It was so damned crazy, but there was nothing I could do about it now.

“I’m sorry I put you in this position. I should have done more for you,” I said.

Harley raised herself on her elbow and looked at me. Her face was a mask of confused surprise. It sliced my heart that she was surprised by my apology. Had I really been such a dick that it was too unbelievable to think I would apologize? Shit, what kind of asshole had I been?

I cupped her face with my hand, the skin of her cheek warm and smooth against my palm. “Harley, I promise you aren’t alone. Not in whatever is happening with Luis, and especially not with the baby. I’ll do whatever is in my power to keep you safe. You, the girls, and the baby. No matter what it takes.”

Harley smiled and snuggled into me again. After a while, her breathing deepened and evened out. I lay there holding her, my head a mess of thoughts and feelings. My need to protect Harleyand her family was growing stronger with each passing second. Fed by the dragon inside me, it was almost primal in its strength.

Harley, fully asleep, rolled away from me, and I used that moment to slide out of her bed. She didn’t even stir as I packed her pillows around her to take my place. Before I closed the door, I glanced back at her. She looked peaceful and calm. That was good. She’d been through enough. She deserved to rest a little.

The door to the girls’ room was open, and they were nowhere to be seen. The noise and commotion the guys were making downstairs must have stirred their curiosity.

Sure enough, I spotted them at the bottom of the stairs, watching the chaos. Steff had set up several laptops on the kitchen table and was working on them. When I got to him, I realized most of the devices weren’t his. There were two laptops, phones, and a tablet, which probably belonged to Harley and the girls.

“Are you doing what I think you’re doing?”

Steff looked up and nodded. “Yeah. Firewalls. That way, no one can hack them. No trackers, no slave cameras or speakers, fully secure. I don’t want that jerkoff getting a foothold inside the house after all the work we’re doing to secure the place.”

Everything he said made sense, but I was having a hard time listening. Instead, I was stifling a laugh. Steff stopped and frowned at me. “What’s so funny?”

I leaned toward Steff and said, “I think you have an admirer.”

His frown deepened, and he spun in his chair. Jordyn saw him turn to look and quickly darted her eyes away.”

“Oh lord,” Steff said. “What am I? Like the hot teacher or something? Gross. I mean, don’t get me wrong, she’s a nice kid, but… gross.”

“Bro, I spent the day with her a while back. She’s going to be a force when she gets older. Anyway, how’re things looking on the install?”

Steff glanced around then said, “Looking good. Should be done soon.”

“Okay, I’m gonna check on the kids.”

Mariah and Jordyn saw me coming toward them, and they smiled weakly. “Ladies, you want to come have a seat? Take a load off?”

They nodded and followed me to the table. Steff moved his computers aside and smiled at the girls. Before I could sit down, Mariah asked, “Is Mom okay?”

I raised my eyebrows. “Yeah, she’s up in her room, napping. Are you guys all right?”

I didn’t believe their quick nods of assent. I could tell they were pretty shaken up. How could they not be, though? The day had been traumatic for a grown woman. How could anyone imagine her kids would fare much better?

Mariah stared down at her feet. “Please protect our mom. Please.” Her voice was thick with unshed tears.

“She’s all right?—”

“I’m scared of Luis,” Mariah cut me off. “I’m afraid he’s going to take her like he took our dad.”

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