Page 63 of Tusk's Fury

Clara asks, “So how do you like being back here on your own?”

“Now I’m in Tusk’s property cut, the other old ladies are finally warming up to me.”

“I told you that would happen,” Clara exclaims. “I think they always liked you but couldn’t get their heads around how quickly you and Tusk got together.”

“Yeah, I’m not going to pretend I wasn’t a pain in the ass before I met Tusk. I was really messed up because of being raised by what was basically a cult. I didn’t realize how much it had damaged me for a long time.”

“Maybe getting a therapist that deals with cult-related trauma would help.”

“I’ve been thinking about seeing a therapist. I want to be the best partner for Tusk that I can be and a mother who has her head screwed on straight.”

“I think you’re doing remarkably well, considering all you’ve been through. You’re the strongest woman I’ve ever met.”

“Well, I have to be if I’m going to continue hanging around the clubhouse,” I pause for a moment then say, “It’s funny how quickly I went from the queen of the club girls to being iced out by them.”

“You’ve come so far, Brittany. Don’t let them tear you down.”

I rock Victoria in her tabletop carrier until she falls back to sleep. Thinking about how much my life has changed in such a short period of time, I say, “I don’t care, though, because that’s my old life. Now, I’m with Tusk, in his property cut, and I have a baby of my own—and one day I’ll be stepmom to his other kids.”

“It’s wonderful to hear you’re taking it all in stride,” she tells me.

“Keep going forward, that’s the only way,” I say.

“I bet you’re missing Tusk,” Clara adds.

I smile, “Yeah, I know I didn’t see him for months, but after reconnecting it’s like I can’t bear to be away from him. Has Tex updated you on what they found in Utah? When they broke into the church they found Harper was abusing some teens, he had them locked up in cells and the club rescued them. They got a bunch of intel when they raided his church and house. He told me they burned his church down and did the same thing to his house when then went to gather intel there.”

Clara is wide eyed but responds, “Tex told me a bit, but he likes to play his cards close to his chest as far as club business goes.”

“You want to know what I said to that?”

“You probably told him it was poetic justice,” Clara responds.

Close, I tell her with a straight face. “I told Tusk it couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy.”

Clara rolls her eyes at me, “That sounds like the Brittany I know and love.” After a thoughtful pause she adds, “You’re lucky that Tusk tells you what’s going on. Tex tries not to tell me about club business if he can help it.”

“I have a feeling Tusk is going to be the same way. The only reason he’s telling me now is because the club business happens to also be my business.”

Suddenly, I smell the strong stench of cheap cologne, and then Silver leans over the table to stare at my baby. “Oh my God, your baby is so cute. I’d have a baby too if I didn’t care about my figure.”

I take a deep breath and say, “Go away, Silver. I don’t have time for you today.”

“Oh, honey, I’m not trying to insult you. I’m just stating facts. This baby is amazing, but being pregnant destroyed your figure.”

I’m just about to tell her where to go when a deep, masculine voice interrupts her tirade.

“I’m really confused. If giving birth to my child ruined Brittany’s figure, what happened to yours?”

Silver whirls around to gape at my old man. “Nothing, Tusk.” She bats her eyes at him and skims one hand down the length of her upper torso. “I’m F-I-N-E, fine.”

“I guess the brothers who like chubby girls will chase you all day long and then some. That is, if you don’t get yourself thrown out for aggravating the old ladies.”

“I wasn’t. I promise. I was just talking to Brittany. We’re old friends from when she was a club girl.”

Tusk nudges her back with his arm so he can approach me. “That’s strange. Brittany has told me a hundred times how much you annoy the shit out of her. You annoy the shit out of me too. Britt and I had a little bonding moment over it.”

“I’ve never said an unkind word to any of the old ladies.”

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