Page 40 of Tusk's Fury

“Don’t worry. None of the brothers will let that happen. You can count on all of us to keep you and your child safe.”

“I hope so, because this club is my last line of protection if Silas Harper is still after me.”

“What do you mean if he’s still after you? We know he is, because he sent those two kids to grab you.”

“No,” she tells me. “That’s not what happened. Silas sent out the flyer to all churches in their sect right after I went missing. They just happened to cross paths with me now. For all we know, Silas could have moved on to some other woman and be happily clawing his way up the church hierarchy by now.”

“And you know that, how?” I ask.

Brittany shrugs, “I guess I don’t. Our church doesn’t have an internet presence, so I don’t know what he’s doing now. But I had to go back to my hometown when I left the clubhouse to withdraw money. I thought I was clever at hiding my tracks, but maybe word did get back to him?”

I press my lips into a firm line as I consider her words. “I think you’re more at risk right now than you have been since you first left. You gotta know those assholes in Alaska are going to alert him that they found his Eve and that she had a baby with her. My best guess is he’s gonna still want you, even if he already has a wife, or he’s gonna want to publicly shame and punish you for being a harlot.”

She shoots me an amused look. “You’re pretty quick with the old-fashioned religious terminology there, Tusk. Are you sure you don’t have some holy rollers hiding in your own background?”

Catching her humor, I tell her, “My paternal grandfather was a bastard about things like that. I always did hate that man.”

“Lots of men have a Madonna-whore complex,” she says quietly.

“Yeah, lots of men are complete dumbasses too. I’m of the opinion that women should be able to enjoy their sexuality without being shamed for it, that’s what I love about you.” Damn it. I said ‘love’ not ‘loved’. I was trying to keep neutral about everything. I look up to see if she noticed my slip up, but her expression is unreadable.

Her voice is quiet as she speaks, “My baby’s father is a brother, not an outsider.”

I consider her words. For the first time since I discovered she had a baby something akin to hope blooms in my chest, mixed with more than a little bit of excitement. If the father was one of my club brothers, then surely, she’d be a bit more cautious about telling me this in case I got mad? I tentatively ask, “Would that brother be incredibly fertile, perchance?”

Sitting there, staring into each other’s eyes, she replies, “Maybe. He’s got a lot on his plate when it comes to kids and crazy exes. I’m not sure he has room in his life for another child.”

With the way she’s looking at me, I can tell she’s about to come apart at the seams. She has her arms wrapped around her stomach and is actually trembling a little. She wants me to accept her, to forgive her. Since she’s all I’ve ever wanted and has given me a daughter, I’m inclined to do just that.

“I’ve missed you Britt,” I say as I get to my feet and hold out my hand, pulling her up. She takes my hand willingly and suddenly we’re standing there facing each other. “Don’t tell me you haven’t missed me too.”

She’s looking up at me with those big, blue eyes. Within seconds our lips find each other and we’re kissing like we never parted. I feel the heat flooding my body as my arms pull her tight. God, I’ve missed her so much. Her tongue is hungry as she explores my mouth, and I can hear her soft moans. Then suddenly she steps back, breathless.

“What’s up, darlin’?” I say, my own voice is hoarse with lust, and I can feel my cock punching at the zipper.

A small smile ghosts across her face, “I’ve missed you so much too, but I’ve always been one to jump into things too quickly. So much has happened over the last few months. My life has too many moving parts. I need time to think this through—to think us through—is that okay?”

I reach out to take her hand because it’s only inches from mine. Bringing it to my lips, I murmur. “Fair enough. You’re well worth waiting for, my sweet.”

Her expression turns emotional, and she gives my hand a little squeeze. “Thanks for understanding that this has nothing to do with wanting you. I just want to get my head around this situation before I jump in with both feet. I can’t afford to be impulsive anymore, I have a child to think about.

I feel my lips turn up into a warm smile. A child… I have another child. Yesterday, I didn’t take too much notice of the baby, but now I want to meet my daughter. I kiss the palm of her hand and say, “I get it. If you want to talk about what’s worrying you, I’d be interested in knowing. Maybe I can help put those worries to rest.”

“Well, I had it in mind that Victoria and I would have a simple, uncomplicated life. I don’t want her sandwiched between your four kids and a new baby. She deserves to be special too, you know?”

“She will be,” I tell her. “Even if you don’t want to get back with me, I’m not gonna let my daughter go. She’s my only one, after all. Having four older, overprotective brothers is gonna suck for her, but I don’t see another way around it.”

I’m equally relieved and annoyed that Brittany’s primary worry is her daughter getting lost amongst my rambunctious boys. “I know you want to get back home to her. Let’s go,” I insist.

She pulls her hand away and it lands on her hip “Victoria is all I’ve got. I’m not going to let her get shoved aside by your other kids or disrespected by your ex-wife.”

“Fuckin’ too right. We’ll both make sure Victoria grows up safe and happy. That’s my vow to you.”

Tasting my daughter’s name on my tongue stirs a new level of protectiveness I never knew was there. “Victoria’s a really pretty name. What made you choose it?”

She glances uncertainly up to catch my eye before explaining, “It was my maternal grandmother’s name. She ran from the church, like me.”

Understanding clicks into place in my mind. “You’re honoring her because she showed you the way.”

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