Page 66 of Goose

Maverick and I rush over to stand between the men. I turn to Willow and can see she’s getting frustrated with them.

“What the fuck is going on?”

“I came out here to bring you guy’s coffee when Bear walked in and then this shit.”

I turn and look at Striker. “What’s going on, brother?”

“This fucker thinks he can just come in and act like nothing ever happened. Like we would never find out what he did to Bambi.”

Maverick removes Willow from the middle of the men, and she rushes inside. More footsteps and Mama and Lilah come running into the barn.

Mama immediately puts herself between Striker and Bear.

“You boys better tell me what's going on right now. I got a call from Bambi saying that we needed to come down as soon as possible. I don’t like this shit on my ranch.”

Striker turns and glares at Bear. “I’m disgusted at my father and the way he treated Bambi. She was family from the start and instead of protecting her, he threw her to the wolves.”

Mama looks at Bear, “What’s going on?”

He shakes his head and looks up at Striker. “It’s not like that, son. Things were complicated, and I needed to protect our own family.”

“She’s fucking family! You could have offered protection without forcing her to give up her body. After everything she went through and you still didn’t give a flying fuck. You thought just because they raped her over, and fucking over, she would be fine with losing all say over her own goddamn body? You’re a sick fucking man.”

Mama gasps, and Lilah pulls her away from the men. She gently places her hand on Striker’s and he pulls her into him.

“You aren’t allowed near our children right now. I can’t even look at you without wanting to fucking strangle you.”

I step up and glare down at Bear. “Why? Why would you do that?”

He just shakes his head in shame. “I told you...it’s complicated, son.”

I punch the barn wall, making everybody jump. “No. You made the choice to take her on as a club girl and hire her as a stripper. You wanted her, and that was the only way you were ever going to get her, huh? How many times did you force yourself on her, Bear?”

“I never did! I promise! I never touched the girl.”

Striker takes Lilah’s hand in his and steps up to his father. “We’re done. You aren’t welcomed on any of my properties. Don’t bother showing up at the clubhouse either.”

They walk out of the barn and into the house. All I can do is glare at Bear as he stands in the middle of the barn.

“You have to believe me. It’s not what I wanted, but I had no choice! Things are more complicated than you think, boys.”

Mama shakes her head and tries to walk past Bear when he grabs her arm. Mav and I are on him in a second.

“Don’t fucking touch our mama. Ever.”

Mama cries, making my rage boil over. I nod to Mav and he walks up to her, gently taking her in his arms and bringing her out of the barn. Now, I’m alone with Bear and know exactly what I plan to do.

This is what I fucking lived for. I let the dark creep up out of me and rear its ugly head. I let my black soul do what it does best; death and destruction.

I stalk toward him and slam him up against the barn wall, grinning as his head bounces off the wooden wall.

“You have five minutes to tell me fucking everything.”

I slowly let go of him as he slinks down to the ground.

“The Shadow Raiders. If they knew Bambi was just a club girl, they wouldn’t come after her. They would leave her alone. She wouldn’t be a target. If I showed that I cared about her like my own child, they would have taken her again. I was doing it to save her.”

I laugh and spit down on him. “That’s bullshit. You could have protected her. But you were more concerned about yourself and getting more money, huh?”

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