Page 38 of Aftershock's Fury

“We got it,” Rylan says, and their other vehicle heads down the long driveway. “Get to work. You don’t have much time.”

“Stay with your brother,” Crue says. He picks up a bag and heads into the house with Loki.

“Wait.” I reach for him, but Rylan holds me back.

They reappear less than ten minutes later, and Crue pulls me into his arms. We head for the large SUV and climb into the back, where he holds me tight. As we roll down the driveway and turn onto the street, a van passes going the other way. Moments later, a massive explosion erupts behind us, shaking the ground and rattling the windows.

The guys cheer, and I turn to see the house we were just at is now engulfed in flames.

Aftershock

Idon’t let her go until we are at our house. My father had to hug her while I held her hand. The threat to her life might be over, but it was too close. I saw what she did to Aaronov, and I know she can take care of herself, but I’ll always be there to finish it for her.

“You have something in your room. On that note, I’m going to my room and watching television with my headphones on. Also, I have Fezzik and will keep him with me,” my dad says.

“Fezzik! Is he okay?”

“The vet said he’ll be fine, just really sleepy.”

“I should go check on him.”

“Not yet, baby.” I lift her up and stalk toward our room.

I set her down after locking us in and arming the house from the panel inside our room. We’ll stay on lockdown for a day or two, until we’re sure the gang won’t retaliate.

“Please strip, baby.”

“Okay.” She gets out of her clothes without question.

A doctor on our payroll is stopping by in a couple of hours to check her over and take blood. I want to make sure it was only a tranquilizer they used and nothing that could harm her.

When she is naked in front of me, I walk to the bed and grab the package. After opening it, I return to her and hold up the leather vest. On the back is the Granite Peak Grizzlies logo and Property of Aftershock stitched beneath it. I’m ready to have her in my ring and my property patch before I make love to her. She slips it on, and I’m on her. I kiss her long and deep before pushing her into the wall. I drop to my knees in front of her.

“I’m sorry I didn’t protect you. I trusted Goat, and I shouldn’t have. He came to me, and I shouldn’t have fallen for it.”

“He fooled all of us,” she says softly as she slides her hand into my hair.

I lift her leg to open her up and place it over my shoulder. I lean in and lick her essence from its source, pushing a finger intoher. She’s turned on. I stand up, needing inside her. I open my pants, turn her around to face the wall, and pull her out a bit.

“Hold on to the wall,” I order her before slamming inside her from behind.

My property patch is on full display as I take her in long, deep strokes. She comes, screaming, and I can’t hold back. I come deep inside her. If I didn’t know it was too early, I’d have the doc run a pregnancy test on her, but it’s only been a couple days.

When I come down from the high and get my emotions in check, I pull her up and hold her against my body. “Go climb into the shower. I’ll be there in a sec.”

I help her take the vest off and toss it on the bench, where I toss mine a moment later. Then I strip and walk into the bathroom, where we make love again in the shower, and then in bed before I finally feel the edge fade. I’m calmer and can handle talking to her. We are cuddled up in bed, holding each other.

“Goat was Aaronov’s father,” I say.

“I know.”

“Did you know he was mad at your dad for not making him VP, and that’s why he wanted your father to suffer?”

“Jeez, he held that anger for a long time.”

“He wanted your father to suffer before he died. That’s why they tortured him.”

“I wish I had shot him instead of just hitting him on the head. I tried to kill Aaronov. I was going to slice his throat, then I thought of shooting him, but I thought of the guilt of killing him, and I couldn’t do it.”

---