Page 10 of Mortify

"Real love builds you up, honey. Doesn't tear you down." She squeezes my hand gently. "We protect our own here. Remember that."

But can you protect Bjorn?

Can you protect yourselves from what I've brought to your door?

The questions burn in my throat, but I can't voice them.

I nod and escape outside, where I find Regnor smoking on the deck.

"Gonna freeze out here," he says without looking at me.

"I'm fine."

"Sure you are." He takes a long drag. "None of my business, but that boyfriend of yours is a piece of shit."

The blunt statement surprises a laugh out of me. "You don't know him."

"Don't need to. Seen enough." He flicks ash over the railing. "Way he had his hand on you at dinner—controlling, not caring. Why do you flinch when he talks. Seen it before."

"I don't?—"

"My old man used to beat my mom. Said he loved her too much. Said that's why he got so jealous." Another drag. "Load of shit. Love doesn't leave bruises."

"What happened to her?"

"Died when I was twelve. He went too far one night." The ember of his cigarette glows in the darkness. "Swore I'd never be like him. Also swore I'd never stand by and watch it happen to someone else."

His words hang heavy between us.

This gruff biker sees through my act completely.

Sees what I've tried so hard to hide.

"I can handle it," I whisper.

"Sure you can. But you shouldn't have to." He stubs out his cigarette. "Offer stands, you know. Say the word, and that problem of yours disappears."

"You don't understand. He has connections. He knows things. If something happened to him?—"

"Then we'd handle that too." He looks at me directly. "That's what the club does, Everly. I won’t say it’s what family does, because know this, I don’t wanna be your fuckin’ family. I wanna be more than that."

He heads inside, leaving me alone with the truth of his words.

I shouldn't have to handle it.

Shouldn't have to live in fear.

Shouldn't have to choose between my safety and my family's.

My phone powers on automatically—a setting Dylan enabled so he can always reach me.

Twenty-seven messages.

Twelve missed calls.

The latest makes my stomach drop:

Your brother's not the only one without protection. Amazing how many kids are here. Accidents happen.

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