Page 68 of Mortify

"You love her." Dad's voice drips sarcasm. "How convenient. And when did this great love develop? While you were knocking her up behind my back?"

"Does it matter?" I step around Regnor, facing my father directly. "He's here. He's claiming me, stepping up. He's protecting me and our child from an ex who wants to hurt me on a daily basis. What more do you want?"

"I want you safe," Dad says. "I want you happy. I want?—"

"Then let me have this!" The words come out sharp, desperate. "Let me choose who I'm with. Let me decide what's best for our baby. Stop treating me like I'm still a toddler whose father killed his wife and himself, somehow sacrificing me in that horrible murder suicide!"

That lands hard.

I see it in his face—the memory of finding me at their house, promising to take care of me, to give me the normal life my parents couldn't.

"You're making a mistake," he says finally.

"Maybe. But it's my mistake to make."

Vail steps forward from where she's been watching. "For what it's worth, I knew about the pregnancy. Saw them together. He's good with her, Kraken. Gentle. Nothing like?—"

She doesn't finish, but we all hear it. Nothing like Dylan.

"She needs protection," Regnor says. "Dylan came at her today. In public. Grabbed her, threatened her. Made it clear he's not backing off. She can't go back to her apartment."

"So bring her here," Dad says. "We'll protect her."

"I am here," Regnor points out. "She's staying with me. In my room. Where I can watch over her properly."

The muscle in Dad's jaw ticks. "Like hell she is."

"Dad—"

"No." He cuts me off. "You want to play house with him? Fine. But not under my roof. Not in my clubhouse."

"Ourclubhouse," Runes interjects, speaking for the first time. "And keeping Everly here makes sense. Dylan's escalating. We need her where we can protect her."

"I can protect my own daughter."

"Can you?" Fenrir asks. "Were you there today when Mitchell grabbed her? Were any of us? No. Regnor was. Regnor's been keeping her safe."

"This is club business now," Runes continues. "Dylan threatened to expose club secrets. Mentioned the raid, Marcus. He's a threat to all of us."

Dad looks around, realizes he's outnumbered.

The rage is still there, simmering, but practicality wins.

"Fine," he grits out. "But if you hurt her?—"

"I won't," Regnor says simply.

"You better not." Dad turns to me. "This is what you want?"

"Yes."

He nods once, sharp.

Then walks away without another word.

Mom lingers, studying my face. "Are youreallyokay?"

"I don't know," I admit. "But I'm trying to be."

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