Page 103 of Mortify

"You bled through a little in the night," he says matter-of-factly. "Didn't want you to see it and panic."

My throat tightens. "You didn't have to?—"

"Yeah, I did." He's already remaking the bed with fresh sheets the nurse must have brought. "This is what we do, Everly. We take care of each other."

I ease back into bed, watching him work.

His movements are efficient but gentle, this big, dangerous man performing such a domestic task.

"We need to talk," I say quietly. "About what happens next."

He finishes with the sheets, then sits on the bed beside me. "With the baby?"

"With Dylan."

His expression darkens. "What about him?"

"He's not going to just disappear, Regnor. He's lost his protection, his connection to the Patriot. That makes him desperate."

"Which is good. Desperate men make mistakes."

"They also do dangerous things." I pick at the blanket. "What if he goes after Bjorn? Or shows up at the fire station again? Or?—"

"Hey." He takes my hand, stilling my nervous movements. "Look at me."

I do, finding his dark eyes intense but calm.

He gets up, crosses to the door, and shuts it firmly.

When he returns, his voice is low, certain.

"The club will handle him," he says simply. "He'll never hurt you again. Never touch you. Never come near our baby."

"You can't just—" The tears come without warning. "You're doing so much already. More than you need to. This isn't your mess to clean up."

"The fuck it isn't." He grabs my hand, grip firm but gentle. "I'm doing as much as any old man would. You're mine, Everly. That baby's mine. Anyone who threatens you threatens me."

"But—"

"No buts." His thumb brushes over my knuckles. "Dylan made his choices. Now he deals with the consequences."

"What kind of consequences?"

"The permanent kind."

The words should scare me.

Should make me protest, argue for mercy or justice or whatever.

Instead, all I feel is relief.

"When?"

"Soon. When the moment's right. When he thinks he's safe." Regnor's expression is carved from stone. "Men like him always think they're smarter than everyone else. That arrogance will be his downfall."

A knock interrupts us.

"Come in," I call, and Dr. Sims enters with a smile.

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