Page 104 of Beautifully Shattered
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He’s turned into a caveman! I slam my fists against his back as he carries me out into the chilly May air, his grip tight around my legs as his hand comes down hard on my backside.
A squeak bursts from me, and I stop punching him and hang on as I watch the gravel path blur beneath us before giving way to tangled twigs, trying to ignore how much I liked the sting he left behind.
“Where are you taking me?” I ask, and a moment later he stops, and the world rushes past me as it goes from upside down to the right way up.
Stumbling back, I shake my head to try and focus, only to be shoved against a tree.
“What’s your plan? How do you figure you’ll find anyone?” he snaps, the fury in his eyes igniting the guilt I had this morning about not talking with him about this sooner. “Every time weleave to go somewhere, we get attacked. The Rebels try to kidnap you. And someone gets fucking shot.”
And now the guilt hits like a sledgehammer.
Needing a second to breathe, I drag my eyes off him and glance around to find we’re by the pond, and he has me pinned to the same tree he had me against on our wedding day… when he’d put his head between my legs and… had me as an appetiser.
The moment I feel the blush creep up my neck, I shove against his chest, trying to put some space between us.
“You’re right. They’ll be expecting motorcycles. We should take a car.”
He rolls his eyes, stepping back just enough to let me breathe.
“You’re not thinking clearly, Angel.”
“Why are you trying to hold me back?” I snap, and confusion flashes over his expression.
“I’m not.”
“It feels like it,” I whisper, hating the hurt that flickers in his eyes.
“I’m just trying to keep you safe.”
“I know.” I nod, biting back the words I should have said sooner, but I just needed time to process everything that’s happened. “I love how fiercely you love me, and want to keep me safe, but the thing is, Iwon’tbe safe until those men are dead. Until Darla and Nessy are safe. Until I have Tahli.”
The burn of tears pricks my eyes, but I force them back.
I don’t want to cry anymore. Not unless I’m visiting Bobbi’s grave. For the rest of the time, I need to channel that pain into anger.
“Angel, you just buried your daughter last week.” His voice is soft as he cups my cheek, his thumb gently stroking over my skin lovingly.
“That’s right. I did. And now it’s time for justice. Aren’t you the one who said the MC gets to handle their own justice?”
He nods at my words, his eyes dancing between mine, concern blazing in their depths.
“So now, I need to get mine,” I say softly, leaning into his palm.
“I feel like you’ve been deliberately keeping me out of your plans. Just like with Wendy.” The truth of his words has guilt digging its claws in, but I don’t deny it, and he sighs. “Would you have left if I had still been asleep or if I begged you not to go?”
“No.” I shake my head, knowing this is the absolute truth. “I’m just so used to people deciding what happens to me. I got in my head about it, knowing you’d try to talk me out of it.”
“I’d already agreed to it at the lake house,” he reminds me, and my eyes drop with shame.
“I’m still learning how to trust.”
My admission has both of us falling silent. The only sounds around us are the chirping birds and some sort of lawn mower humming in the distance.
“I’m always gonna try to protect you, Angel. But I don’t want to stunt you. I want to see you thrive.”
“I can see that now… I’m sorry,” I admit, reaching up to fist his cut. “I just feel so out of the loop myself. I need to know everything, so I asked Jols because…”
