Page 81 of Sire
Wren blurts from the passenger seat, “I’m always down for hashbrowns: scattered, smothered, and covered.”
My tiny woman is sitting tall. It’s like a burden has been lifted off her shoulders.
Does the fact that I removed an evil man’s head from his shoulders help?
Yeah, it may have a lot to do with it.
Feeling no regret, I tell her, “Then, it’s a lunch date at The Waffle House. Don’t say I don’t spoil you, Angel.”
She turns, giving me a heart attack of a smile, while I remember last night and how I only wanted to hold her.
After the day we had. After the blood we shed. After thepossession left my body and we got rid of Waylon’s, we met back at our campsite.
Loch reported that Mr. Grinzer will be okay. For Wren’s sake and for the new home we’ll pay to build him, Mr. Grinzer agreed to stay silent about what happened.
To cover our tracks, Axel placed an anonymous call to the local police, reporting Waylon’s disappearance after he went hunting. Not like the cops give a shit about finding a man like Waylon.
Wren seemed relieved. She said Alan wanted to go into treatment and would keep in touch. He didn’t seem to care about his father; in fact, she said he seemed relieved, like he was finally free.
At first, we were subdued, eating MREs around the campfire, but then it came time to clean up, and when six brothers are in a river, bathing blood off?
Yeah, we got rowdy, choking, and dunking each other.
But Wren?
I guess the sight of six nude men made her more than wet. In her pink bra and panties, she bathed beside us, chewing her lip, so I carried her out of the river as Axel cut me a look. So did Grant.
They were willing to serve our queen last night, but I felt possessive. Protective. I’m so fucking proud of her, yet something keeps making me fear I’ll lose her, too.
I held her until dawn, then pulled her into my lap while we ate breakfast by the campfire before packing up our gear.
“We’ll stop in Asheville,” Loch promises Jace, but I’m focused on where we can stopnow.
It’s a sunny day.
It’s perfect.
To get Wren in the mood, I take over the playlist and put on our Dolly & Kenny duet. Wren sings with me, Loch andJace smile, and it’s another moment I’m in awe of her. She’s all rainbows and bullets and butterflies until I spot one.
And another fluttering by the road.
“Stop,” I tell Loch. “Pull over.”
“What’s wrong?” He signals, slowing down. Axel, Grant, and Nash in the truck behind us do the same.
“Nothing’s wrong,” I answer, glancing at Jace.
I told him I’d do this today if I got a chance, and he takes out his phone, ready to record it.
Jumping out of the truck, I nod at Axel in the other driver’s seat. He also knows what I’m up to.
Finally:the fucker’s giving me that look.
I walk around our truck, parked on the edge of a remote, country road winding through a sweeping valley. Lush green fields blanket both sides, but a thicket of lace-cap blue hydrangeas has attracted a swarm of butterflies and me.
Opening Wren’s door, I offer her my hand.
She takes it, hopping out of the truck. “What are you doing?”
