Page 79 of Scorch

Today had been just magical.

I sat out on our balcony that had a perfect view of the Eiffel Tower.That had been the most exciting thing so far.Garrett’s smug grin as I’d squealed and run out to see it when we arrived was obvious.He should be smug.He’d given me so much more than my dreams could have ever come up with.

He had left me out on the lounger with my favorite macarons.Yes, I already had a favorite.He’d taken me on a tasting tour so I could decide which ones I liked best and from what bakery.The champagne he had poured me sat beside me on the table.

I glanced to look at him inside as he spoke on the phone.He had closed the door so I couldn’t hear him, but the scowl on his face as he spoke and started to pace back and forth concerned me.I began to worry something had happened at home.

I picked up my phone and texted Gypsi to check on her.

Are you okay?

I sent it while chewing on my bottom lip nervously.Maybe I should have told Garrett about Tyde.The specifics so he could be prepared if the punk showed up.

Yes, I’m fine.Going to sit by the pool to read a book.

I let out a sigh of relief.Thank goodness.It was my imagination working overtime.But I was going to talk to Garrett.He needed to know everything.

I’m so glad you’re doing something relaxing.You never do that anymore.We went to the Louvre today!I’ll send pics.

Then, I sent several of the pics we had taken.A few that Huck—the bodyguard Garrett had brought along—had taken of us together.

The door opened, and Garrett walked outside.His concerned frown hadn’t gone away, and he wasn’t trying to mask it.I sat up straight and waited for him to say something.He walked over and took a chair from the small table for two and turned it to face me before sitting down.

“Tell me what you know about a former prospect of The Judgment MC that goes by Tyde,” he said.

I shot up off the lounger, my heart slamming against my chest in panic.“Why?Oh God.I have to leave.I have to get to Gypsi,” I stammered, feeling completely lost and helpless.Why had I left her like that?I was so far away.Tears filled my eyes, and I covered my mouth as a sob broke free.“Garrett, she’s in danger.Please, I have to get to her.She needs protection.She doesn’t know!”

Garrett grabbed me.His big hands taking me by the arms and holding me still.“Gypsi is safe.Tyde is currently in my underground caves, chained up by his hands, while three of my best men, including Blaise, are with him.Now, take a deep breath.Calm down.I swore to you I’d keep you both safe, and I meant it.Gypsi is by the pool right now.Trev is with her.She is fine.”

Another sob fell from me as relief washed over me.She was okay.The bastard wasn’t going to get to her.

“They have him,” I repeated more for my own sanity than anything.

“They do,” he reassured me.“But I need you to tell me everything.All your secrets, Fawn.Even the ones that darken your eyes when you mention the past.I need to know it all.If I know, then I can protect you properly.Tyde got onto our land.We hadn’t known to expect him, but Blaise caught him and locked him up.”

Tyde had come onto the farm?He’d gotten that close?Why hadn’t I considered that he might do that?I had trusted Micah to handle him, and that had been a mistake.One that could have hurt my daughter.

I stared up at Garrett and nodded.He was right.I had to keep Gypsi safe.Garrett was clearly the only person I could trust to do that.

“Okay, yes, I’ll tell you everything.I should have.I’m sorry,” I stammered.

He took my chin in his hand.“Don’t apologize.I’m not mad at you.I should have asked this already.I knew there were things you weren’t telling me.I let you have your secrets.I wanted to respect them.But you belong to me now.I protect what is mine.”

I wasn’t arguing with him about my being his thing.Not anymore.If being his meant my daughter was protected, then I’d agree to it.The truth was, I did belong to him.He’d claimed a piece of me I hadn’t known was there.

“Tyde was at the clubhouse when I moved in with Micah.He pursued Gypsi hard, and he was charming.In the beginning, they had fun.She laughed a lot, and I was glad to see her happy.Actually dating someone.She’d never really done that before.But then things changed.I knew they started sleeping together.I got her on birth control and made sure she had plenty of protection.

“Her smiles came less and less.I would talk to her, and she’d assure me she was fine.I moved us out of the clubhouse when I overheard Micah getting a blow job in Tex’s room.Gypsi didn’t break up with Tyde though, so we stayed in the camper in Miami.

“It only took a week before I noticed the bruising appearing on her arm.She made an excuse, and I knew then.In my gut, I knew, and I hated myself for missing it.I demanded she take off her clothes and—” I stopped as the pain of that day replayed in my head.“She was black and blue.Her ribs—” I sucked in a deep breath.“It was awful.I had failed her.”

Tears were running down my face again.I couldn’t stop it.

“I called Micah and told him.He swore he’d handle Tyde.I trusted him.We left, but we didn’t have enough saved to go far.We only made it to Ocala.I could tell Gypsi was worried.She asked if I thought Micah could really control Tyde.She didn’t look like she believed it.She said Tyde had been possessive and controlling.That when other guys looked at her, he’d blame her and hurt her.It was awful.”

Garrett wrapped his arms around me and pulled me against him.“You didn’t know.You can’t blame yourself for something you didn’t know.When you found out, you immediately handled it.You did what a great mom does.You protected your daughter.Stop blaming yourself.”

I sniffled against his chest, but said nothing.

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