Page 85 of Knight With Benefits

“I’m sorry, Beautiful. It’ll be over soon.”

When she pulled back to look up at me her gaze was wary, and she pulled her lower lip between her teeth. There was unease threading between us edged by fear, but I waited until she was ready to speak.

“You’re not going to hurt Adam, are you?”

My gut clenched, and for a moment I didn’t know how to respond. I knew she cared for her son, but he was doing things that put her in jeopardy, hurt her, and I wasn’t sure I’d be able to restrain my bear if we caught the boy doing something else to make Gwyn’s life misery.

“I don’t have any plans to hurt him, and I’ll do my best to make sure no one else does, but this has to stop. You don’t deserve to live in fear, and I won’t have my mate or community threatened by the Purists. I can’t ask the others not to defend themselves if he makes the first move.”

Tears swam in her eyes and her chin trembled, but she nodded.

“I understand. I hope it won’t come to that, but I barely know him anymore.”

Her pain flooded my chest, and it broke my heart that she had to go through it, but I wasn’t sure how to help. Any other threat and I’d have had a clear course of action, including making the person responsible disappear, but his connection to my mate complicated things.

“I’m sorry, Gwyn.”

Pulling her into another hug, I looked for anything to bring her out of the depression she’d fallen into. Even if I couldn’t get back the joy from when we awoke, I needed her okay.

“Why don’t we eat? Once you’re fed we can go work on the café until it’s time for church.”

Eyebrows scrunched, she cocked her head as she looked up at me.

“Church?”

Chapter Forty-One

Gwyn

The ride on Carl’s motorcycle back to my café distracted me for a bit, the vibrations just as intense as I remembered, but the sight of the building brought back the jumble of thoughts and emotions I’d been trying to keep contained. The guys had done a good job painting over the graffiti, no sign of it left, but the memories were there.

Would I ever have something untainted by my past?

Carl waited for me to swing my leg over the back and stand before getting off himself. I’d tried to hide my wince, but I was still sore from him claiming me in his were-form, and I felt his concern even if he didn’t ask for the hundredth time if I was okay.

Surprisingly, David’s truck pulled in just moments after us, parking beside Carl’s bike. The smirk on Carl’s face and the way David grinned as he got out made me suspicious, but it wasn’t until I opened the door to the kitchen that I remembered I’d ordered my tables and counters to be delivered the day prior.

I gasped, my hand flying to my mouth at the shiny stainless-steel gleaming in the room that had been empty when I’d last left.

“What? How?”

Glancing between the two who had followed me inside, I saw David pull a familiar set of keys from his pocket.

“You left these and your phone when this beast hauled you away the other night. Luckily I was bringing in a delivery at The Hangout when a truck showed up, and I didn’t think you’d mind me letting them in.”

I bit my lower lip to fight the tears that wanted to come. There were still holes for the sink and appliances, but just the tiny step forward made the kitchen seem like it was ready.

“Oh, thank you so much! I can’t believe I forgot about the delivery.”

David’s eyes darted to Carl before coming back to me.

“You might have been a little distracted.”

I couldn’t help laughing as I moved forward to trail my fingers over the cool surface. They were so shiny and perfect, but I still couldn’t wait to see them covered in plates ready to serve.

“The tables?”

The counters came with installation, but the dining tables had to be assembled, so I knew they would have come in boxes. Instead of finding boxes though, when I walked into the front of the building at David’s direction, I found the tables already set up and placed against the wall, waiting to be put in their places. There were no chairs yet, but I could already picture people sitting around them, resting their arms on the pretty blue tops as they ate with one hand and held a book in the other.

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