Page 54 of Act of Passion

Striker pursed his lips. “I’m normally all for strippers, but I can see Gram’s issue with it. I do nae think it’s sitting well with Tuteither.”

Brooke looked over to find Malik’s face was stone-like as he staredahead.

A snort broke free from her. “He doesn’t care. He couldn’t get rid of me fast enough after we were together. And the second he heard I had a child, he said what he thought of me. So I don’t really give a rat’s ass what he thinks of how I supportedmydaughter.”

Malik’s gaze whipped to her. “You think I don’tcare?”

“Yes.”

“Well, in her defense, Tut, you did act like an arse when you found out she had a wee one. And you’ve nae said a word about the child being yers. If I was the lass, I’d think you dinnae care too. And I’d probably kick you in the balls. I’m actually considering kicking yer arseforher.”

Brooke leaned forward and patted Striker’s shoulders. “I really likeyou.”

“Most women do,” he said with awink.

Pointing, Brooke slid up in the seat more and touched Boomer’s shoulder. “There. Turn right. It’s the first house on the left. That is one of the safe houses Edee and I agreed to meet at first if somethinghappened.”

“You’ve more than one?” askedStriker.

“Yes. Gram, Cody, Armand—Gram’s handler—always insist we have more than one. Their motto is we can never be tooprepared.”

“Gram still in the picture then?” askedBoomer.

“He’s never been out of it. Hurt by me saying no to marrying him, yes. Upset at the job I picked and that I didn’t let him take care of us, yes. Out of the picture, no. We haven’t seen each other because I asked him for time. He calls me twice a day and I know he moved closer to where we are. I know he watches the house a lot, afraid for us,” she said, her gaze sliding toMalik.

He didn’t look ather.

“Lass, stay in the vehicle while we check on that,” said Striker, motioning to two large, matching SUVs parked in front of the safehouse.

She nearly panicked—until she caught sight of a small pink plastic butterfly hanging from the rearview mirror in one of the vehicles. She twisted in her seat fast and grabbed Malik’s thigh. “She’s safe! Bethany made him that butterfly on hismirror.”

Malik’s gaze locked on herhand.

She squeezed his leg. “Our baby issafe.”

She touched Boomer quickly. “Can you make sure Garth stays back a bit until we explain to Edee that he’s not the same man who hurther?”

He nodded, his expression sympathetic. “Willdo.”

“Thank you!” Brooke was out of the car before it came to a full stop. She ran in the direction of the porch, only to have a large dark blur intercept her, catching hergently.

As she stared into the face of the tall, black-haired, muscular man with royal blue eyes, she found herself unable tospeak.

Gram Campbell yanked her against his body and held her there, everything on him tight. He then tilted her face upwards and dropped his lips onto hers. His kiss was hot and branding. When he ended it, she saw the worry in his face. “When Edee called, I thought…I thought I’d never see youagain.”

“Were they hurt?” she asked, still in hisarms.

“No,” he returned softly. “I got there just as everything was going down. Edee kept Bethany hidden and we dinnae let her see theaftermath.”

Brooke threw her arms around Gram’s neck. “Thank you. Thank you somuch.”

Gram kissed the top of her head. “Brooke, it’s nae safe for you to live on yerown.”

“I know,” she said, loosening her hold on him. “I thought we could do it. I thought they maybe gave up on huntingus.”

“Och, lass, Elm has convinced himself that yer the closest thing to a mate he’ll ever have. That he can force a life with you. He’s sick and twisted and has no grasp on reality. He’ll nae stop hunting you so long as he lives,” said Gram, emotions choking him up. “He already tried to force himself on you when you were expecting Bethany. Had Cody nae been there, I do nae even want to think of what would have happened. We were lucky tonight. He dinnae come himself. He sent hishenchmen.”

Brooke stepped back from him and bit her lower lip. “He came to theclub.”

---