Page 84 of Act of Passion

She took that to mean he wasn’t planning on letting anyone near hisfamily.

She leaned in his direction. “Letting your mean out again,hubby?”

He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it, still watching the road. “My sweet, I will unleash a hell upon them the likes of which they have never seen if they dare try to harm either of you. They’ll see exactly what I’m capable of when fuckedwith.”

“So, you’re a god?” she asked, totally unable to get a grasp onthat.

He let out a soft breath. “I guess it depends on how you look at it. I like to think I’m just an extra awesome cat-shifter with a greatass.”

She snorted. “I will never forget Edee announcing that inEgypt.”

Helaughed.

“Thank you for making her feel at home at your house. She means the world to me andBethany.”

“Brooke, she’s family to you and therefore she’s family to me,” he said. “And it’s our home, not myhome.”

“Okay, but I’m going to need about a century to come to grips with this all,” she returnedjokingly.

“And, Brooke, you will not be returning to the club to work. Ever.” Malik gave her a side-eyed look. “I understand why you worked there. The money and it fulfilled your needs, but nomore.”

“I’m not going to argue with you on that. I hated working there. You’re the first man I ever really touched. Before you I’d use my gifts and make the men think they were having a good time. I could have painted my nails or something and they wouldn’t have noticed,” she supplied. It was the truth. “But, Malik, I want to work. I spent a long time getting my degree. I’d like to be able to use it, if it’s ever safe for me to leave the house without a team of men with me, or a cat-shifting god with a greatass.”

He grinned. “About you working. Edee already sat me down and had the talk with me when you were healing. She laid down the law. It was adorable, so I let her rant and rave. She made Striker and Auberi sit through it as well. I’m pretty sure they’re a little afraid of hernow.”

Brookechuckled.

“She told me you’d want to work. That even though I had a house with wings, you’d want to do something,” he said. “Corbin had been in the kitchen, getting Bethany a snack and overheard everything. He stepped in long enough to inform Edee that you and she were both already set up to work within PSI if you wanted. You wouldn’t do what I do, but you’d work in the offices and labs there. We always need experts with computers and scientists. The two of you are a perfect fit. Best part is you can work as many or as few hours as youwant.”

She tearedup.

“And,” he said, lifting her hand slightly. “Each PSI division headquarters has its own daycare, preschool, and private school that is for supernatural children only and they’re all heavily guarded. They’re not on-site but they aren’t far from each division. Bethany could start preschool and she’d be safe. Very safe. Striker, Edee, and I already toured the local facility and it’s great. She’d be able to make friends her own age, learn, and havefun.”

Brooke cried silent, happytears.

“If you say yes, I should warn you that my team have all informed me that they’re going to go with her until she feels safe. Otherwise known as, until they feel she’s safe and they aren’t going to worry about her.” He laughed softly. “Striker is the worst one of them all. He’s also the last teammate I’d want around her. So far, he’s been nothing but good withher.”

She squeezed his hand again. “He’s like Edee. And Bethany fully trusts Edee. If we can find a way to stop Elm, I’m all for her going to school. Thank you for handling all of that while I washealing.”

“I want the best for her,” heconfessed.

“Speaking of that,” Brooke said sighing. “You cannot keep getting her so much. You heard her. You’re what makes her happy. She doesn’t need materialthings.”

“I understand and I know I got carried away,” he returned, taking a right turn onto a two-lane highway that didn’t look heavily traveled. “Part of it was guilt for missing out on so much of her life. The other part was out of excitement. I was so fucking excited to be a father and to have her with me that I went overboard. I promise I’ll talk with you first before I do anythingelse.”

“Thank you,” she said, laughing softly. She relaxed a bit and then looked forward and behind them. “Is this the same road we took to get toPSI?”

“Yes. Why?” heasked.

“Malik, it had a steady stream of traffic on it before. Why is it so empty and why is it darker than it should be out here? I swear I saw streetlights on the way to PSI. Why aren’t they lit now?” As the questions fell from her lips, a sinking feeling came over her. “Elm. He’s doingthis.”

Malik squeezed her hand more. “Baby, I’m going to pull off the road and you’re going to drive home. Use the navigation to help you find it. Get there and tell Auberi what’s happening. I loveyou.”

“What will you be doing while I’m driving home?” she demanded, already knowing theanswer.

He licked his lips as he pulled to a stop on the shoulder of the highway. “Brooke, this has to end. He can’t be allowed to hunt you any longer. I won’t stand forit.”

“He’s like a gazillion years old! And he’s really powerful,” she said, nearly yelling that aswell.

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