Page 25 of Brood

Chapter Twenty

I could see the terror etched on her face the closer I got before it slowly dissipated with each word I spoke. Now that I’m close enough to smell the sweet scent of her hair, touch her soft skin, I don’t think I will ever be able to be anywhere that’s not within reaching distance of this woman. “I woke up in your bed.” She breaks the silence that lingers between us as I stare down at her, uncaring I’m looking her directly in her broken eyes. I should never have denied myself in the first place.

“You fell asleep on the couch, didn’t look all too comfortable. I was going to bring you upstairs, but the hallway is kind of tight.” It’s a complete lie, I would have been able to get her up there no problem.

“Oh. Well, my neck thanks you then.” She smiles, and I take that as my cue to step back and give her some space. She quickly turns around and takes a drink from the glass I took from her. I had heard the whimpers coming from my room and was about to go and check on her when she suddenly stopped. It wasn’t long after that she came out of my room.

“I’ll let you get back to sleep,” I tell her and start toward my room, but her soft unsure voice stops me.

“I don’t know how to feel about this.”

“About what?”

“Kasin. This club. You. It’s all so overwhelming.” Her hands fidget with one another, making her look younger than she is. This is the most vulnerable I have seen her since I walked into the café and laid eyes on her for the first time.

“How do you think you feel about it?”

“The people here are amazing. And Kasin… he really is special.” She takes in a deep breath. “And you…everything I have grown to learn about men– besides my dad– is bad, the only one in my life who was good to me even had a bad side.” Her eyes close as a tear slips out.

“I might not be a perfect man Jor, but I guarantee I would never hurt you.”

“Did you kill Kasin’s mother?”

My eyes widen slightly at her question, one I never once thought she would ask. Someone must have told her about Kasin’s developmental issues, and I only need one guess as to who it was. Not that I’m pissed about Jordyn knowing about my son. “After I took Kas in to see the doctor and found out the slew of problems she had created for him by being neglectful in the pregnancy, I tracked her down.” I let out a deep breath readying myself to tell her the rest. “She was so fucking high; she had no idea who I was. So, I drug her out of the hole I found her in and made her get clean.”

“You helped her.” The bitter laugh that escapes my throat makes her wince.

“No, Jor. I didn’t help her. I got her clean, so she would know who I was and why I was killing her.” The gasp that leaves her doesn’t stop me from continuing, “I kept her tied up in an abandoned trailer for four days. That is how long it took before she realized who the fuck I was. At first, she was furious then she tried to beg and plead for me to let her go, telling me how sorry she was—” I clench my fists at the memory of her at my feet, begging, crawling on the floor, trying to get me to give her more drugs. She was more concerned about her poison than the state she had left our son in. “I slit her throat. Watched as she choked on her last breath and bubbles poured from her dry lips. I would go back and do it all again, just to watch the bitch die for causing my son such pain.”

“You—”

“Like I said, I’m not a perfect man, but I know for a fact that if someone hurts what is mine, I would make damn sure they could never do it again.” I turn from her, not wanting her to see the rage that starts to take me over. It’s only when her hand touches my shoulder that it dampens.

“I’m glad he has you in his corner.”

“I’m in your corner too Jor,” I tell her surprising myself. Fuck, I sound like a sap. I should just drop down to the floor on one knee and offer up my balls for her to wear around her neck.

“You don’t—”

“Oh yeah. I do. You can’t even say no. You don’t get to pick and choose who is in your corner. You have so many people ready to fight for you, you don’t even know it. It’s only been a week, and the whole club loves you.”

“Still. I can’t ask you guys to help me. It puts you all in so much danger. And Kasin… if anything happened to him. Or you.” She shakes her head and swipes a hand across her wet cheeks.

“I’m touched, really, but also hurt that you think we won’t be able to help you. Jordyn, we got two clubs that are willing to go to bat for you at a moment’s notice. You just got to let us.”

“I can’t let you.” I want to reach out and grab her as she takes off up the stairs but decide to let her be. She’s been through the wringer when it comes to the goodness in people, and I only know a small piece of it. Maybe letting her think on it tonight will bring her around.

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