Page 30 of Brood

Chapter Twenty-Five

When I wake, I have that moment of calm that quickly gets shot to hell when I remember where I am and why I’m here. When I shift and feel a soft, warm body next to mine, I relax back into the mattress. Jordyn is here, right next to me. Rolling, so I’m on my side, I take in her peacefully sleeping face. I’m close enough to count every freckle on the bridge of her nose and damn it’s a cute as fuck nose. She looks so young lying here next to me, almost too young. I know it shouldn’t, but it only makes me want her more, so I can be the one to protect her. So she will forever come to me if she needs anything. I only have to get her to believe me when I tell her heaven and earth will move if she needs it to.

Her lids crack open, bringing her beautiful eyes to mine. “Hey.”

She tries to talk but has to clear her throat first. “Hi.”

“Sleep good?”

Her head bobs up and down. “Yes.”

“Awake enough for me to say something?” This time she doesn’t answer, only stares, I take that as a yes. “You agreed to let us help you.”

“Brood—”

“Let me finish. I know you have been a captive most of your life, but that isn’t what you are with us. You are a part of our damn family, and we take care of our own. Even if that means keeping them safe from themselves. When all this is over and you are safe, you are more than welcome to leave.” I force out the last sentence ignoring the bad taste it leaves in my mouth. “Until then, you are coming home with me.” I fully expect her to argue. Maybe get up off the bed and start yelling. Instead, she lets out a long, defeated sigh then nods. That’s all I need to pull her close and hold her tight in my arms, where she feels as though she belongs.

Because she fucking does.

My hand strokes through her hair, from the top of her head all the way down past her shoulders. Softer than I could have imagined. I indulge myself and even inhale her scent. Something I never will tire of. It isn’t until I feel her shaking in my arms that I pull back enough to see the tears streaking across her face. “Jor.”

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have left.” She sobs, pushing herself back into the crook of my neck and clenching onto my shirt.

“It’s over now.”

“They found me. Now they know who has me. They will come for you!” She pushes away, getting off the bed and to her feet. “This is exactly what I was trying to avoid. He won’t rest until your whole club is up in smoke. He will burn everything to the ground.”

“The hell he will. I won’t let it happen. None of us will,” I declare, getting to my feet. “They don’t know who we are. Look at me Jor,” I pause, waiting for her full attention. “We had them thinking we were there to collect you for the bounty and you escaped. We weren’t wearing our cuts, and we didn’t go back to Rhino. The guys that followed us to this town got picked up by the local PD. We will be out of town before they even get out. Just to be safe, we are going to pack the bikes up and haul them back with us. Premo is loaning us a truck and trailer. As far as whoever was chasing us know, we went right through town.”

“What if they target this place?”

“They won’t.”

“How can you be so sure?”

I know I can’t give her one hundred percent serenity, but I still do. It’s the only lie I intend to tell her. “They won’t, baby.” She relents and falls into my arms again. Breaking down. She is so damn strong that I don’t think she has ever given herself a chance to just let it all out. All the pain caused by one man. One fucking man who had better pray to every God he believes in that we don’t cross paths, or he will meet my devil.

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