Page 230 of Wild Card

The Captain Boyd standing in the room is not the same man I met days ago at the wedding. Gone is the relaxed joker who told me the story of learning about me and assuming Talon had a crush on Abe. This man is all business.

He catches sight of me first, his face growing severe.

Rowan’s gasp has Ford turning my way, a flicker of something in his gaze as his arm shoots out.

“When I pull Simms out of whatever shithole he’s in—I’m beating his ass for what he’s done to her. She looks like a fucking walking zombie.”

Guess my speedy marathon of collecting myself wasn’t as miraculous as I thought.

“Sweetheart.” Rowan rushes to me.

“What are you doing here?”

She jerks at my question. “What are we doing here?”

“Yes, you’re supposed to be on your honeymoon.”

“My honeymoon? Maybe you should sit down.”

“You’re supposed to be on a beach. That’s why he didn’t tell you.”

She glances over her shoulder, Ford’s stoney face softening a little.

“I know why he didn’t tell me, Wills. But that shit isn’t cool.”

“He wanted you to have that. After all you went through to be together, he wanted you to have that time.”

“We will, honey. The beach isn’t going anywhere.”

“You can’t be mad at him,” I blurt out, my own anger bubbling. “None of you can be mad at him. Disappointed, yes… maybe a little ticked because that is what badass brethren do… or even feel the sting of being left behind. But this anger you’re projecting, it’s… it’s… awful!”

“Talon would be standing here with the same thoughts if the situation was reversed.” Ace’s lightened tone is a direct contrast to his dark expression.

“You fell in love with Harley at seventeen and tortured yourself for over a decade.”

His jaw ticks as he works his lip through his teeth.

“She just had a baby. Your son… “ I pause, making eye contact with Major and Ford, pushing on. “And Jewls, the twins, Rowan’s beating and kidnappings… he didn’t want you to risk any of the reward of your futures.”

“We get that, but he didn’t have the right to take that choice from us.” Major steps forward and I instantly step back. His expression fills with shock, knowing he’d never hurt me.

Rowan’s hold on me tightens. “Willow, you should sit down.”

“Like Ace said, if the situation was reversed?—”

I slice my eyes to Ford, daring him to finish his sentence. “Maybe he would understand. But I don’t! How can you stand here full of so much rage, it’s clawing at my skin. He’s protecting you and your families from any further heartbreak. He did this for YOU! ALL OF YOU! Your brother and best friend is out there alone on a mission and you’re threatening to beat his ass! How dare you? Where’s the loyalty? The respect? He left his parents, he left ME! I love him so much it literally beats in my veins. He is everything to me. If anything happens to him, I’ll hate you all forever.”

If possible, the air in the room takes on a new intensity. A hiss sounds and I catch the silent exchange.

My rant dies, knowing there is something unsaid between all men. And I may have gone a little overboard on my hate speak.

“She doesn’t know.” Ford directs his statement at Robbie, who gives a short shake.

“Know what?”

Robbie turns my way, his beautiful blue eyes filled with care. “Talon’s with a team. A team he picked.”

A sense of relief washes through me so fast, my knees wobble. “Thank God. Do you know them?”

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