Page 102 of The Fighter who Needed Me
Brooks
London, England June 1813
Waking in his lonely bed was something Brooks never wanted to do ever again.
He had two blissful months of happiness with his wife, and damn it. He wanted her back in his arms.
Getting dressed, Brooks pulled on his leather bracers that Cabe had given him over his shirt sleeves and he pulled on a dark vest.
He tucked his long knife into his boot and pushed his hair back, out of his eyes.
He tucked a gun into the back of his pants and threw his jacket on to cover it.
He did not know what would happen, and he would try to get Persephone out of there without any violence, but he was ready for it.
Walking into the hallway, Burk was there, dressed similarly to him. Wearing dark clothes and a black shirt.
He too had bracers on his wrist and Brooks saw the handle of Burk’s knife also tucked into his boot.
“Lily is coming with. But I am making her stay behind me.”
Lily came out of their rooms, wearing black breeches, boots and a shirt. It showed the swell of her stomach off and Brooks looked away.
He walked to where Lily was putting on a jacket and grabbed her hands. “Thank you, Lily. For coming. Please take care of yourself. I know Burk would not be pleased if something happened to you.”
She smiled and kissed his cheek. “I will be careful. I want to get her back. I have always hated her parents and this time they went too far.”
Brooks gave her a tiny smile and they walked out into the darkness of the early morning.
Their stable hand had two horses saddled and ready to go, and Brooks swung up on his horse while Burk did the same on his, pulling Lily into his lap.
They nodded and Brooks took off down the cobble street and toward Cole’s townhouse.
Cole, Aidan, Cabe and Nathaniel, Carter, Bran and Grant were standing on the street, their horses saddled and ready to go.
Brooks slid off his horse and shook hands with each of the men he considered his family.
“Thank you, Aidan. For coming. I am grateful you came all this way when I know how close Rhia is to delivering your child.”
Aidan waved him off, “Your wife was taken on my land. And she has become family to us all. I will always be here for my family.”
Brooks felt his eyes warm and he coughed. “Thank you.”
Aidan pulled him in for a quick hug and then they got on their horses.
“When we get to the cathedral, we need to be careful. Take our time and not go running in there. I don’t want Persephone to come to harm.”
Everyone nodded, and they rode in silence to the cathedral.
There were a few people loitering outside when they rode up and Brooks jumped down, needing to get to his wife.
With Aidan by his side, they walked in the doors and saw Brooks’ worst nightmare.
Persephone was sitting in her chair, next to a large man with greying hair.
She was in a white dress and she looked as if she was trying not to cry.
“Persephone!” He yelled and everyone turned to look at him.
