Page 23 of Savage Daddies
“When it comes to you, little Josie, I have all the time in the world.” He brushes my hair behind my ears. “Our mother was taken from Achilla and our fathers were all born in Misty Falls.”
Fathers. Of course. In the wildlands, it seems every woman must pair with several men. “How many fathers did you have?”
“Eight.”
My eyes widen and I feel a stab of sympathy for their mother. I have a feeling it’s going to be a challenge having four mates. I can’t imagine double that. “Wow. Eight is a lot. Were your fathers all brothers?”
“Three of them were, and the other five were men from the village who joined them in their hunt for a mate.”
I realize he’s talking in the past tense about his parents and my spirits plummet. There’s a wistfulness to his tone as well. I take his hand in mine and squeeze it. “Where are they all now?” I ask, even though I’m pretty sure I know the answer.
“Our village was attacked by a band of outcasts many years ago, when my brothers and I were still young children. They all perished in the fighting.”
My heart breaks for Daddies Nash and Axel, and even for Erik and Gage, whom I haven’t yet met. It’s difficult to imagine these big strong men as orphaned little boys and I suppose they’d been forced to grow up quickly.
Wishing I could make it better, I wrap my arms around Daddy Nash and hug him tight. “I’m so sorry.” Even though I never had parents, a week with the brothers as their little girl has taught me the value of family.
Daddy Nash rubs a hand up and down my back and buries his face in my hair. After I finally pull away, I reach for Daddy Axel and place a hand upon his shoulder.
“So sorry,” I whisper, my voice tight with emotion.
Our eyes meet in the rearview mirror and he gives me a solemn nod followed by a sad smile.
“Our village is well-guarded now and stronger than it’s ever been.” Daddy Nash strokes my hair. “You needn’t worry about outcasts bothering you. And, if by chance a band of outcasts ever does manage to get past our guards, we have an underground bunker you will be able to hide in until the fighting has passed.” A haunted look enters his dark eyes and suddenly his hands tighten in my hair. But he soon realizes his actions and releases his hold on my locks.
I notice Daddy Axel is gripping the steering wheel so firmly his knuckles have turned white. It must have been awful, losing their parents at such a young age and such a violent manner. I swallow past the burning in my throat and summon the bravery to ask my next question.
“Why, um, why wasn’t your mother in the underground bunker with you?” It’s a dangerous question, I know, but I must learn the answer.
“She was,” Daddy Axel says. “But then she grabbed a gun and left the safety of the bunker. Our fathers had ordered her to remain with us and she disobeyed them. We found her face down in the mud, shot to death. Outcasts usually won’t kill women—they kidnap them instead—but she’d dressed as a man that day, as she often did. Her hair was up under a hat and her clothes were baggy.”
Sorrow reverberates in my chest. How awful. Truly heartbreaking. “How old were the four of you?”
“Erik and Gage were four, Axel was eight, and I was six,” Daddy Nash says.
“Many children were orphaned that day. A kind, elderly widow named Nicole took us in after that.” Daddy Axel stares straight ahead, but his eyes are unfocused. I can only imagine the horrors he’s picturing in his mind.
“I’m sorry, Daddies, I should not have asked you these questions.” Guilt settles upon me. I’d suspected their parents had died. Why couldn’t I have simply left it alone?
“I’m glad you asked. You need to understand the ways of our world. We’re all free out here in the wildlands, but sometimes that freedom has a price.” Daddy Axel exhales a deep breath and some of the tension leaves his body. “And you’re probably going to think the four of us are too overprotective at times, but now you will understand the reason why. We will always do everything in our power to keep you safe, little girl.”
I nod in acquiescence, still sorry for the dark mood I’ve caused. After this story, I have a feeling the brothers will never let me out of their sight. Then I count myself lucky for not running into outcasts during my escape attempt.
“So, the outcasts... who-who are they exactly?”
“Lawbreakers who’ve been exiled from all villages. Thieves, mostly, though many are extremely violent. All outcasts have a large X carved into their foreheads and are forbidden to set foot inside a village. However, we don’t exile criminals in Misty Falls. Not anymore. We kill them. No sense contributing to their numbers. Most of the villages around us have followed suit, though not all of them.”
I repress a shudder. Days ago, I’d still had no idea savages were real. I’d truly believed no one could live in the wildlands, but there’s a whole society out here with rules and customs I’ll have to get used to—and fast.
“We’ll arrive in Misty Falls within the hour,” Daddy Nash says.
Despite our recent sad conversation, excitement starts building within me. I peer out the window, eager for my first glimpse of the village I’ll soon call home.
* * *
As the sun sits lowabove the mountains, orange and pink and glorious, I finally spy the village. My heart leaps and I straighten in my seat, wincing slightly at the lingering soreness of my bottom, as I peer at the small cabins and outbuildings nestled amongst the trees. I also catch my first glimpse of the water tower the brothers told me about, a large silver structure hovering above the lush green forest.
“Welcome to your new home, little girl,” Axel says, giving my thigh an affectionate squeeze.
