Page 49 of Property of Buck
"Easy," Buck warned. How could he take it easy when the woman he'd been secretly in love with for months had been abused by some piece of shit? Easy wasn't happening.
"He nearly killed me,” Leah whispered. Every thought he had stopped. Even Hulk stopped moving as Leah stared at the table.
"He found out I was planning to leave him,” Her voice broke, and Wren immediately pulled her in for a hug. "He beat me so badly I ended up in the hospital. When I got out, I disappeared." A humorless smile touched her lips. "I changed my name."
"And moved from Saskatoon to Winnipeg?" Buck asked.
She nodded. "Then eventually Manitoba."
"How long ago did this happen?” Gorgon asked.
"It’s been five years now,” Leah said. Hulk wanted to hit someone or something. For five fucking years she'd been looking over her shoulder and carrying this alone. Hulk hated that more than he could explain.
"He never found me before now,” she insisted.
Gorgon folded his arms over his chest. "Until today."
Leah nodded. "Until today." Silence followed as Hulk reached for the photographs. He studied each one carefully—the locations where they had been taken, the angles of the camera, distances, and patterns. It was the same way he would study an enemy, because that's what this was—an enemy. Someone was hunting Leah and threatening her—someone stupid enough to think he'd get away with it.
"Where are you staying tonight?" Hulk asked.
Leah looked confused by the question. "My apartment."
"No,” Hulk breathed. The word came out instantly.
She blinked up at him. "What?"
"You're not going back there,” Hulk insisted. Leah straightened as a little fire returned to her eyes. That worked for him because fear didn't suit her.
"I wasn't asking permission,” she spat. Buck looked suspiciously entertained, and Gorgon outright smirked. Traitors.
"Hulk—" Leah started.
"No,” he growled again, leaning forward to practically cage Leah between his body and the chair. "Whoever took those pictures knows where you live."
"I can't just—" Leah began to protest.
"Yes, you can,” he insisted.
"Hulk,” she breathed.
"No." The room went silent again. He could tell that his brothers were definitely enjoying this. Leah stared at him, huffing out her breath, but he stared right back. For once, he wasn't backing down—not where she was concerned.
Finally, Buck cleared his throat. "Actually, Hulk's right." Leah groaned.
"You'll stay here tonight," Gorgon said.
"And tomorrow we'll figure out next steps,” Buck offered. Leah looked around the table at each person standing there, and when she realized that no one there was willing to argue with Hulk, Buck, or Gorgon, she finally sighed.
"Fine,” she spat. Relief hit him so hard it nearly staggered him, and nobody noticed, except Wren. The woman smirked at him, but Hulk ignored her.
Leah stood. "I'm exhausted."
Wren rose immediately. "I'll show you to one of the guest rooms." Leah nodded and looked back at Hulk, just for a second.
"Thank you,” she breathed. The words were quiet, but sincere. They made something warm settle in his chest. Something he'd spent months trying to ignore. She disappeared down the hallway with Wren, and the second she was gone, Buck burst out laughing. Hulk glared, only causing Buck to laugh harder.
"Oh, you've got it bad,” Buck drawled.
