My voice breaks, and I lift up a gaze that I know isn’t appropriate. It’s one that begs with every blink, that shimmers with unspoken hopes that I have no right to have. My life has never been easy; it’s never been simple. I’ve lived through one horrible tragedy after another. How could I ever expect to ride into the sunset with not one, not two, but four men that I love with my whole heart? When the fuck did I ever allow myself to want and need that?
I’m a beautiful fool, that’s for sure.
“They’re both alive,” Beast says, wetting his lips in a way that tells me that’s far from the full story. “But Grainger needs another surgery; we need to get to the hospital quick, suge.”
Shit, shit, shit.
I try to surge up to my feet, but Beast holds me where I am, forcing me to meet his gaze yet again.
“You need to take it easy; your face is swollen, and your body is purple, darlin’. You shouldn’t rightfully be up at all. Honestly, a hospital visit for you wouldn’t be entirely out of order.” I finally succeed in shoving his hands off of my shoulders, but only because he lets me.
Then I’m up and unlocking the door, surprised to find both Grey and Reba waiting for me on the other side, my dog wagging his tail at me from down the hall. Fem doesn’t approach though, keeping his distance from both Grey and Beast probably. He hates men.
Reba’s face breaks into pieces at whatever she sees on mine.
“Oh goodness, sugar, what did he do to you?” She touches her fingers to my cheeks on either side but even her featherlight touch is too much, and I cringe. I can only imagine what I look like now that the swelling’s set in. “Gidge …”
“I need you to stay here while we’re gone,” I say, letting my gaze trail past Reba and over to Grey. As soon as Beast steps up beside me and sees that the mafia brat is standing in his hallway, he goes all cold and scary the way he did when he beat the crap out of Gaz. More specifically, when I begged him not to kill Gaz. Not for my brother’s sake, obviously, but for his own. “Wait.” I hold my right arm out, blocking the doorway. Could I ever physically stop Beast? Even if I were to drop all other hopes and dreams and throw myself into a fitness career? Nah. I’m woman enough to admit that: I will never be able to beat Catcher Coffey when it comes to sheer, brute strength alone.
But luckily, I don’t have any need to do that.
Because Beast has gifted me his leash; it’s attached directly to his heart. And, if we’re being honest, probably his cock, too, right? I want to laugh hysterically because, like, this is exactly the sort of wedding day someone like me would have.
I got one, hot quickie with my new hubby and then bam, my entire life is ruined, and nothing in the universe makes sense. How could Cat shoot Gaz over me? How? I don’t understand, and, like with most humans, I am terrified of the things I understand the least.
“Grey,” I say again, and he sighs dramatically, reaching out a finger to brush some of my hair back. It seems to be, uh, stuck to my forehead with sweat. Fantastic. Beast snatches Grey’s wrist before I can stop him, and the latter gives an angry cringe at the awful sort of cracking sound that ensues.
“You can be friends, but don’t fuckin’ touch,” Beast says, very calmly, very evenly. He releases Grey’s hand as the boy rubs at his wrist like it hurts. Must not be broken though or he wouldn’t be rubbing at it like that. Thank fuck.
“You look as terrible on your wedding day to Beast as you did on your one to me,” Grey offers up, rather dryly I might add. Ballsy, considering he’s on enemy territory once again.
“Have you learned anything since you were last kidnapped and held prisoner by the club? Don’t be a salty idiot, Grey,” I warn him, even as I feel Beast tensing further behind me. I have no doubt that without me standing between them—metaphorically more so than physically—that Beast would not hesitate to kill Grey Wolfe. “You’re in big trouble here; there’s no time or resources to get you off the compound for a while.”
“Wouldn’t be possible right now anyway,” Beast amends again, as if he feels it’s important for Grey to hear that. Why, I’m not sure. Warning him to stay away so he doesn’t die for my benefit? Mm. Probably not. More like, he wants to know what, exactly, Grey knows before he releases him.
Because if Grey is caught and tortured again, what will he tell the club about us? Might be a moot point since whatever Gaz showed my father on his phone was presented like indisputable evidence. Still, it never hurts to be cautious.
