Page 18

Chapter Sixteen

B rooke stayed pressed against the door of the large SUV she’d been placed in. Boomer was driving, Striker was in the passenger seat, and Malik was in the second row with her. Auberi, Rurik, and Garth were behind them in another SUV. And Corbin and Duke were supposed to meet them at the safe house .

Since they’d gotten in the vehicle, Malik hadn’t spoken a word. He’d not even looked at her .

“We’ll find them, Brooke,” said Boomer, glancing up at the rearview mirror to look at her. “I promise you that .”

“Aye,” said Striker. “No one hurts a child on my watch. No one .”

“Thank you for your help,” Brooke said softly, her hands shaking. “Does anyone have a phone I can use ?”

Malik withdrew his phone and handed it to her, never saying a word .

She stiffened. “Does anyone else have a phone I can use ?”

“Aye,” said Striker, handing her his phone .

She started to dial a number she’d memorized, only to find it pulling up on its own in Striker’s phone. Brooke blinked. “Why do you have Gram Campbell’s number in your phone ?”

Striker twisted around in the seat. “The better question would be, how is it you know Gram ?”

She could feel Malik’s heated gaze on her but didn’t bother looking at him .

“Please tell me why you have his number in your phone .”

Striker nodded. “He works for the same place we do .”

“Wait, you’re all with PSI?” she asked .

“Aye,” said Striker .

Boomer glanced in the mirror again. “Did Gram tell you about PSI ?”

“Yes,” she replied .

“Brooke, how do you know him?” asked Boomer evenly .

“He saved my life,” she confessed. “At first I thought he was a guard at the facility I was being held at. A new one they’d only just hired. But it was quickly apparent he wasn’t like the rest. He wasn’t evil. He and another man who started there about the same time got Edee, Cody, and me out of there .”

“Cody?” asked Boomer .

“The guy who was held in the cell next to mine. The one who told me I was pregnant. And the one who tried so hard to protect me and the baby from harm.” Her hands continued to shake .

“Lass, you still have contact with Gram and this Cody?” asked Striker .

She nodded. “It’s been months since I’ve seen either of them. The last time Gram and I saw each other, it ended poorly .”

Striker narrowed his eyes on her. “He hurt you ?”

“Oh gods, no,” said Brooke. “Gram would never hurt me. We had a falling-out because I told him I wouldn’t marry him .”

Boomer cleared his throat, glancing nervously in the mirror at Malik. “So, you and Gram were a couple then ?”

“Yes. For three years. He’s listed on the birth certificate as Bethany’s father. He insisted. He loves her like she was his. It was hard to refuse his offer, but I didn’t want him hurt again because of me .”

“Again?” asked Striker, also watching Malik closely .

“Johnson and a team of men found us. Gram took me and Bethany on a mission with him. He said it wasn’t a dangerous one, but that he didn’t want to be gone that long from us. Edee thought it was a great idea so she pushed me to go too. Everything was really good for the first two months. It felt right. Like a real family. And then one night we were asleep in bed and suddenly there was so much noise that it stunned me. Gram responded faster than me. He already knew the sound was people breaking into the house, heavily armed. He shouted for me to get in the closet but I couldn’t. Not without my baby .”

Brooke rubbed the palms of her hands on her pant legs. “I didn’t listen to him. I ran for Bethany’s room. She was screaming and scared. I didn’t realize Gram intended to get to her and get her to safety. I ran out into the hall without thinking and Gram shouted my name a second before men opened fire on me. He put himself in the path of the bullets. Had his handler not been close, Bethany and I would have been taken and Gram would have died. They filled him with so many silver bullets that it nearly killed him .”

Striker’s jaw tightened. “Aye, I remember a report coming in about Gram being hurt in the line of duty, but it dinnae say how seriously or what mission he was on .”

“It was bad. Really bad. I thought I was going to lose him too,” she said. “That he’d be dead just like I thought Malik was .”

“He dinnae die,” said Striker. “Sounds like he dinnae blame you in the least for what happened. Am I right ?”

She nodded. “The first thing he said when he opened his eyes at the special hospital they had him at was, ‘will you marry me now?’ ’ I almost said yes. I should have said yes.” She looked up, blinking back her emotions. “He was so hurt when I told him we were going. That I refused to put him in danger by staying with him. And he was extra angry when he found out what I was doing to make a living .”

Striker eyed her. “And what was that ?”

“I work at a strip club, for lack of a better word .”

Striker pursed his lips. “I’m normally all for strippers, but I can see Gram’s issue with it. I do nae think it’s sitting well with Tut either .”

Brooke looked over to find Malik’s face was stone-like as he stared ahead .

A snort broke free from her. “He doesn’t care. He couldn’t get rid of me fast enough after we were together. And the second he heard I had a child, he said what he thought of me. So I don’t really give a rat’s ass what he thinks of how I supported my daughter .”

Malik’s gaze whipped to her. “You think I don’t care ?”

“Yes.”

“Well, in her defense, Tut, you did act like an arse when you found out she had a wee one. And you’ve nae said a word about the child being yers. If I was the lass, I’d think you dinnae care too. And I’d probably kick you in the balls. I’m actually considering kicking yer arse for her .”

Brooke leaned forward and patted Striker’s shoulders. “I really like you .”

“Most women do,” he said with a wink .

Pointing, Brooke slid up in the seat more and touched Boomer’s shoulder. “There. Turn right. It’s the first house on the left. That is one of the safe houses Edee and I agreed to meet at first if something happened .”

“You’ve more than one?” asked Striker .

“Yes. Gram, Cody, Armand—Gram’s handler—always insist we have more than one. Their motto is we can never be too prepared .”

“Gram still in the picture then?” asked Boomer .

“He’s never been out of it. Hurt by me saying no to marrying him, yes. Upset at the job I picked and that I didn’t let him take care of us, yes. Out of the picture, no. We haven’t seen each other because I asked him for time. He calls me twice a day and I know he moved closer to where we are. I know he watches the house a lot, afraid for us,” she said, her gaze sliding to Malik .

He didn’t look at her .

“Lass, stay in the vehicle while we check on that,” said Striker, motioning to two large, matching SUVs parked in front of the safe house .

She nearly panicked—until she caught sight of a small pink plastic butterfly hanging from the rearview mirror in one of the vehicles. She twisted in her seat fast and grabbed Malik’s thigh. “She’s safe! Bethany made him that butterfly on his mirror .”

Malik’s gaze locked on her hand .

She squeezed his leg. “Our baby is safe .”

She touched Boomer quickly. “Can you make sure Garth stays back a bit until we explain to Edee that he’s not the same man who hurt her ?”

He nodded, his expression sympathetic. “Will do .”

“Thank you!” Brooke was out of the car before it came to a full stop. She ran in the direction of the porch, only to have a large dark blur intercept her, catching her gently .

As she stared into the face of the tall, black-haired, muscular man with royal blue eyes, she found herself unable to speak .

Gram Campbell yanked her against his body and held her there, everything on him tight. He then tilted her face upwards and dropped his lips onto hers. His kiss was hot and branding. When he ended it, she saw the worry in his face. “When Edee called, I thought…I thought I’d never see you again .”

“Were they hurt?” she asked, still in his arms .

“No,” he returned softly. “I got there just as everything was going down. Edee kept Bethany hidden and we dinnae let her see the aftermath .”

Brooke threw her arms around Gram’s neck. “Thank you. Thank you so much .”

Gram kissed the top of her head. “Brooke, it’s nae safe for you to live on yer own .”

“I know,” she said, loosening her hold on him. “I thought we could do it. I thought they maybe gave up on hunting us .”

“Och, lass, Elm has convinced himself that yer the closest thing to a mate he’ll ever have. That he can force a life with you. He’s sick and twisted and has no grasp on reality. He’ll nae stop hunting you so long as he lives,” said Gram, emotions choking him up. “He already tried to force himself on you when you were expecting Bethany. Had Cody nae been there, I do nae even want to think of what would have happened. We were lucky tonight. He dinnae come himself. He sent his henchmen .”

Brooke stepped back from him and bit her lower lip. “He came to the club .”

“W-what?” he asked, his voice so low it was barely audible .

She knew he’d react badly to the news that Elm had found her, but she couldn’t lie to him. “Johnson led the team that came and then shortly after, Elm arrived .”

Gram’s blue eyes swirled to a deep brown as a huge growl sounded from him .

Brooke grabbed his hands. “No. Don’t give in to the change. I’m okay .”

It was clear that Gram was fighting his wolf. “Brooke, he’s nae a normal supernatural male. He’s unlike anything any of us have ever gone up against. From what Armand and I have found, he’s thousands of years old. And he has powers the likes of which I’ve never seen a Fae have. How did you manage to get away from him? I know we spent a long time teaching you to protect yerself, but that willnae stop a man like Elm .”

Brooke started to tell him everything that happened but he gasped and grabbed her, sniffing her .

“I smell him on you—and I smell shifter and vampire on you .”

“Campbell, I do nae like you much. If you do nae take yer hands off the lass while yer angry, I willnae stop Malik from tearing you to bits,” said Striker .

It was then Brooke noticed Boomer and Striker holding Malik back as Malik’s eyes burned with amber .

Gram’s brows drew together. “What’s going on? Why are you all with her ?”

“Malik protected me. So did his friend Auberi,” said Brooke, doing her best to diffuse the situation. “And then a bunch of their friends came .”

“And then they came?” asked Gram, eyeing her. “As in Malik and Auberi were with you to start with ?”

“You’ve no idea just how much one of them beat you to the punch,” said Striker, earning him a grunt from Boomer. He shrugged. “Let’s be honest here. Malik is the one with a right to be angry. Nae Campbell .”

Gram growled. “Tut was at the club, wasn’t he? It’s nae enough he beds a different woman nightly. He has to pay for the pleasure of their company too ?”

Brooke felt as if someone had hit her in the chest with a bat. “I know what type of man he is. For a brief moment, I thought I’d judged him wrong. I didn’t. I was young and na?ve. I believed in happily ever after then. I believed in love at first sight .”

Gram tipped his head, confusion coating his face .

She stayed close to him. “Don’t be mad at him for being who he is. He’s a womanizer. It’s his thing. As much as that killed me inside, it is what it is. And yes, he was at the club tonight. Does it matter why? In the end, he kept them from taking me. I’d used too much power to stop Elm and the others with him. And then when I was shot and fell, I had too much damage that needed to be healed to be able to run or protect myself. Because Malik was there, I didn’t have to .”

Gram paled. “You used enough magik to stop Elm and you were shot ?”

She gave a small nod .

He narrowed his gaze. “How are you upright? I know you, Brooke. I know how yer gifts work and what they need when tapped into.” He took a step back and ran his hands over his face. “You did it. You finally gave in to that short chick’s requests for you to do more than just pour drinks for men. You slept with one, didn’t you? Malik? It was him, wasn’t it ?”

“Gram, stop,” she said, keeping her voice even. “It’s not like that. I met him years ago .”

Gram sucked in a big breath. “He’s the one, isn’t he? He’s Bethany’s father. I knew her shifter side smelled familiar to me. I couldnae place it. It’s him, right ?”

“Yes.”

Snarling, Gram pointed at Malik, and Brooke threw herself in front of the wolf-shifter as he began to shout. “Yer nae coming in here and taking the family I built! You left a young woman pregnant with yer babe and you dinnae come for her when she needed you most. Yer a shite mate, Nasser !”

“Stop!” she said, pushing on Gram’s chest. “It’s not like that !”

“So he dinnae plant his seed in you and do nothing when you were taken by sick bastards?” asked Gram, his neck muscles popping .

“Aye, ’tis as you said,” added Striker .

“Not helping here,” pressed Boomer .

“I know, but Tut did as Gram said, and he’s nae said a word about his wee one. Speak up dumbarse or yer going to lose her, Tut. You’ve got to be the one to tell her the truth. It means nothing coming from us .”

Brooke teared up and pressed a partial smile to her face as she stared at Striker. “I shouldn’t have said what I did to him. I was hurt and angry but it wasn’t his fault I was taken. And it’s okay that he didn’t want me. I’ve accepted that. Bethany doesn’t know anything about him, and when she’s older and asks, I’ll tell her something that paints Malik in a good light. There’s no need for her to know he didn’t want her either.” She did her best to remain calm. “Gram is here now. We’ll go with him and we’ll all be fine. Thank you for everything .”

Boomer gave Malik a shove. “She can’t hear your thoughts, Tut. If you don’t open your mouth and say it all, even if she rejects it, then you have no one to blame when she goes away and you never see her again and you never even get to meet your daughter .”

Read his thoughts ?

Brooke was about to ask about the statement when the front door of the safe house opened. Edee stepped out, holding Bethany in her arms. The four-year-old looked exhausted and was clutching her stuffed lion that she never slept without. She rubbed her large dark brown eyes, her long black, curly hair hanging to her mid- back .

“See, sweetie, I told you Mommy was fine. The bad men didn’t get her. Look, she’s safe and with Uncle Gram.” Edee nodded to Brooke .

Bethany perked slightly and dropped her stuffed lion on the porch. “ Mommy ?”

Brooke hesitated, afraid Gram might attack Malik in his current state. She didn’t want her daughter seeing that. “Gram, are you okay ?”

“No,” he said. “But I willnae do what yer thinking. I’d never scare the child. Unlike some, I love her .”

Brooke stepped away from Gram and went in the direction of the porch. She hurried up the stairs and put her arms out wide. Bethany leapt into them and hugged her tight. Brooke kissed the top of her head. Reaching out towards Edee, Brooke mouthed the words “thank you ”.

Her best friend took her hand and stepped in, hugging them both. She then rubbed Bethany’s back. “Mommy’s fine, sweetie. And you’re so tired. How about I take you up and lay with you tonight? I’m guessing Mommy will come in and sleep with us too .”

Bethany clung to Brooke and began to cry softly. “Mommy, I’m scared. Aunt Edee put me in the secret space in my room and then I heard shouting. I peeked out and saw a man hit Aunt Edee. He was a bad man, Mommy. Aunt Edee threw him out the window !”

Edee sucked in a big breath. “I didn’t know she saw that, Brooke .”

Brooke lifted Bethany’s head and kissed the tears from her cheeks. “Sweetie, it’s okay now .”

“Is Aunt Edee a superhero?” Bethany asked .

Brooke laughed softly. “No. But she is special. Just like you are. You know how your eyes change colors sometimes? And how sometimes when you’re really angry your nails get long ?”

She nodded. “Like Uncle Gram can do. He says we’re special. He says it’s a big gift I have that I can do that. He said most little girls like me can’t do that.” Her eyes widened. “Did you know he can turn into a dog ?”

“Och, lass, ’tis nae a dog,” said Gram with a slight laugh. “A wolf. Nae a dog. We’ve been over this .”

Bethany smiled wide. “Mommy, can I turn into a dog ?”

“No, precious,” said Brooke, happy to see her daughter could still find happiness even with the night she’d had. “From what I’m told, the very fact you can do what you can do is something very big for girls like you. Not many can make their nails long or have their eyes change colors. Let alone do both .”

Bethany put her hand up by her mouth and leaned in to her mother, whispering in her ear. “Mommy, would you be mad at me if I told you something bad I did tonight ?”

“Sweetie?” asked Brooke .

Bethany eased back in her arms as her bottom lip jutted out. “I know it was bad, Mommy. But when the other man was choking Aunt Edee, it just happened .”

Brooke tensed. “What happened ?”

Edee rubbed her throat. “Brooke, I don’t know. I blacked out for a second. When I came to, Gram was there and had Bethany in his arms. Armand was there too .”

Bethany wiggled to get down and Brooke let her. When her tiny feet touched the porch, she rocked back and forth, playing with her curls with one hand. “You’re gonna make me take a really long time-out because you said it’s bad to hit and be mean. You said I have to not give in and be mean when I want to be .”

Brooke bent and touched her daughter’s round cheek. “Sweetie, what happened ?”

“I didn’t stop the mean inside. And it did not like seeing Aunt Edee be hurt,” said Bethany. She bent her head and when she lifted it again, her eyes were amber, her nails were long, and when she opened her mouth, Brooke saw that her incisors had lengthened. She shook her head and it all went away. “I ran out and bit the bad man’s leg. He tried to get me off his leg but I held on, Mommy, and I bit him again. Then I scratched him. Then he tried to scratch me back but he was slow, Mommy. Really slow. He couldn’t get me. Then I got so mad at him for being a big bully that I pointed at him.” She took a deep breath. “And the room got real cold. Then he just flew out the window! I tell you, Mommy, that window had a lot of bad guys go out it. But I didn’t break it. Aunt Edee broke it first. Not me .”

Edee bent too. “Brooke, she can do what you can do? Did you see her teeth? That’s new .”

Brooke touched her daughter’s stomach, hating that she’d been put through that. “Sweetie, you didn’t let anyone hurt Aunt Edee or you. I’d never make you take a time-out for that .”

Bethany touched her teeth. “But I let the mean out, Mommy. You told me that isn’t nice to do .”

Brooke kissed Bethany’s cheeks again. “Sometimes, you have to let the mean out. But not all the time .”

“Boy oh boy, are the rules hard to follow. Don’t be mean, Bethany. Okay, be mean, Bethany.” She tossed her hands in the air. “What’s a girl to do ?”

A large hand fell upon Brooke’s shoulder and she stood, expecting to find Gram there. When she realized it was Malik, she stiffened .

He went to one knee before Bethany. “Hello there .”

Bethany eyed him cautiously. “ Hello .”

“Can I show you something?” he asked .

She nodded .

“Don’t be scared, okay? I just want to show you so you know that we’re alike .”

“We are?” she asked, her eyes widening. “You make people fall out of windows too ?”

“Sometimes.” Malik chuckled softly and lifted a finger, letting a claw emerge from the tip of it. He then closed his eyes and opened them again, showing the amber in them. He opened his mouth and Brooke saw his teeth do what Bethany’s had done. He then closed his eyes and when he opened them again, they were back to dark brown. His teeth returned to normal and the claw receded into his finger .

Bethany sniffed the air and then squealed. “Mommy, he’s just like me! Smell him? He smells like me! Not like a dog .”

Brooke bent as well, unsure what Malik might do or say. “Yes, sweetie. That’s neat, huh? Someone else is just like you .”

Malik picked up the stuffed toy lion from the porch and smiled at it. “And who might this be ?”

Bethany grinned. “Nas. He’s my best friend .”

“Nas?” asked Malik. “Interesting name. And he’s your best friend? Doesn’t seem like he’d be much fun in a conversation .”

Bethany giggled. “He doesn’t talk, silly. He’s not real .”

“Oh,” said Malik, holding the lion out to her .

“And his whole name is Nasser,” said Bethany, taking the lion and holding it close to her. “He makes me feel safe at night .”

Brooke felt faint when she heard Bethany’s full name for the lion. A name she’d never heard her daughter say before, but a name she’d heard said tonight more than once. It was Malik’s last name. She swayed and Malik reached out, catching her .

“Nasser?” asked Malik, his voice tight. He glanced at Brooke. “You said you didn’t tell her about me .”

“I didn’t,” said Brooke, shaking her head. “And I didn’t know your last name until tonight .”

“How come you smell like me?” asked Bethany .

“I think that is enough excitement for one night. Let’s get some sleep and we can talk more in the morning. Sound good?” Brooke lifted Bethany, and Malik stood as well .

Bethany twisted and looked at Edee. “She wants me to go to sleep so she can talk to you and figure out what to tell me. I’m a big girl and she doesn’t need to worry about me. I can handle a lot. We women always can .”

Edee laughed. “Yes, we women can handle quite a bit. And you’re right. I think Mommy needs to talk with the men here. Then Mommy has to tell me every single word that was said because I’m dying to know how she ended up bringing this group home with her. And why Uncle Gram looks less than pleased. Better yet, she should just have me in the room with her. Saves time later if I know it all firsthand .”

Bethany yawned. “I’m not tired .”

“Sweetie, you were woken up from a dead sleep tonight and had quite a scare. It’s very late and I know you’re very tired. Come on with me and we’ll get some sleep.” Edee reached for her .

Bethany dodged her grasp and looked over at Striker and Boomer. Her eyes widened. “Mommy, you brought home more giants. One of them has makeup on !”

Boomer laughed. “You are a trip, kid .”

“Uncle Cody says that to me too,” she returned, smiling .

Striker walked up to the porch, his focus on Edee to start. “Lass, yer even hotter than I remember you being .”

Edee gave him a droll look. “You’re like a bad penny .”

He grinned. “Thanks.” He then reached for Bethany. “Wee one, yer exhausted. Come on. I’ll stand outside yer bedroom door and make sure no one comes in that shouldnae be there. I’ll stay out there the rest of the night so you can sleep without worry .”

She giggled. “You sound like Uncle Gram. He’s very hard to understand when he’s upset .”

Boomer laughed. “So is Striker .”

“Your name is Striker?” she asked. “That’s a terrible name .”

Striker laughed. “’’Tis better than my given name, lass. Come. You and Aunt Edee both look like you could use some sleep. I’ll nae let anyone near either of you .”

“Promise?” asked Bethany .

Striker crossed his heart. “ Promise .”

Brooke glanced at her best friend. “Edee, I need to talk to you about something. Someone really. But not with everyone around. Okay ?”

Edee nodded .

Bethany kissed Brooke and then went to Striker before twisting in his arms and grabbing Malik around the neck. She kissed his cheek too and he grabbed her, wrapping his arms around her, sliding her gently out of Striker’s hold. He closed his eyes and held Bethany tenderly. She yawned again and put her head against his chest, her eyelids fluttering shut .

Malik rocked her gently. “You’re safe now, princess .”

Brooke didn’t dare move. She simply stood there, dumbfounded to see Malik being so incredibly good with Bethany .

Striker surprised Brooke next by pulling her into a hug and squeezing tight. “I’m sorry Tut was a moron. You’ve a precious family, Brooke. I’ll take the wee one up to get some sleep. And I’ll make sure Edee rests too .”

She hugged him back. “Thank you .”

He made a move to take Bethany, who was now fast asleep on Malik .

A low growl came from Malik .

Bethany stirred slightly but didn’t open her eyes. She patted Malik’s cheek, her stuffed lion smashed between them. “Don’t let the mean out, Daddy .”

Everyone froze .

Edee stared at Brooke. “Did she just call him what I think she called him ?”

“Aye,” said Striker. “The wee one’s shifter side knows who Malik is to her. It understands his scent and the bond they share. And it’s clear the wee one’s gifts sensed who her father was long before tonight. It would explain the lion bein’ named after Tut .”

Brooke cupped her mouth .

Malik kissed Bethany’s forehead. “I’m sorry, princess. I won’t let the mean out .”

Striker nodded and then took Bethany from Malik, holding her as if he’d held a hundred children before. He looked like a pro. He then ushered Edee through the door and into the house .

“Brooke,” said Malik, reaching for her .

She stepped out of reach and pushed her hair behind her ears. “Thank you for your help tonight. You can go now .”

“What?” he asked .

“Gram knows how to reach you, right?” she asked .

“You want me to leave?” he asked .

Boomer huffed. “Can you really blame her? You were a giant tool to her .”