Page 120 of Unhinged

"Gidge," I say, rubbing the back of my neck, nervous as a schoolboy. "I did something. And you’re probably gonna be real mad. But I want you to remember—I just want what’s best for you. For you and that boy."

She narrows her eyes. "What did you do, Acid?"

I take a deep breath. "I’d even go as far to say… I love you, Brydgett."

She sucks in a breath so fast it whistles through her teeth. She doesn’t say it back—I don't expect her to. Probably never heard those words from anyone but Judge or Ike.

"I called that school you wanted to send Judge to," I say, rushing to get it out before I lose my nerve. "Paid the tuition. For the rest of this year. And next. He can start whenever you're ready."

Her eyes go huge. Her lip quivers. Pissed. Trying to keep it together.

"He's my fucking kid, Titus," she hisses.

I wince. Yeah. Knew that was coming.

"Gidge, you wanted him to go there. It's safer. He wants to go."

"You had no right," she whispers, voice cracking.

"He's the son of my omega," I growl. "If I got any say—he's our son. I wanna give him our last name. Adopt him, if you'll let me. But even if you ain't ready for that yet, let me help."

Tears pool in her big green eyes. Breaks my goddamn heart.

"You mean that?" she breathes.

"Mean what?" I ask, voice thick.

"You wanna adopt him? Give him your last name?"

Before I can answer, Arrow steps in, solid as a wall.

"You’re our omega, Brydgett," he says. "That makes him our son, whether we made him or not."

"We’re gonna keep him safe," Gears adds, voice low and sure. "Same way we’ll keep you safe. Promise, Gidge."

"Okay," she breathes.

She stands on her tiptoes, and I lean down, catching her mouth with mine. When we break apart, she giggles, breathless.

"We'll talk about you knowing my legal name later, baby," I growl, pretending to be mad.

"Deal," she says, grinning wickedly, the fire back in her eyes.

Yeah. Ours. All ours.

Mayhem comes busting through the door, looking winded and mad as hell.

"Prez, there's a group pulling in. I tried to stop them, but they drove right through the barricades. Three vehicles. Four bodies—three male, one female."

"Well, do you know who the fuck they are?" Gears barks.

"No, sir. I asked what they wanted, and they said they had business with the Renegade Queen."

"Fucking hell," Arrow growls.

"Boys!" I cut the music and shout, "Arm up! Let's go!"

Every brother grabs a gun from somewhere—the room, their waistbands, wherever—and heads for the door. All of them ready to tear whoever dared come for our omega apart.