It doesn’t happen.
“If you choose to go with this option, then I will use every resource I have, and they are vast even if I don’t look like the kind of person who has them, to unearth every secret you’ve buried and every skeleton you’ve locked away in the dark. I willthen make sure every single sordid detail is dragged into the light.”
This time, Avery’s mom is the one who scoffs as if she has nothing to hide. We both know it’s not true, but bravado is intoxicating, and she was drunk long before we pulled up to this cold and depressing house. Her father pales slightly but does his best to hold onto his self-righteousness even though he hasn’t earned it in the least.
“It would be in your best interest to let this go, to let her go. She is no longer your puppet or your little doll. She will not continue to do your bidding or play your games. You’ve hurt her for the last time. I’ve got her now and she has a family at her back who will lift her spirits or bury a body depending on what is needed.”
“Well,” Avery’s mother tries to sound affronted, “I never.”
“I’m sure you have,” I sneer at her, “because I see you as the viper you are.”
Her father crosses his arms across his chest and tries to look intimidating. It doesn’t work. Now I wish I had called Blake and gotten a little back up. There’s nothing quite like rolling up with former SEALs and Rangers to make sure there’s no trouble.
“How do we know you aren’t stealing from us and taking more than just what is yours?” Her father spits out the question, and I can feel Avery’s heart sinking.
I bark out a laugh and shake my head as I look at the man in front of me with pure disappointment and unfiltered rage. “Don’t test me because I’ll be having your entire life dug into. If you’ve sneezed wrong, I’ll know about it. Which means if you’ve practiced unethically or brokered deals more mired in gray than is legal, I’ll find out about it.”
I reach for the two suitcases and nod toward the door. “We’re leaving,” my voice is firm. “I’ll walk Avery out and then be back for her other bags. I don’t trust you not to hurt her.”
Something flickers in her mom’s eyes, something that might be regret. But it’s gone quickly, and it showed up way too fucking late to mean anything.
“Stop this, Avery,” her mom pleads. “There’s still time to turn this around. You could still marry Eric.”
“Never,” my woman hisses and pride swells in my chest.
And my cock fucking throbs and starts to leak pre-cum.
Avery takes one of the suitcases out of my hands and nods toward the duffle bags. “If I take this one, can you grab those and the other suitcases? I don’t trust them with my things, even if we are leaving.” When I narrow my eyes, the corner of her mouth lifts slightly. “I won’t lift it; I’ll just wheel it out the door. I promise.”
Even though I hate it, I also understand what she’s saying. I don’t trust these people either. Not with her. Not with the few possessions of hers which hold value. Not with my child.
They’re evil and I’m grateful as fuck that Avery thought to come to me yesterday when she didn’t know where else to go.
“You don’t trust us?” Her father’s question is indignant. “Maybe we should search your bags.”
I look the man in the eye and let him see how much pleasure I would derive from him trying. Because I will defend my woman and I’ll do it by any means necessary. He might be trying to act tough, but he wields his power with words, connections, and by making deals. There is nothing physical or real about it. That’s not power, that’s a mirage.
“You can try,” I challenge him.
When he doesn’t move, I nod at Avery and then throw the duffle bags over one shoulder and grab the handles for the two suitcases in one hand. I press my free hand to her lower back.
We move together past her parents. Thankfully, they don’t move, and we don’t look back. When the door closes behind us, we both let out a breath. But it’s not until we’re loaded up in my car that I can really relax.
I glance over at Avery to find her already looking at me, her eyebrow arched in challenge. “Your woman?”
“Yeah,” I grunt, “my woman.”
Even though she turns away to try and hide her smile, I still see it.
CHAPTER 14
AVERY
If this were any other day, I would have spent the last few hours doing things I’m overqualified to do, while trying to keep the constant anxiety about being called to my father’s office at bay. Oh, and, of course, avoiding Eric and all the other men just like him.
Instead, I’m wearing a pair of maternity leggings, because it was the one maternity item I had allowed myself to buy, and one of Bridger’s shirts. I’ve tucked myself into the corner of the couch, while switching between ordering some maternity clothes online and finalizing my baby registry because I don’t want to forget anything.
Bridger has been in and out, but right now he’s sitting next to me with one of the pregnancy books in his hands, and his eyebrows pulled together like he’s going to be tested on everything later. I guess, in a way, he will be.
