“Whatever we decide,” I say, moving away from Olivia as our topic of conversation. “We need to decide when we’ll hit Dylan and his men. We also need to figure out who is loyal to him on our own property and who isn’t.”
At my words, Maddox closes and locks my door.
“I’m with you,” he says, getting comfortable on the ground. “Let’s plan a little patricide.”
OLIVIA
My eyes flutter open, and I sigh as I see that I’m hooked up to an IV. My arms are stitched up, and I feel really floaty, which means that I’m on really strong pain medication. There’s also something different inside of me that I can’t put my finger on.
“Yes, you’re still here,” Gareth says next to me. My head rolls to the side to gaze at him, and he looks exhausted. “Are you not going to say anything to me?”
“Do you expect me to apologize?” I ask, my voice cracking. “I told you exactly what would happen. I can not do this again. I won’t be raped for the pleasure of an alpha who believes it’s his right.”
“I swear, I won’t allow that to happen,” he says, turning on his side to prop his head up on his fist. “I’m going to kill him before it can.”
“He’s your dad,” I remind him, needing him to think about this.
“Not anymore,” Gareth grunts. “I don’t owe that man anything. My brothers and I have all been hurt by him in one way or another growing up. Hot pokers, knives, Aled has a brand on his hip, Olivia. That one happened when he was ten years old and didn’t move fast enough during a training exercise. We’ve been indoctrinated to believe it’s normal, even loving behavior.”
“I think it became so prevalent that itbecameyour normal,” I allow. “That’s how abusers get you to stay.”
“Hmm,” he says. “You didn’t stay.”
“I tried to leave the second I found out I was pregnant,” I correct. “I don’t know that I would have been able to keep trying if it was just me.”
“Then one day, I want to formally thank your daughter for saving your life,” Gareth says, making my eyes water.
Fuck, do I want to hate him. This entire situation is anything but a meet cute, and yet, he’s still the only safe place to land here.
“I think you saved me this time,” I whisper, the first tear catching on my lashes.
“So I could yell at you,” he agrees, moving so that he can cage me under his body.
I’m not wearing the outfit that Dylan trashed from earlier, and I’m glad for it. I’ll never forget the smarmy smile he gave me when he introduced himself to me downstairs. There’s something evil inside that alpha.
“Are you?” I breathe, gazing up at him.
“Not right now,” he murmurs. “I’m reserving the right to yell later, though.”
“That’s fair,” I sigh. “I really need to brush my teeth. I puked before I grabbed the knife. You may not want to get too close.”
Rolling his eyes, he gets up to root around in his nightstand. Pulling out a bottle, he shows me the label before shaking out a couple of peppermint beads.
“Open,” he instructs.
“I’m not a dog,” I mutter, feeling as if it’s an old argument. I still open my mouth to allow him to drop the beads in.
They pop in my mouth, and I can immediately feel the cooling minty flavor coat my tongue. Swallowing, I find that it even settles my stomach from my anxiety.
“Better, thank you,” I murmur.
“You can be sweet,” he teases in a shocked tone, laying back down beside me. As he does, I notice that he has to nudge the dog over. “Balthazar hasn’t once moved other than going outsideto use the bathroom. He hasn’t wanted to leave you. I’m telling you, he’s going to like you more than me.”
My lips twitch in amusement, but it is sweet that Balthy is worried about me.
“Now, we need to chat, baby,” he says, his thumb moving over my hand. “What are you feeling?”
“That’s a pretty broad question.”
