Page 48 of Bonita Brynne
“Get out of my way,” I growled.
“Ire. Boxer,” my dad shouted. “Don’t let him leave. That’s an order.”
“Are you fucking kidding me? She needs me. She’s my woman, goddammit!”
“Apparently, she doesn’t want to be your woman or wife.” He held the ring in front of me.
I snatched the gold band from him. “She’s just upset.”
“Fuck yeah, she is.” He shook his head. “She’s been through hell, and you just treated her like she was a damn idiot. Bad move, son.”
“I don’t believe this.” I grabbed my head between my hands and paced. “You wouldn’t let Tina sacrifice herself.”
“No.”
“All I did was set her straight.” And lost my shit at the idea of Dorian getting her. I paced like a caged animal while the room cleared.
Storm pulled out a chair and plopped into it. “Arctic, we need tequila and whiskey.”
“You got it, boss,” the prospect replied from behind the bar.
Boxer tapped a chair for me to sit on. Ire stood on my other side while my dad and Dodge found a place at the table.
I had no other choice but to do what they said. “I don’t need a lecture. I need to go repair the damage I created with Brynne.”
“You need to calm the fuck down, brother.” Storm side-eyed me. “What’s gotten into you? Overreacting isn’t your style.”
“I can’t lose her. The very idea of her going to that motherfucker makes me crazy. I won’t let her. I’ll lock her up if I have to.” I wouldn’t actually go to such extremes. Why wouldn’t my damn mouth stop?
You’re terrified of losing Brynne like you did, Mom.
“Your mother would’ve never let me talk to her like you did to Brynne,” my dad said in a harsh tone. “Tina dumped my ass when I treated her disrespectfully and went caveman on her. Remember?”
“I remember.” The weeks that followed had been hell for everyone in the club. I hadn’t seen my dad so devastated and furious since my mom’s death. I hadn’t liked it. Back then, I promised myself no woman would ever have a tight hold on my heart.
So much for keeping my promise. Hell, I didn’t regret a single day with Brynne. I loved her more than anything, so I couldn’t let her sacrifice herself for Raymond—I needed her.
“We will find another way to get Raymond. Your woman won’t be involved.” Storm passed the tequila to me.
“She’s not my woman anymore.” I tossed back two shots and relished the burn.
“Jesus, son. Read the fucking room.” My dad slammed his empty glass on the table. “She’s overwhelmed. After she confronted the kittens, adrenaline kicked in. Didn’t you see her trembling?”
Storm and Boxer nodded.
“She was on a massive high, cuz.” Dodge gripped my bicep. “We’ve all been there, thinking we can conquer the universe alone. When I got Emilee back, she was an emotional mess after running for her life with Dante. If it weren’t for Storm, I would’ve fucked up our reunion.” He squeezed my arm. “What she needs is for you to take care of her. Love and support her. Try to understand how she’s feeling.”
Ire grunted from behind me. “What Dodge said isn’t easy to do when you want to murder the person who hurt your woman.”
“It makes me crazy when I think of the sick bastard getting his hands on Brynne.” I drank another shot and slipped down into the chair.
“I know how you feel, brother,” Boxer said. “If Casso had captured Snow, he would’ve assaulted her daily.” Instant rage poured out of his pores. “The shit my wife went through before escaping still haunts her. Those memories never fade. I wish I could kill him a hundred more times.”
“None of you had to watch your woman strip naked and be pawed like I did. Fuck, if that Dirty Hunter wasn’t already dead, I would chop him into pieces.” Storm’s gray eyes turned black as he stared off into the distance.
My brothers’ women had been through their own hell, like mine. But they survived and came out stronger. So will Brynne.
“How do I fix it?” I asked my brothers.