“Get Jared and go take a look. I’ll stay here with Mel.”
My words earn me a strange look from them both and yet I don’t give a shit right now. She’s scared and upset and she needs me. I swore when I was lying in that hospital bed that I would always give my girl what she needs.
I’m not breaking this vow. Not again.
Miah nods once and storms out and I feel almost sorry for whoever was stalking Mel. If they’re not gone yet, Miah won’t let them survive the night.
One thing about my brother is his undying loyalty to family and I can damn guarantee that if he gets pissed off enough to threaten me with bodily harm if I ever hurt Mel again, he’s raging mad at whatever animal intended to lay hands on his little sister.
“Jared! Get your ass up, bro. Someone went into the cottage and tried to grab Mel.”
He’s yelling loud enough to wake the dead, and I hear Jared curse before they start pounding down the stairs and I hear door bang open.
Stealth would be wasted now anyway since they likely already know that she escaped them, and I highly doubt either Miah or Jared are capable of it with the way they’re feeling anyway.
“Roman?”
I snap back to attention and pull her closer with a curse.
“It’s okay. I got you.”
Mel pushes away and shakes her head once before I see a lone tear track down her cheek.
“You were right and I should have listened to you. You said this wouldn’t be over if you left that last man standing, and now…you need to find them all, Roman. You need to find them and end this before our baby gets here.”
She’s so scared she’s willing to tell me to go on even though I know she’s terrified of what will happen if I go after the last few stragglers. I hate that.
Mel should be strong and sarcastic and insulting at times like these. Hell, she told her own father to suck it up and use a tampon when he got anxious about stuff, and she’s threatened to shoot anyone who so much as looks at her funny.
This Mel who cries and looks defeated is not my girl, and I swear to God I will kill whoever broke her. And then I will build her snarky ass back up, even if it means listening to insults for the rest of my life.
“I’ll get them all, baby girl. I promise. Now hush up and let me hold you. I almost lost a century, you scared me so bad.”
She snuggles closer and I hold her until I feel her stiffen and cling closer to me.
“Roman?”
“Yeah, darling?”
She sighs and pulls away to get beneath the covers, then points to the door.
“Go get them.”
Chapter Thirteen
Melissa
My nerves are freaking raw. Roman, even after I gave him the go-ahead, did not want to leave me alone. I had to come on over to Mama and Pop’s rooms while he rushed out of the house like a fire was lit under his fine ass.
I am so mad and disgusted with it all that I can feel my organs trembling. Some animal coming after me, I can take, and I can even understand them wanting to hurt me to make Roman suffer for tearing down the Patriots organisation.
What I refuse to accept easily is the fact that they know I’m pregnant—God, half the state has congratulated me by now—and yet they still planned to pump me full of chemicals that could’ve hurt my kid.
For that reason, I’ve decided to just say screw it all and let Roman go on the warpath.
“Oh, honey! I just can’t believe…again! George, you need to do something about this baby. I can’t have these monsters just waltzing onto the estate where my babies are supposed to be safe.”
I cringe and give George a commiserating look, but he just winks and nods at his wife, crooning softly as she flings herself at him and renews her quiet sobbing.
“I will, my darlin’. I’ll get another team in here and the boys and I will personally find the point of entry. I swear it. Now hush up and stop crying, baby. You’re making me want to start hitting shit and my blood pressure’s rising.”
Mama chuckles with a sob and I see her snuggle closer.
“You say that every time, honey. At least wait till we’re alone again before you start flirting.”
Oh Jesus.
“Erm, I think I’m going to go downstairs and make some tea. I can get it all by myself. You both just stay here and…er, do what you…I’ll be back later.”
I leave to the sounds of their laughter and meet up with Wyatt and Ellie just as I hit the stairs.
“You okay, honey?”
“Sure. Just mad. Anyone want tea while we wait for Rambo One, Two, and Three to come back?”
Wyatt declines and leaves us in the kitchen to take up station at the door, and I go through the motions of making tea. I sit and wait as an hour passes.