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“I don’t care if you have a whole SWAT team with you, you will not see, talk to, or be within fifty miles of that prick,” Hammer roared.
“Exactly.” Liam’s dark eyes blazed with insistence. “We mean it, Raine. Don’t test us.”
Clearly, after Bill and the horrific end she’d almost suffered, it was too soon to ask them to be calm or reasonable. “It’s a misunder—”
“We don’t give a shit,” Hammer said. “You won’t be seeing River, even if I have to chain you to the fucking bed. That’s final.”
Liam nodded. “It’s obvious that the nut hasn’t fallen far from the tree.”
“It’s an apple,” Hammer hissed.
Liam scowled. “What?”
“The saying, dumb ass. It’s an apple.”
“Whatever. In this case, nut pretty well sums River up, I’m thinking.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m not a little girl who needs her two daddies’ permission. He’s my brother, the only family I have left. I have to resolve this.”
Hammer yanked her against his body. Disapproval rumbled across his face. “Oh, but you do need our permission. You’re our submissive to protect. And we want you safe.”
The terror Bill had subjected her to had affected them all, Hammer especially. She knew that now. She understood. But their stubbornness pissed her off.
“I can’t live in a cage, be your perfect little sub, and say, ‘Yes, Sir. Thank you, Sir,’” Raine shot back. “I know my brother upset you. But I’m not giving up. When you’ve cooled down, we’ll talk again.”
She whirled around and headed for the bathroom.
Liam grabbed her arm before she could get away and glowered at her. “We’re not done talking to you, Raine. Sit and listen.”
Hammer didn’t say a word, merely pointed to the bed, then crossed his arms over his chest—a sure sign that he wasn’t going to budge.
With a sigh, she sank down. “I think you’re overreacting as much as my brother did.”
Hammer bent and grabbed her chin, hovering close until they were nearly nose to nose. “I’m not a judgmental, narrow-minded piece of shit. He wanted to make a deal with us for you, precious, just like Bill did.”
“Indeed,” Liam added, fingers tangling in her hair until she looked at him. “We’ve been down this road before. We’ll not be going back.”
Raine gasped. “He asked for money?”
“No.” Hammer shook his head. “He wants you away from us ‘freaks.’ In fact, he demanded we hand you over today.”
“He threatened us,” Liam growled. “That makes him no better than your father.”
Threatened? Hell no. River had gone too far with that. People lost their tempers. Sometimes they even made wild accusations. But with the Kendalls, threats usually meant retaliation. She didn’t want more violence or intimidation. She certainly didn’t want another Bill in her life.
“Now you want to keep assuming that River is rational or harmless?” Hammer challenged.
That had Raine shaking her head. “Maybe not.”
“Of course not! He means to take you from us.” Liam clenched his teeth. “I don’t care what excuse he bleats on about. Give him half a chance, and we’ll never see you or our baby again. I won’t risk it. You’re not to talk to him.”
Was the brother who hadn’t troubled himself with her welfare for a dozen years really worth upsetting the tenuous peace in her new, growing family? Especially when, for all she knew, he might be Bill’s clone?
“All right.” She sighed, wishing she could come to some other conclusion. “I won’t seek River out. For you two.”
“Thank god, love.” Liam pulled her into his arms. “I couldn’t endure again wondering if you’re alive or if some mongrel who shares your blood in his veins is going to murder you. The thought of what he could do to you and our child… I know family is important to you, and I’d hoped for your sake that River could fill some of the empty space left by your mother and sister. I’m sorry.”
“Thanks.” Raine nodded, then looked Hammer’s way. The relief on his face filled her with a guilty satisfaction. “I’d never want to worry you.”
“We appreciate you compromising. I’m simply worried we haven’t seen the last of River.”
“My brother. Liam’s sisters…” It was a lot to take in. The day had already been exhausting and it wasn’t over. “Why can’t we just have some peace?”
“We will. Everything will work out.” Hammer caressed her cheek. “Precious, I’m sorry about this morning.”
She blinked. He almost always avoided apologizing, like it choked him as much as wearing a shirt collar that was too tight. But he’d offered up his sincere atonement without any prompting at all.
Raine wanted to say that she understood because she could grasp how guilt had been gnawing at him. If their situations were reversed, she would feel awful. But she also wouldn’t have kept anything as important as another pregnancy from him.
“I needed that. There’s nothing you can say that will make me love you less. You don’t have to bear the pain of the past alone. But hurting me by walking out like that is inexcusable.”
