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I nod.
“We have a couple more guys heading this way,” Hound says. “Just in case they manage to get past us. The police will have a hard time making anything stick to Mary, but at least with her in custody, she won’t be able to tip them off. Get Mila home. Kincaid will get you caught up once she’s safe.”
I nod, guiding Mila back to the SUV.
“All of this will be over before long,” I assure her, thinking maybe Keres coming after us is the best possible outcome. They wouldn’t be able to overpower all of us even if they caught us by surprise. Wren keeping close tabs on them makes all the difference. Now we have the upper hand and we can make sure that everyone is safe.
With her shaking hands, she struggles to click her seatbelt into place. I cup her chin, forcing her to look up at me.
“We’re fine,” I tell her. “We’re safe, and after today, there’s a very good chance we’ll never have to worry about the Keres MC ever again. Trust me.”
“I do.”
As quick as she was to tell me she had faith in me, she’s an even bigger ball of nerves by the time we make it to the clubhouse. The guys standing in the parking lot in full tactical gear doesn’t exactly make her any calmer either.
“They look like they’re going to war,” she says, her brow furrowing when she sees the rifle in Oracle’s hands. “And thirsty for blood.”
She’s looking at Hemlock who has a murderous look in his eyes every day. Right now, he looks like he’s one foul word away from snapping. I’m for sure glad the guy is on our team, but I also think it was a fine line that tilted him in our direction rather than one that would make him go rogue and take out a small city for fun.
I climb out quickly, making it around to Mila’s door in time to hold my hand out to her. Just as her feet hit the ground, I pull her into my arms.
“I’m scared,” she whispers into my neck.
“I know, baby, but I promise you it’ll be fine. This is what we do.”
“You could get hurt.”
I pull back, both hands cupping her cheeks. “I’d die to protect you and those kids inside.”
She shakes her head, tears streaming down her face.
“Don’t say stuff like that.”
“I have a lot to say to you, Mila. I’ll do it when I get back.” I pull her into a final hug, pressing my lips to hers.
“Come on inside,” Em says from the front porch. “The kids made you some welcome home gifts. They’ve missed you dearly.”
Mila is reluctant to let go of my hand even though her feet carry her away.
Kincaid hands me a tactical vest the second she takes the first step onto the porch. I give her one final nod of assurance before I switch gears. I have to be Kincaid’s soldier right now. Staying in dad and lover mode would make this situation more dangerous for everyone.
She looks back one last time, her eyes widening as Kincaid hands me my rifle.
Chapter 34
Mila
“It doesn’t get any easier,” Em says as we walk through the clubhouse toward the nursery. “But you will get better with handling your fear. I’ve been doing this for nearly thirty years. You just have to have faith that they’ll be okay.”
“I’m terrified, and this is all my fault.”
“No,” she says, stopping me with her hand on my arm before I can take another step. “You are not responsible for the choices others make. Not Janet or Carlen’s choices. Not Keres MC’s decisions. Their choices are on them. Now, that doesn’t mean you won’t have to deal with a little of the fallout from their choices as you well know, but this isn’t on you.”
“Why did his gun look different from the others?” I blurt, my mind racing a million miles an hour. I can’t seem to get it to focus.
“Stormy is a sharpshooter, dear. They have to have a different kind. Shadow is also a sharpshooter, but there’s a very good chance they won’t even have to use them today. At any rate, that’s not our concern. As I said, the kids have made you some welcome home gifts.”
I do my best to smile as she guides me into the nursery, and for the most part it’s genuine when Sutton spots me and squeals. I crouch low, letting my little girl jump into my arms and wrap hers around my neck. I stand just as she makes a little grunt, squeezing me with all her might.
