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Addie squeezed his fingers. “If it hurts too much, you don’t have to tell me.”
“No secrets.” He wanted nothing between them. He took a deep breath. “A car stopped. Three men got out. They’d been drinking.”
He saw her cheeks pale, but her gaze stayed locked on his. Yes, his Addie had steel under the sweet.
“They weren’t interested in helping. I fought them, but they beat me up, and knocked me out. They shoved me in the back of our car. I came to in time to see them manhandling Ma and Fiona into their vehicle. I screamed, I chased them.”
“Even though you were hurt.”
He’d had a broken nose, a fractured collarbone, and a broken arm.
“Fiona screamed for me, but I couldn’t help her.” A ragged breath. “Two days later, the police found them in shallow graves. They’d been raped and strangled.”
“Oh, Bram.” Addie rose, bumping the table in her haste to get to him. He pulled her close, his face pressed to her belly. Her hands slid into his hair.
“I failed them,” he whispered.
“No.” Her hands tightened. “I’m so sorry. What happened, it’s evil, but it wasn’t your fault. Were the men caught?”
“Yes.”
The men had gone to jail. All three had been killed behind bars in jailhouse attacks. Bram had made sure of it.
“It wasnotyour fault. I know it’s horrible to be helpless, but you were a boy on the verge of manhood, against three grown men.” She smoothed his hair. “Your mother and sister would not want you blaming yourself.”
He looked up at her. “If anyone touches you, takes you from me…”
“Then I’ll know you’re coming for me.” She cupped his cheek. “I’ll know.”
He shuddered. Her trust was such a precious thing.
Then she gasped.
“Addie?” His pulse leaped.
“The babies.” She pressed his hand over her belly. “One of them is kicking.”
He felt the tiny flutter under his palm. Pure wonder filled him, and Addie beamed at him.
“I felt these little pops the other day, but I wasn’t sure.”
“That’s definitely a kick.” He caressed her bump, amazed. Protectiveness filled him. “I’ll do anything for you.”
Her face turned serious. “I know, but I also want you to do things for yourself, Bram. Stop punishing yourself.”
“Giving you what you want and need, that makes me happy.”
Something worked behind her eyes. “Anything?”
His hands tightened on her. “Anything.”
“Okay.” She licked her lips and stepped back. “I want you to take all your clothes off.”
* * *
Addie’s bellywas fluttering and her cheeks were flushed.
Bram was frozen, staring at her.
