Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 68431 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 342(@200wpm)___ 274(@250wpm)___ 228(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68431 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 342(@200wpm)___ 274(@250wpm)___ 228(@300wpm)
“I know.”
He felt his nostrils flare, his need for dominance suddenly racing back to the surface “But you’re not going anywhere, you know that, right?”
“I’m staying right here.”
At her affirmative words, he let out a breath. “Okay, let’s do this.” Without waiting for an answer, he leaned in and kissed Erin long and hard, reveling in the overwhelming sense of ownership he felt—and the certainty that he was pissing her brothers off as they glared down from their vantage point on the porch. When he released her, he made quick work of walking around to the passenger side and helping her from the vehicle, the rain a slow, miserable drizzle making the going slow.
They came to a stop within five feet or so of the front porch and he positioned her in front of him, locking his arms around her waist. He wanted to give her brothers a visual of what they were facing: the two of them, united. At least, he hoped so. There was still the tiniest kernel of doubt fucking with his brain that would only be laid to rest when her brothers left without her. But for now, he steeled his resolve and prepared for the confrontation that awaited him.
He didn’t have to wait long. Garrett pushed his way between two of Max’s men and came down the steps until he stood only inches away. The guy looked exactly as he had when Max had met him only months before. Fierce. Formidable. Bristling with anger. Then without saying a word, Garrett reached out, grabbed Erin’s hand and began pulling her toward him.
Max felt Erin’s muscles stiffen in rejection and it gave him a measure of internal peace to know that she wasn’t choosing her brothers over him. He needed that peace for what was about to go down—he could tell by the looks of his men that they were barely controlling themselves, not drawing their weapons—yet. He tightened his arm around Erin’s waist, holding her in place for the moment as he leaned down, close to her ear, speaking softly to her, but loud enough for the others to hear. “It’s just your brother, baby, he means you no harm.” Garrett’s eyes turned livid when Max said those words. While maintaining steady eye contact with Garrett, Max continued to soothe his wife as he stated his case with succinct words. “You and I know they’re never going to take you away from me, and understanding that fact is going to be tough for them. So, why don’t you give him a hug and tell him you’re all right?”
Max loosened his hold just barely, but it was enough to allow Garrett to pull her into his embrace. The other man’s arms went around Erin and he gripped her tightly as she returned the embrace.
As Max stood directly behind Erin, he watched as her other two brothers came down the steps to join them. One by one, they each embraced her, although it was easy for Max to read the contempt they held for him in their eyes. What else had he expected?
Shit started to go downhill immediately. Damian was the last to hug Erin. After the embrace, he held her by the upper arms and looked her over, as if inspecting her. He frowned harshly and said to his sister, “We’re leaving in five minutes. Go get what you need—Nick will go with you.”
When Erin made no move to comply with his orders, Damian glared at Max and snapped, “Nick?”
Nick took one step forward. “Right here, brother.”
Not taking his eyes from Max, Damian said, “Take her to get her stuff, will you?”
“Nothing would please me more,” her middle brother hissed out contemptuously as he turned and stared solidly at Max before stating, “I’m damn sure not letting her out of my sight.”
Max clenched his jaw. He was about to intervene when Erin dug her heels in and announced, “I’m not going anywhere.” A blush of pink highlighted her cheekbones as she looked from one brother to the next. “I’m married now—you guys can’t tell me what to do anymore. I’m staying here with Max.”
Pandemonium broke out. All three brothers started yelling at once; Max’s men came down the steps and encircled them, weapons drawn.
Max felt a rush of apprehension that caught him full force. Loaded weapons and short tempers were unacceptable at such close range to his wife. He held up his hand to his men and shouted, “Weapons down. Now.”
His employees did what he asked and Max took a step forward. Positioning himself in front of Erin, he gritted his teeth and clenched his fists, a wave of fury encompassing him. “We’re good here,” he snapped to his men, “I’ve got this—get back to work.”
One by one, his men trailed away and when they were gone, he crossed his arms over his chest and faced his wife’s siblings. “We can go inside and hash this out like reasonable adults or we can have it out here and now, while standing in mud. But either way, my wife is going inside—she’s wet and she’s cold and that’s unacceptable to me, understand?”