I know I should have stayed in bed with Con and talked this out. Running away never helps. I am not running, I just need some space to breathe. I sit on the toilet to relieve myself and the same things keep running through my head…He will not break me. I won’t allow it. I will get myself out of this. I need no one. I will not let anyone control me. I have my eyes shut and this is all I hear in my head and then it comes to me. I knew Con didn’t want to claim me, but I let it happen anyway, and the only time he tries to control what I do is if it is for my safety. The man was handing me his heart in there and I walked away from him. How stupid am I? What he just said to me had to be hard to say? I need to fix this. I get up and the toilet flushes. I step over to the sink and wash my hands off and dry them. I glance in the mirror and my face is puffy and swollen and changing colors from the punch I took yesterday. Then it comes to me. Oh shit! I push the bathroom door. I don’t know if Con will be there or not, but I am so happy to see him sitting on the bed waiting on me.

“You waited on me.” I walk to his side of the bed.

“I am not the running kind. I love you and I will do whatever I need to, to make this work.” Con says honestly. I love this man.

“I just needed to breathe. I love you and I don’t care how we started this marriage, but I want it to work too. You have always been honest with me, or mostly honest, and I knew when you claimed me it was not about love. We have this and can make it work since we are both committed, but I am not waiting until I am eighteen until my husband makes love to me.” I take a breath. I said all of that as fast as I could. “I remembered.” Con looks at me confused. “You need to get to Cap and Kaden too. Samson and Red Capo are going after them. When Samson hit me, I was dazed for a while. I remember fighting back but my head was fuzzy. Charity was already knocked out and when I got in the van, I don’t know if the hit knocked me loopy or if I was in and out of sleep. I remember Red Cap and Samson talking before they got out of the van saying they had to get rid of Cap and Kaden before they handled Charity. They knew you were going to be away from the clubhouse and that is why they got their vehicles. Samson was going to the clubhouse to handle Cap and Red Cap was going to Kaden’s house. You need to go.”

“I’m not leaving you alone. You need protection too. Con tells me and that is sweet, but people could be in trouble.

“Did Brody take Charity home already?” I ask. Con grabs the back of my head and then he smashes his lips to mine.

“You’re so damn smart.” Con takes his phone out and starts texting. It’s not long before Brody and Charity come through the door, but Con is still typing away. Charity comes over to me and sits on the bed.

“Are you feeling alright?” I ask her.

“Yeah, you?” I nod my head yes. “What’s going on this time?”

“I remembered some things that I overheard when you were still out of it. They want Cap and Kaden this time.” We both stay quiet after that. Con is off his phone and he motions for Brody to move closer to him. They have their heads together and I can’t hear what they are saying and then Brody takes his phone out and texts someone. It doesn’t take long until Brody is full belly laughing. We all look at him.

“Red Cap was taken out by a slugger.” We all look at each other and Brody sees our confusion. “A slugger is a bat. My nephew, Matthew, took his knees out. Didn’t even need to use his hunting rifle.” Brody can’t stop laughing.

“What is so damn funny?” Charity asks.

“Anyone that goes to Kaden’s place, doesn’t know him very well at all. He has that place booby trapped. If you don’t know to walk in the right place you will end up in a snare trap, a coon trap, or in a hole he’s dug. Not only has Kaden taught his twins to shoot deer rifles and shotguns but Laura used to shoot in marksman competition. She has the prettiest little bird dog you have ever seen. The sheriff’s office hasn’t been called yet. Kaden is at the clubhouse and they were waiting for him to get back in touch with them. They have Red Cap hog-tied if someone needs to pick him up.” That is one place we don’t need to worry about but why wouldn’t Kaden contact his family? I see when this point is driven home to everyone here.

“Brody can you watch over Faith too?” Con asks him. I don’t want to stay here but I know Con can’t focus with me stuck to him.

“Go with Con. We have this. We’ll stay right here in this room together.” Brody looks hesitant. “Just leave me your gun.” Charity is right. This should be safe.

“You won’t leave this room for anything?” Brody asks.

“Not even if someone yells to evacuate, we will be right here.” Charity tries to calm Brody down. Brody takes his gun out of his ankle holder. Brody hands the small weapon to Charity and then pulls her to him and kisses her. Con comes over to me and pulls me into his arms.

“Behave yourself while I am gone, and we may have our wedding night a night late, but it will be worth it.” He kisses me and then I watch the man I love walk out the door with my brother-in-law.