“What are we doing here?” Beth asks, looking at the small white house I’ve parked in front of. She’s been different ever since I picked her up from the hospital. I asked her what’s wrong, but she only said she was tired. I can’t help but feel like it’s something else. Still, I’m not pressing her on it because there are more important things to deal with.

“This is the local circuit judge of the county.”

“Judge? Is something wrong?” she asks, looking at the house like it’s haunted.

“No,” I tell her, grabbing her hand. “Beth, I think we should get married.”

I don’t know what I expected, but it wasn’t for her to look at me as if I’m trying to kill her. Suddenly what I thought was a great plan doesn’t quite seem that way.

“Mi cielo? You said you loved me. Don’t all women want marriage?”

“Skull, I can’t marry you!”

“Why the fuck not?”

“Because! We’re in the middle of a war with my family!”

“The Donahues are not your family. Your mother might have been stupid enough to connect you to that clan, but you querida are not a Donahue. You don’t have that slime running through your veins. Do not even put yourself down suggesting you do.”

Her face goes whiter. I hate that we’re going through this. I need to fucking kill Colin, and soon.

“I can’t marry you right now. We don’t even know what tomorrow will bring.”

“My baby could be in your belly. I want my name on you, too.”

“Then let the war pass, and if we’re still standing, we’ll get married!”

“What the fuck do you mean ‘if we’re still standing’…?”

“I’m just saying we don’t know what tomorrow will bring. Look at what happened with Beast’s family,” she whispers, and the tears are in her eyes. I catch a couple on my finger and pull her close so our lips are barely a breath away from each other. The only thing between our bodies is the console of the SUV we’re in.

“That is not us, Beth. We are meant to be together.”

“Skull, I want to believe that, I do,” she whispers tearfully, and the sob that escapes from her sounds like someone is ripping her heart from her body. “There’s just so much. I don’t want to marry you with all of this hanging between us.”

“Beth…”

“Please…?” she begs, and I doubt she even knows the pain she’s causing me with these words. Before I can respond, Torch is banging on the window. I give Beth one last pained look, then hit the button to roll the window down.

“You okay, boss? It’s not safe to stay out in the open like this too long,” Torch says, and he’s right. As it is, I’m in a cage and have five men following me on their bikes. I feel like a sad fucker, but I can’t take any chances with Beth. “Boss?” he prompts when I don’t respond.

I don’t look at him. I don’t take my eyes off of Beth. “Change of plans for now. We’re going back to the compound.”

“But, boss…”

“I said we’re going home. Load them up.”

“I’m sorry,” Beth says, still crying. I wish I knew what the fuck to say to her. I turn back around and start up my vehicle.

“So am I,” I mutter. “So am I.” Then, I pull out onto the road.

It’s a quiet ride back to the compound. I chance a look over at Beth every now and then and she’s just staring out the window while silent tears fall down her face. If she’s so torn up over this shit, then why wouldn’t she say yes? I don’t get it. How the fuck did I get here? I should have just carted her ass in the house and told her didn’t have a choice, but hell. I want her to say yes because she wants to be my wife. Jesus. Listen to me. I sound like some sad Dear Abby fuck. I never wanted to get married in my life and here I am, bending for a woman. Fuck that, I’m bending over backwards.

We get out and I know I have to let off some steam or I’m going to say something I regret. “Torch?”

“Yeah, boss?”

“Make sure Beth is safe and gets back to our room below.”

“Hey wait, Kemosabe! Where are you going?” Briar asks me.

“To pound something,” I growl back.

“Skull—” Beth cries.

“Later, Beth. Just… later,” I tell her because I’m just about done for the night. I need to go pound the gym bag, something to vent. I don’t want to hurt her. I know she’s dealing with a lot too, but son of a bitch, that shit… hurts. Jesus, I do sound like Dear Abby.

“Can I join you, boss?” Sabre asks.

“Only if you don’t mind me pounding your ugly face,” I tell him, still walking and not turning around.

“Same goes, boss. Same goes.”

“Skull!” I hear Beth call my name. Maybe I’m a fucking bastard, but I still don’t turn around.