differ. You married a guy you don’t even know. Doesn’t matter to me that I know he’s a good guy or not. Or the fact that I respect him. They fuckin’ drugged you, and you don’t remember shit about what happened. It could have been a hell of a lot worse than what did happen. Those bitches need to learn how to fuckin’ act like adults instead of pulling juvenile bullshit like this.”
Damn, Hart is pissed and for good reason.
“Hart,” Harper whispers, tears starting to prick her eyes.
“Wilde, it may be a good idea for you to cool it,” I plead.
“Whip’s right, son. You need to calm down,” Harper’s dad states.
“Did you know about this?” Hart asks, his focus going to his dad.
“After Whip told me.” Harper’s eyes come to me, and I shrug.
“Meant what I said the other day and I mean it now. When it comes to you, I’ll do everything to make it right between us and to make you mine,” I say softly to her before looking to both her dad and brother. “Before any more is discussed, I would prefer we get somewhere where Harper isn’t out exposed to whoever the hell this person is.”
“Right,” Hart mutters and shakes his head. Give me the room key to your room, and Dad and Mom can get the shit from theirs. Take her to one of the hotels across the James River Bridge. It’s closer to K-9’s club. I can get my truck from Wheeler and Forest’s house.”
Nodding, I place a hand at the bottom of Harper’s back and guide her the few steps to my bike. I help her put her helmet back on while she simply stares up at me.
“You okay, Pumpkin?” I ask.
“No,” she whispers honestly.
“You will be. I promise. No one is going to hurt you. You understand?”
Because I’ll be damn sure of it. I might not have kept my sister from being hurt and I’ll always have to breathe through the ache that causes in my chest. But I damn sure can make sure my woman doesn’t come to any harm.
Chapter Fourteen
Harper
Exhausted once again, I’m thankful to finally be alone in our hotel room. God, how did I go from not wanting anything to do with him, needing to protect my heart from this man to wanting to be right there with him? Have him hold me close. Keep me feeling safe in his warmth.
Oh wait, I know, some crazy person is stalking me. The crazy part is Whip knew before I did. Well, more or less, Venom did and told Whip about it.
I want to be mad about this being kept from me, but I can’t find it in me to do so.
Falling onto the bed, I kick off my shoes and bury my face in the pillows. The bed dips next to me, and Whip rolls me to my back.
I open my eyes to look at him to find his filled with concern. “You okay, Pumpkin?”
Am I?
No. I’m definitely not okay. Someone has threatened to kill him in front of me. They heard us together this morning. I don’t know what’s going to happen and it scares the hell out of me. Yes, so no, I’m not okay, but I can’t tell Whip this because then he’ll just see me as the weakling that I am.
“I’m okay,” I whisper.
“No, you’re not. Don’t lie, Harper. We might just be starting out, but I’m still your husband, your man, and I can already tell you you’re a shit liar.” He grins.
Of course, he could tell I’m a shit liar because I don’t like lying.
I never have been a good liar.
With a heavy sigh, I meet Whip’s dark but ever so beautiful eyes. “I’m not,” I whisper softly, and the tears that I’ve been trying so hard to keep from spilling over spill down my cheeks.
“Shit, baby, don’t cry,” Whip rasps, rolls to his side, and pulls me into his arms. “It’s going to be okay. No one is going to touch you.”
Nodding, I don’t say anything. I can’t. The tears just keep coming.
Whip holds me the entire time. I bury my head into his chest. This isn’t how today was supposed to go. Not by a long shot. Hart’s homecoming was supposed to be about him, not me.
Getting control of the tears, I lift my head. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry for having emotions, baby. What’s going on right now is overwhelming, and I don’t blame you for letting those emotions out.”
How can