by Faith Gibson
“You’re sorry? Are you sorry you sent your dog to hunt me down? The same way you did McKenzie? Are you sorry you kidnapped me a second time, tossed me in the trunk of your car, and held me at gunpoint threatening my life? Tell the good folks all about that, Gideon.”
“I... No, I...” The congregation grew louder, drowning out Gideon’s words.
“Tell them, Gideon!” Kerrigan shouted. When she had their attention, she continued. “Tell them about your brother’s parties. About how the two of you are the same types of men you preach against. Tell them the truth!” War wrapped his arms around her from behind.
Gideon’s face turned red, his eyes full of hate. He took a step toward Kerrigan, but Ryker stepped between them at the same time War pushed her behind his larger body.
“She’s telling the truth!” Everyone turned as McKenzie stood and yelled over the din of excitement. “His dog did this to my face,” she cried, pointing at the scar. “He made me give my baby up for adoption just because I was in love with Elijah and wanted nothing to do with Lewis. I didn’t even get to see her after she was born. What kind of monster does that?”
A woman in the front row stood. Her husband tried to pull her back down, but she jerked away. “McKenzie? Oh, honey.” The woman jogged back to where Mac was shaking in the aisle between the pews and wrapped her arms around her. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because he wouldn’t let me! Wouldn’t let me see anyone. I was hidden away from everyone for months. I spent every day by myself. Gideon brought in a doctor once a month to check on me, and after I gave birth, I was alone again. I could have fucking died, and no one would have known!”
“You bastard!” the woman yelled. “You promised. You promised she’d be safe here if we did what you asked. How could you do that to your own flesh and blood?”
“Because she’s not mine!” Gideon yelled. “She’s a whore, the same as her mother was!”
“Momma, what’s going on? What are you talking about?” Sparrow had joined McKenzie and their mother in the middle of the room. Kerrigan hadn’t noticed the girl walk up.
“That... that man up there is a liar and a snake. He promised he’d keep your sister safe if we adopted her. Told us she was his, but he couldn’t raise her after her mother died. Was Juliette even McKenzie’s mother?” she asked Gideon.
Several things happened at one time. McKenzie passed out. The man who’d been sitting with Mac’s mom rushed the stage, yelling at Gideon. The guards started toward the front of the building from where they had been standing around the room, but the Hounds who had been waiting outside, stormed into the sanctuary, stopping them from getting to Gideon. Sutton and War were holding Ryker back from killing Gideon or shifting, Kerrigan didn’t know which. Mac’s dad – her adoptive dad – tackled Gideon and punched him. Gideon got the man in a head lock, and they wrestled each other until they rolled off the stage. A Hound Kerrigan hadn’t seen before separated the two of them and grabbed Gideon by the collar, lifting him off the floor.
An ear-piercing whistle rent the air, and the room went quiet. Sutton stepped up to the podium. “Everyone be quiet and sit down. Now.” Kerrigan thought he might have been using his shifter voice, because she sat down on the floor without meaning to. Sutton took the few steps between them to reach her and held out a hand. Sutton gave her a cheeky grin as he pulled her to her feet, keeping her close. When he looked back out over the congregation, his grin was gone, and in its place was the face of a man who had something important to say. “As you can see, your leader isn’t the man he claims to be. I’m sure there are some of you who won’t want to leave, seeing as this has been your home for a long time. No one can make you leave unless we find out your whole community was complicit in the kidnapping of Kerrigan O’Shea, or you’ve been conducting illegal acts here at The Sanctuary. For those of you who wish to move away, my family and I will do everything in our power to help you.”
“Why would you do that?” a man in the front row asked.
“Because it’s the right thing. No one should have to live somewhere because they’re forced to do so. I’m not going to try and convince you this community is a bad place to live given the right leadership. Gideon and the men who helped kidnap Kerrigan and kept her here against her will are going to be turned over to the police. An investigation will be opened, and your lives will be chaotic while that happens.”
“Don’t listen to this outsider! None of you can run The Sanctuary. You don’t have the money or the knowhow. Your home will fall into ruin the minute I leave here. Umph!” The Hound holding onto Gideon twisted his arm behind his back and whispered something in his ear. Gideon’s eyes grew wide, but he kept his mouth shut afterwards.
“Our family doesn’t claim to know how to keep a community like this afloat. We don’t come in and try to take over. Our concern is only for those living here against your wishes. If you want to leave, meet us outside. We will arrange for you a place to stay as well as transport for your belongings. If you decide you want to remain here, we wish you nothing but the best.”
It didn’t surprise Kerrigan when only a handful of people moved from where they were seated. McKenzie had regained consciousness by that point, and she said something to her mother before making her way to where Kerrigan was standing. “Can I just say I’m glad you didn’t listen to me about staying out of the woods?”
“How did you know I took off through the woods?” Kerrigan smiled at Mac, wanting to reach out for the other woman, but held back. She couldn’t imagine being put on the spot in front of the whole community. “I didn’t think people were allowed to talk around here.”
“Oh, you know. That rule’s only for us troublemakers. Lewis told the other guards who told their wives who... You get the picture. He said, and I quote, ‘Kerrigan was amazing.’ At least that’s how I heard it. By the time it got through the hundreds of people and down the line to me, he could have said something about carrots being amazons.”
Kerrigan laughed, but she could tell Mac was using humor to stifle the pain. “Did you know you were adopted?”
Mac looked to where her parents were standing with Sparrow. “Yeah. I don’t remember anything before them. I’ve asked about my biological parents often, but they said they couldn’t tell me. Guess now I know why.”
“I’m sorry about Juliette. But...” Kerrigan wasn’t sure whether to open that certain can of Ryker worms. What if this wasn’t his Juliette? “I need to do something right quick. Will you wait here for me?”
“Yeah, sure. I need to figure out where I’m going to go now.” Mac looked glanced at her parents again, but she didn’t make a move to go speak with them.
“I’ll be right back. I promise.” Kerrigan squeezed Mac’s shoulder before approaching Ryker. “There were some pictures in Gideon’s nightstand, and I’m pretty sure they’re of his Juliette. They’re sort of, well, the woman in the photo is tied up. I don’t know if you want to—”
“Let’s go,” Ryker barked, grabbing Kerrigan’s bicep.
“Take your fucking hand off her.” War stepped in front of them, his hands clenched at his sides. Kerrigan had seen that look on War’s face. The one that meant he was about zero-point-five seconds away from shifting.
“I need answers, and she might have them.” Ryker was shaking, but he did release her arm.
Kerrigan reached for War’s hand, and he laced their fingers together. She turned to Ryker, offering a soft smile. “Come on. I want to give both you and Mac some closure.”
It didn’t take long to walk to Gideon’s house. The door wasn’t locked, so that was one less thing to worry about. She had no doubt Ryker would have kicked it in, and they didn’t need anyone coming around to interrupt. War and Ryker followed her to the bedroom, and she didn’t make them wait. Kerrigan opened the drawer and found the photos along with her credit cards. When she held the pictures against her chest, Ryker held out his hand.
“You’ve already warned me.”
; Kerrigan sighed and handed the stack to him. As he flipped through each one slowly, his face went from hard to soft to sad.
“It’s her.” Ryker shoved the photos into the pocket of his leather coat. “Which means...”
“Mac is your daughter.” War placed a hand on his brother’s shoulder. “Your daughter is alive.”
“But she’s not mine. Not anymore.”
“Yes, I am.” They all turned to find McKenzie standing in the doorway. “Unless you’re ashamed of me, too.”
Ryker pushed past War and took her hands in his larger, scarred ones. “Why would I be ashamed of you? As far as I know, all you did was fall in love.”
“Will you tell me about her?” Mac shuddered out a sob. “Please?”
War motioned for Kerrigan to follow him so they could give Ryker and Mac some privacy. When they reached the kitchen, she leaned against the counter, staring at her credit cards.
“What do you have?” War asked.
“My credit cards. Gideon took them along with my driver’s license when I got here. I found them when I first saw the photos of Juliette. I hate to even check with the companies. I bet Dalton maxed them out while I was missing.”
“If he did, I’ll pay the balance.” War took them from her and shoved them in his pocket.
Kerrigan didn’t want that. War had already spent too much money on her. “You don’t have to do that.”
“I know I don’t, Sweetheart, but I want to.”
Kerrigan already knew she was in love with War, but his generosity was another thing that drew her to him. She’d never had that, and she wanted it. Kerrigan wanted War in her life.
“I have a question. If Ryker is Mac’s father, does that make her a Gryphon too? I’m just wondering, because if she has the ability to shift, wouldn’t she have been able to get away from the dog?”
“Not all offspring are shifters if one of the parents is human. Since Juliette was human, Mac had a fifty-fifty shot at being Gryphon.”
“So...” Kerrigan wasn’t going there. War already had a child, and Kerrigan didn’t need to think about things she probably would never have. Instead she asked, “What happens now?”
“I’m guessing it’s like my father said. They’ll call the cops in to deal with Gideon. You’ll need to give your statement about everything that happened. If it goes to trial, you’ll probably have to testify, but I’ll be right there with you the whole time. Like I said earlier, I’m not letting you out of my sight.”
“And like I said, I’m good with that.” Kerrigan pushed War back against the counter and settled between his legs. “Kiss me.” She had nothing tangible to offer, but she could give him her whole heart.
War dug his fist into her hair and slanted his mouth over hers. Kerrigan wrapped her arms around his neck while teasing his lips with her tongue. War took the hint and deepened the kiss, dragging her closer with a hand on her hip. Passion flowed through their connection, and War’s cock grew hard against her thigh. Kerrigan wanted him naked and inside her.
“War,” she panted against his mouth.
“I know, Sweetheart. Me, too.”
Someone cleared their throat behind her, and War pressed his forehead against hers, growling low.
“Sorry to interrupt, but the cops are on their way. Plus, we need to help round up those who want to leave.” Ryker stood with his arm around Mac’s shoulder. Both their eyes were rimmed in red, but they were smiling. It was a good look for them. The smiles, not the bloodshot eyes.
Kerrigan stepped away from Warryck, going to Mac. “Are you okay?”
“I will be.”
Chapter Thirty
War
HOLDING Kerrigan’s hand, Warryck stood in awe of his father. Ryker might be the President of the MC, but Sutton was in charge when it came to dealing with the police as well as getting the members of The Sanctuary somewhere to stay while they figured out next steps. He’d always looked up to his dad, but seeing him in action solidified War’s need to return to the family and help any way he could.
“Your dad’s something else,” Kerrigan whispered, her eyes glued to Sutton as he spoke to the local cops who had Gideon, Lewis, and Steven in the back of different patrol cars.
“So is my mom. But where Dad takes control of a situation with a calm demeanor and grace, Rory is this balls-to-the-wall tornado who sweeps in and nobody knows what’s hit them.”
“She’s going to hate me, isn’t she?”
“Why would you think that?”
Kerrigan bit her bottom lip. “Because you already told me she didn’t like the way Harlow came between you and your family.”
“Sweetheart, I’m not sure I follow. I thought you were okay with what I explained to you about the Hounds and what my family does.” War had been honest about how they sometimes took jobs as mercenaries, but he figured if she disagreed with that aspect of things, he’d wipe her memory.
“Oh, I’m fine with it. In fact, I think I’d like to help when you go in and take down the Ministry. Having firsthand knowledge of what goes on behind compound walls could be useful.”
“And I agree. I’m still not seeing how Rory wouldn’t find that a plus.”
“I guess I figured now that you’ve agreed to work with your family and given how we met, she’d think less of me.”
War smiled and tipped Kerrigan’s face up so he knew she was listening. “She’s going to love you. All Rory wants is for all her kids to be happy. I think she knew deep down I wasn’t with Harlow. Don’t get me wrong. I loved Harlow, but if there’s one thing I learned from watching my parents, it’s that love is more than two people being together. It takes compromise. I think we both know how it is to be in a relationship where one partner gave more than the other, and I just can’t see you being a selfish person. I’m sure at some point we won’t see eye to eye on things, and I haven’t been in a relationship in almost twenty-five years. I’m bound to screw things up. But I care deeply about you, and I’ll do anything to make this work.”
“Won’t your mom be mad you’re going to spend time with my parents first?”
“Mom is in Texas with a couple of my sisters, but I think once she returns, she’s going to focus all her attention on her new granddaughter.” War pointed to where Ryker was standing with Mac. “Rory’s good about making up for lost time. When you meet Lucy, she’ll tell you all about that.”
“I can’t wait to meet her. From what you told me, she had a big hand in you finding me. I need to thank her.”
“I know I’ve already asked you this, but are you okay with me being something besides human?” War would let Lucy decide whether or not to tell Kerrigan about Tamian being a Gargoyle, but only if she was really good with the knowledge of shifters.
“Are you kidding me? You’re so sexy in human form, but when you shift? Holy smokes, you’re something else. I am so okay with it.” Sutton got their attention, and War led Kerrigan over to where the deputy was waiting to take her statement.
“I would ask what has you looking like that” — Sutton pointed to War’s face — “but I know the feeling. I still look that way when your mom walks into the room.”
“I know it’s sudden, but it feels right.”
“When you know, you know. I don’t mean to be insensitive, but you never smiled like this around Harlow.”
“I loved Harlow with all my heart, but it was young love, and with Kerrigan, it’s different. God, Dad. It hit me before I even met her. I had this pull to search for her as soon as I saw her photo. But when Mav and I couldn’t find her, I gave up. If it wasn’t for Lucy continuing to dig and my Gryphon prodding me to return to the campground, I might not have ever met her.”
“But you did, so don’t be too hard on yourself. Everything happened as it was supposed to, when it was supposed to. If Mav hadn’t taken the job in Ohio, you wouldn’t have returned to Green Mountain when you did. Kerrigan loves you. Take that knowledge and go forward. She’s good for you, and she’s going to fit righ
t in with our family.”
“Yeah, she’s already looking forward to helping with the Ministry. Besides that, she looks hot on the back of my bike.”
“You’re not wrong there.” Sutton nudged War.
“Hey, old man. Eyes off my woman.”
“What? I’m old but not dead.” Sutton laughed softly, but soon after, he sighed, his eyes bright with unshed tears. “Not only did you find a good female, but you brought your brother some closure. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen him without a haunted look on his face. He’s kept himself guarded all this time, so maybe now that he knows she’s really gone, he can move on.” As if he knew they were talking about him, Ryker looked their way and inclined his head. War hoped his father was right.
Warryck stood patiently while Kerrigan gave her statement and graciously answered their questions. He stood close as she and Mac talked briefly about Mac’s future getting to know Ryker, and Kerrigan promised to check on her once she’d gotten settled. She’d tried to find Sparrow, but the younger woman and her parents were nowhere to be found. His female had a good heart, and he was proud to not only know her, but to know she was his. He couldn’t wait to begin their new life together.
War and Kerrigan stopped off in New York before heading south. Hayden was the Hounds’ go-to mechanic for their bikes. Even though adding a backrest wasn’t technically a mechanical issue, War didn’t want anyone besides his younger brother to do the work. Introducing Kerrigan to more of his family felt good, especially when they instantly fell in love with her. Just like Mav had, Kyllian asked if she had a sister. Kerrigan took it in stride, but War could tell it made her feel good about herself even if her cheeks blushed a delicate pink. After Hayden finished up with the bike, the four of them enjoyed pizza and beer while they talked about Gideon and The Sanctuary.