Harlan screams when I make contact and goes limp enough for me to throw him off and dive over the back of the couch. I’m gonna have to run and pray that Lynx gets here because I don’t want to leave Teeny and Tammy with this freak and I would die if they got hurt because of me.
I make it no more than four steps when an arm comes around my neck from behind and my body leaves the floor, the pressure when he tightens his hold cutting off my air supply. I remember this though, remember the classes and everything Hawk’s taught me, so I can get free, I think, panicking when I reach back only to scream when he grabs my hand and bends my arm up, the pain so rapid I feel woozy before I can blink it away.
“Stop fighting me. You’ll want it soon. I know you will. We’re perfect together.”
“Stop it!”
I gasp and splutter, clawing at his arm with one hand, my legs kicking back at his shins. I make contact, but he doesn’t seem to notice, pulling me closer as I flail and try to break free.
“You will want me!” he yells, tossing me back to the couch and throwing himself at me.
His weight is immense, and I struggle to breathe, but I haven’t quit yet, and dammit, I won’t. Breathing, I wait just until he lowers his head, and then I strike, sinking my teeth into his arm, biting down hard and not letting go, even when he rears back and tries to punch me.
That error is my opening, and I pull my legs back and kick, hitting him in the chest with enough force to shoot him back, the sound of glass and wood splintering ringing out as the front door bangs open and Lynx barrels in with Lyon.
“Christ!”
Let me just say…holy shit.
“Cleaned his clock,” I mumble, covering my chest while Lyon drags his shirt off and pulls it over me, his eyes taking in Harlan and the spike of wood sticking out of his neck.
“Hawk is gonna be so pissed, Mika.”
I smile because they don’t know him at all, I think, rushing to Teeny when she comes in behind Lynx, her face filled with fear while she tries to calm Tammy and look me over at the same time.
“Oh my God! I thought…”
“I’m okay.”
And I really, really am, because see that corpse on the floor? It isn’t me.
Hawk
“How could you keep that from me?” I rail, not knowing whether I want to throttle Mika or high-five her for making minced meat of the asshole I should have killed months ago.
Mika just throws me a look and huffs, rolling her eyes as if she is not bothered by my anger.
“Mika!”
“What! Look, man, I took care of business, and you should be happy that I’m not some weak loser who’d have cried in a corner and waited for some freak to kill her. I’m okay. Teeny and Tam are okay, and the baby…is perfect. In fact, you know, I feel better about the baby now because, trust me, Hawk, if he’s still in there after that freak came at me, then he’s sticking.”
I take comfort in her yelling because it beats the hell out of the crying woman I rushed home to, my heart almost beating out of my chest when Bear called me and told me to get my ass home. In the time it took to fly home, I learned that Harlan had been calling Mika for weeks and creeping her out as well as skulking around her yard when she was alone.
For that, I yelled at her for a solid ten minutes, and you know what the woman did? She flipped me the bird and asked me to feed her because being Rambo is hungry work.
Now I just don’t know what to do with myself, but I pull her to me anyway and tremble when I feel her body against mine, safe, unharmed, and, according to Dr. Forbes, still pregnant and in no danger of miscarrying.
“You crazy woman. I love you. Don’t you scare me that way again,” I say hoarsely, hugging her tighter when she quivers and kisses me back.
“I’m sorry, baby. I just didn’t think.”
“No, but that all stops now. Lynx is putting walls up around both properties, and you won’t move without my say-so for the next six months at least.”
She sighs, and I feel her surrender when she throws her arms around my neck and smiles up at me.
“Admit it. I kicked his ass.”
I laugh then because she’s so full of herself she reminds me of…me.
“Don’t ever leave me, Mika.”
“Never.”
Epilogue
“Storm Wylder, you get your skinny butt down here, and don’t you dare glare at me, little girl,” I yell up the tree, asking God why I have to have a three-year-old daughter the size of a six-year-old and with her father’s temperament. The girl is wild and unrepentantly stubborn, and she’s been driving me crazy since she slid out of me and opened eyes so blue even the doctor yelled a startled curse.
She didn’t cry, didn’t so much as coo when she came into this world. I swear to God she scowled before she laid eyes on Hawk, who then proceeded to pass out on me and leave me alone with…a demon with my blood.
“Storm, get your ass down here before I call your father!” I yell again, getting panicked because there is no way I’m getting my four-month pregnant self up a tree and then wrangling with that wild thing.
She bites. And looks at me the way Hawk does when he’s none too pleased.
I hear a deep laugh and turn to glare at the Wylders, who just have to walk in here for an impromptu family dinner while my demon from hell sticks her tongue out at me and climbs higher.
“Storm! Down.”
Of course she obeys as soon as Hawk opens his mouth, I snarl silently, praying to God that I get a boy this time with my personality and a football helmet when this one sees him. I fear for humanity. I truly do, and if not for the fact I love her, I’d totally try to give her back.
“Why is she so wild?” I grouch when he comes up behind me to wrap me up and stroke my stomach. “Falcon isn’t this bad, Jackal is a prince, and even Cloud doesn’t give Wolf half as much trouble.”
Hawk laughs outright and braces when Storm hurls herself down, expecting to be caught because she knows her dad will never let her fall. Just like he never let me, I think, sighing happily as I take in my family while Hawk lectures the rabid girl that is my child.
Lori and Wolf got a little boy named Jackal, AKA Jack, and they’re trying for number two. Trust me, my guest bedroom saw it all when they came over for a barbecue and ended up missing for an hour.
Bear’s just fine with Falcon and told Rain to kiss his sweet ass when she tried for another. Lyon and Leila had a little girl named Sparrow—Lyon’s wish because he says they need another little bird just like the woman who started it all—and they’re also not going for number two yet because the girls in this family; wild.
Lynx and Teeny are the only ones who haven’t yet tried, but I get it, because Tammy may not be a Wylder by blood, but…the girls, man, I never want another girl.
We’re all happy, even Brass, who I set up with a friend I made in Pilates. He tried to give me lip, and I get it. I heard all about his Daisy, and it broke my heart, but if there’s one thing I have learned from life, it’s that you live it now, not in the past or even for the future.
He married Hannah a few months ago, and I’m glad to say that they have a little girl on the way, one Daisy Rae since Hannah insisted they never forget Daisy the original.
So, yeah, all happy and spitting out the next generation.
“You okay, babe?” Hawk asks, coming up behind me when Storm lets off a shriek and throws herself at Rain, their laughter and plotting making me grimace and pray for a free night with Gamma Rain watching her wild butt.
“Living, Wylder,” I say, smiling up at him because, to us, that’s all we need.
“We sure are. Now kiss me, woman, before that little hellion comes this way again.”
I giggle and comply, groaning when Storm lets off a war cry that has Hawk moaning.
“She’s sleeping at Ma’s tonight,” he whispers.
“Thank you, Jesus.”
“I love you, Meeks.”
I smile because this…is just the
beginning.
~~~
Thank you for reading WYLDER :) I hope you enjoyed it.
If you're looking for another series to read, check out THE WATCHERS. Or for a more laugh-out-loud series, I suggest THE NAUGHTY ONES.
Thank you for reading my books :)
WYLDER Page 74