Chapter Seventeen
Blake was quiet on the ride home, but he kept a hand on her thigh.
The other two couples whispered a bit, but everyone was tired and subdued.
“Are any of you hurt?” Alastair asked.
The girls shook their heads.
“When we get home, I want you to go to our room,” Blake said. She nodded.
They pulled up outside, and the car doors opened. They had just gotten out and were headed toward the house when the front door opened. His brother’s cousins and father came out on the front stoop. He could see the relief on their faces.
Everybody asked questions after they were inside.
Alastair whistled. “We’ll answer everyone’s questions.” He turned to Beth. “Go on up to our room.”
He saw Beth nod and then head that way. Blake nudged Hope. “You, too.”
He watched Beth go one way, and Faith and Hope go the other. He didn’t want her out of his sight, but he knew he needed to calm down before dealing with her.
The men went into the living room, and a few of the brothers handed out glasses of scotch or bourbon.
“Why did they leave?” Angus asked.
“Beth told me they planned to go to Faith and Hope’s house to get some of their clothes and see their mom. They didn’t think it was a problem because they had guards with them, and the danger with their father and Rizzo was over.”
“They didn’t think about the rest of our enemies?” Calum asked.
“No,” Graham said.
“You guys need to consider that they’ve been sheltered all their life. They’re not going to think like us,” Logan said.
Blake nodded and took a big sip of his drink. He could actually feel his hands still shake. Part of it was fear, but another part of it was anger.
“Don’t be too hard on them,” Angus said.
“I’m going to head downstairs and work some of this anger out before seeing Hope.”
“That’s a good idea for all three of you,” Angus said.
Both Alastair, Graham, and a few others said they’d come.
“Good night, boys. We’ll talk in the morning.”
Blake patted his dad on the shoulder. “Thanks, Dad.”
The men were quiet as they walked down the steps into a huge room that held workout equipment and a boxing ring in one corner. Once there, they all changed into shorts. Alastair and his cousin Ethan went into the ring. As volatile as Alastair was, Ethan knew he’d be taking a beating, but he boxed for fun and was in great shape, so he’d give Alastair back some.
Blake went to one of the punching bags and beat on it until his arms felt like noodles and sweat rolled down his face. He showered and then pulled on shorts before heading to his room.
His stomach tightened, and his cock hardened at his first glance at his wife. He could tell she had showered and dried her hair before she’d pulled his robe on. Now, she was lying on the bed on top of the comforter. It looked like she tried to stay awake waiting for him, but she must have been exhausted from her little excursion away from home.
Every time he thought about what could have happened, he started to sweat. Fuck, if he had lost her, he didn’t know how he would have been able to take it. It occurred to him that if he felt this strongly after only having her a few days, Graham and especially Alastair had to be feeling worse.
Blake brushed his teeth and then climbed into the bed. He rested on his side with his head in his hands, studying Hope. He had a few questions for her before he got to the punishment.
He set his hand on her stomach. “Baby, wake up.”