Page 101 of Elling & Jackie

"Of course not." She ripped a leaf from the tree and tore little pieces off, flinging them over the rail into the water. "I'm a Stanton. It's not something I can walk away from, but I believe I can love someone else. My heart is big enough."

Chief's gaze locked onto the remaining pieces of leaf in her hand. She tossed the rest into the current.

"My biggest fear is you won't accept my feelings, and you'll kill Elling," she said softly. "Or, he'll kill you because you've threatened him. That's why it's taken me so long to come to you and tell you I've fallen in love with him."

Chief ran his hand down his hard-as-stone face and straightened his beard. His eyes grew misty as he looked off into the distance.

She stepped closer, and when he lifted his arm, she hugged his side, letting his beard tickle her cheek. The tears she'd struggled to hold back flowed silently down her face. Someday, her father wouldn't be here to talk with her and protect her. His lessons would be over.

The love and acceptance only he could give her would no longer be available to her.

That was her reality because of his age. A fact she knew as a child would someday break her heart, and she dreaded the day he was no longer here.

"What have I always told you to remember," he said in his rough, low voice.

"That you love me," she whispered.

"Do you think I don't know that Halvorsen has been spending time with you at the hotel?"

She tilted her head, and his arm tightened around her, holding her close. "You had me watched?"

"You're a Stanton," he said as if that explained it all. "I could've killed him before he claimed you. I could've stopped you from approaching him and helping him get his motorcycle started."

She closed her eyes an extra beat, trying to wrap her head around everything he was telling her. "If you could've...why didn't you?"

"It was never about if I would, but if my daughter found him worthy of her love." Chief kissed the top of her head. "I'm not too sure he'll get invited to Family Day, but knowing your mom, she'll be inviting him to Sunday dinner one of these days. Maybe when Brikken is gone on a ride, and I'm away bullshitting with Keefe."

Her heart squeezed, and she transferred all the love she had inside of her to her dad. "I love you."

"I know you do." He exhaled and moved his arm from around her. "There's another matter we need to talk about."

"What?" She wiped her face with her hands.

Nothing could be as important as what they'd discussed. Chief had given his approval. While he was never going to accept Elling like he would with any other Brikken member, he would find a way to work at tolerating Elling for her sake. That's all she needed.

Elling would prove to everyone that he was the right man for her. Their love would be out there for all to see.

"I heard your brothers took about a hundred members on a ride today after dropping you off at the clubhouse this morning and had a little run-in with Slag Motorcycle Club." He gazed down at her, and his mouth softened. "You might want to go to the garage and save Elling before your brothers kill him."

She jolted, anger flowing red-hot through her veins. "He's in the garage?"

Chief rubbed his face, barely concealing the amusement ticking at the corners of his mouth, and mumbled, "That's what I've heard."

She ran to the other side of the bridge and down the pathway, between the garage and clubhouse, almost tripping at the corner of the building as she changed direction and sprinted toward the door.

Inside, she stopped in front of her three brothers. Her gaze lowered to the floor. She gasped at the sight before her, every muscle in her body stiffening.

Elling was in front of her brothers on his hands and knees, his head hanging between his arms. She yelled his name as she ran forward.

All her brothers turned her way. She ignored them and dropped to her knees beside Elling. Blood dripped from his head, making a pool on the concrete floor beneath him. She put her arms around his chest and pulled, trying to get him to his feet, and he groaned in pain.

"J-Jacqueline?" he mumbled.

"I'm here." She turned to her brothers. "Don't just stand there, help him to his feet, or are you going to watch him bleed to death?"

Thorn was the first to move forward. Olin followed him. Jett remained watching. She scrambled to the front of Elling as his body unfolded with her brothers holding his weight. Her throat burned in outrage, getting the first look at his injuries.

One eye was completely swollen shut. His top lip needed stitches. Somewhere on the side of his head, blood flowed, staining his blond hair. She ran her hands over his stomach, his chest, taking in his swift inhale of breath. He probably had broken ribs.

"Jett, get the First Aid kit from the clubhouse." She guided Elling, carried by Thorn and Olin, to the closest motorcycle inside the garage. "Sit on the seat. I'll clean you up and see if you need any stitches."

Elling's hand patted her chest, making a trail up to her neck. She realized he couldn't see her well with all the blood on his face and his eye swollen. "Jacqueline?"

She squeezed his muscular forearm. "Yeah, honey, I'm right here. I'm going to take care of you."

"You belong to me." He coughed, hacking, almost sliding off the bike seat as his body seized in pain.

"Ja." She gently stroked his beard. "I do."

He half chuckled at her attempt to answer him in Norwegian, causing another groan of pain from him. She shushed him. There would be plenty of time to hash out what happened today later when he was able to look her in the eyes.