Page 53 of My Boyfriend Marks Trees
Charlotte nodded.
“Is he coming?”
She didn’t want to lie. “He might be.”
Greta whimpered, and Charlotte’s heart broke.
“I won’t let him hurt you.”
“He hurt my mama,” she whispered.
Charlotte couldn’t deny the claim. She’d tried to fight, but Barry had the strength and the mean streak to counter. But she knew a man who wouldn’t be daunted. A man her daughter admired. “Ares is on his way back. He’ll keep us safe.”
“I don’t want the bad man to hurt Ares.”
“Oh please,” Charlotte exclaimed. “Ares is a hero. The bad man can’t hurt him.” Words that struck a chord. The man she’d grown to care for wasn’t an ugly bully. He didn’t mistreat her. Didn’t make her afraid. But would that change when he turned into his wolf?
“Ares is a hero,” Greta repeated. “He won’t let the bad man take me,” Greta stated with confidence, standing up in the tub. Charlotte held her hand as they exited the bathroom and headed downstairs.
Before she could lead Greta to the bunker, a rumbling sound from outdoors drew their attention.
“Ares is back!” Greta chirped, yanking free and racing for the door.
It seemed too soon for him to have returned. An ugly feeling knotted Charlotte’s stomach, and she bolted to catch Greta.
Too late.
She emerged to find her daughter in none other than Barry’s grip. The bastard had arrived on a brand-new-looking snowmobile, and he didn’t come alone. She recognized Hughey, Ivan, and Amir.
At the sight of Charlotte, Barry smirked. “Did you really think I wouldn’t find you?”
Chk-chk. A shotgun armed behind Charlotte, and Grams snarled, “Unhand the child.”
“Or what?” Barry drawled as he tucked Greta to his chest. “Gonna shoot me?”
Grams uttered a low growl, making Charlotte wonder if she told the truth about not being a werewolf.
“I didn’t think so.” Barry laughed. “Drop the gun.” When Grams hesitated, the bastard tightened his hold, and Greta squeaked.
Grams set the gun down.
“Don’t hurt her,” Charlotte pleaded.
“The pup will be fine, but as for the rest of you…” He offered a nasty smile. “Get inside and don’t try anything, or I might decide fatherhood isn’t my thing after all.”
Grams hobbled in first, murmuring softly, “Don’t mention Athena or Gramps. All is not lost yet.”
Funny, because it sure felt as if it were. Charlotte saw no way out of this. The best she could hope for was Barry would leave and not harm anyone. But that would leave Greta in his clutches. Better Charlotte die trying to save her.
Barry herded them into the living room, a wide-eyed, lip-trembling Greta still tight to his chest. Amir stood behind him, arms crossed.
“You had a lot of nerve leaving,” Barry stated. “You made me look bad in front of the boys.”
“Ah yes because kidnapping and terrorizing a child is a much better look,” Charlotte muttered.
“Only because you wouldn’t cooperate. You could have just done as you were told like a proper bitch, but, no, you chose instead to make me chase you.”
“How did you find me?” she asked.