“Bells!” Goose called over his shoulder, but his gaze stayed on Carter.
“I’m one step ahead of you.” Bells strode into my line of sight, and she was toting one nasty-looking rifle in her arms, holding it as if she knew exactly how to use it. “Back off, Fido.”
Carter reached for me, and Goose yanked me into his chest. His solid and unrelenting arms wrapped around my back as the men behind Carter started up the stairs, snarling. I wanted to melt against him, but I didn’t have a chance.
I had to remain on guard.
“Stand down!” Carter thundered and the sounds of footsteps approaching went quiet. “We can do this the easy way, or the hard way. She wants your help, so give it to her. But if you think I’m handing her over so you can pass her off to one of your masters or mistresses, you’ve got another think coming.”
“So she can become what? Another female for you to breed with? How dare you call yourself any better?” Goose had never sounded so furious. This was a side of him I’d never seen. “If she wants to stay here, she’s welcome. You’re not.”
“With me, she’ll have a choice.” Carter spoke with malice so apparent you could feel it. “With me, she can have a future.”
“You call this a choice?” Goose refused to let go or loosen his hold. All I could see was Bells and the big-ass gun balanced on her shoulder, her finger steady on the trigger. “What if she doesn’t want your future?”
For a moment, I allowed myself to go soft in Goose’s embrace, thankful as hell that he was alive and had finally grown a nice pair of brass balls. Goose, whether I wanted to admit it or not, had become a security of sorts during our friendship, keeping me grounded. I never thought I’d miss him so much.
“If you’re smart,” Goose said, “you’ll leave.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” Carter lost the growl but there was an edge to his voice, as if he were struggling for control. “We came to end her debt to the demon and go. She’s not staying.”
“I’m aware of why you’re here.” Goose’s arms were quaking, as if the shock of my arrival was finally taking over. “I’ve been expecting her.”
“What? You are?” I tried to pull away, ready for some answers. “How?”
“It’s a long story.” He peered down at me, his expression difficult to read. Goose had always been serious, but this was different. My stomach churned as that intuitiveness we are all born with warned me I wasn’t going to like everything he had to say.
“You were expecting me?” It was posed as a question, but in my gut, I knew the answer.
He didn’t look away. “Yes.”
“We have so much to talk about. There’s so much I don’t know.”
His expression softened, and for a moment, I could see the Goose I’d become close to. He was one of the few people I trusted. Someone I allowed myself to lean on and believe in.
“You’re right,” he replied. “We do.”
“I don’t mean you or yours any harm,” Carter said, intruding on our moment, and I felt him place his hand on my shoulder. “I gave her my word I’d protect her, and I’m not breaking it. Everyone else will stay outside.”
“Bells?” Goose asked evenly.
“He’s telling you the truth.”
Goose released me and guided me to the side. “Come in.” Then, turning to Carter, he warned, “My daughter and I are directly tied to Queen Victoria DelCrux. You know what will happen if you cross a line. She’ll cross the water and claim your head.”
The lack of mention of Paine and Queen Victoria DelCrux computed first.
Back in my time, Paine was Disco’s second, which meant he and Goose would have remained tied unless something had happened.
Then the other whammy sank in.
I studied Bells, taking in her familiar features—the eyes, the hair, the smile, even the preppy clothes.
Well, fuck me silly. Goose was a father.