Pearl's Blaze (Devil's Iron MC #2) by Gm Scherbert Page B

contemplate reaching out to them now to let them know that I am coming, but decide against it. Knowing that dad will talk with Blaze and I would not like him to have more time to plot my reprimand.
    I start thinking about the long ride home in winter and quietly look through this burner phone to plan my path home. Being March, the weather will be touch and go as soon as I start heading north out of Texas and I would hate to get caught on the bike in the midst of a big Midwestern blizzard.
    Looking through the weather I decide to sit tight for at least a couple days before starting my journey home. I am going to let the big storm that seems to be making its way across the country pass before I start the journey home.
    Thinking about what will happen when I get home does not make my fitful night of sleep any easier. I wonder about what is happening with the MC, the Dungeon, and even the woman that should be far from my mind.
    Looking towards the phone I have not turned on in four months I think again about the situations I will be walking back into at home. I think again about turning it on and checking in with my father, but will leave that for when I am on my way.

Chapter 22 – Blaze
    I only realized too late that my words of love and protection did not fall on deaf ears. When I woke a short time after falling asleep, Pearl is gone. I knew it the instant I woke up and sensed that I was alone in bed. I am not sure what happened or where she has gone, but will make short work of finding her and punishing her for leaving this bed.
    “Fuck!” I throw the lamp on next to the bed and get dressed fast not realizing that Pearl is nearer than I think. I storm through the office and am shocked to see Pearl curled up in the desk chair crying. I move to her swiftly and reach out to her gradually, not wanting to startle her. As our skin makes contact her eyes shoot to mine and I see so much pain there it stabs me to the core.
    “Sweetling, what is it? Why are you so upset? It can’t be because of what I said, is it?” Slowly spinning the chair to face me, “Are you that fucking pissed and this is your reaction when I tell you I love you? Or is it because you do not feel the same way or cannot say it back to me?”
    In between sobs, she answers to the best of her ability, “What? Markus, no I just,” she inhales deeply wiping the tears from her checks, “it’s just that you, when you mentioned, FUCK” she trails off as her crying starts again.
    “Shh, Sweetling. It will be okay, whatever it is that upset you, I will fix it. Shh.” Soothing her as best I could I slowly pick her up and place her on my lap as I sit back down into the chair. Wrapping my arms around her I carry on, “Sweetling, what has you so shaken, if not my telling you that I am in love with you, then what? The only other thing I mentioned was, FUCK ME, we have never discussed it since that first night you told me what happen. Is that what has upset you? My mentioning of him and that night, is this how you were those days after the attack, Sweetling?”
    Bringing her eyes up to meet mine I see the hurt and fear that still lingers there. “I just haven’t thought about him or that night for the last few weeks and it all just came back to me in a rush after you mentioned Tank.” As she drops her eyes a little she goes on, “it was not your confessions that made me upset, Markus, those I have been waiting to hear for some time.”
    “Oh, have you now, Pet. Is that so?” I bring a hand up to her chin dragging her eyes back up to meet mine and slowly stroking over her check as I go on, “How long have you been waiting to hear these confessions from me exactly?” A slow smile spreads across my face as I look down into those brown eyes that have stopped their tears.
    A grin leisurely comes to her as she answers me with no pause, “Since the night that you claimed me, maybe before then.” Reaching her hand up to my face and stroking down my beard tugging