Shades of Ménage : A Dystopian Romance Ménage & Post Catastrophic Romance Ménage Boxed Set Series - Ultimate Four-Book Collection by Jan Springer Page A

facilities and she didn’t want Callie to get caught and sent back there. It would be best if Luke could find her and protect her somehow.
    “ Everything is going to be okay, Cate. Trust me. Luke will find her and protect her,” Jude said as he re-entered the room with her medicine.
    There was an odd look in his eyes that unsettled her, but he smiled and the look quickly vanished into something beautiful she could only call love.
    He unwrapped the plastic from a new needle and jabbed the point into the vial of pink medicine sucking up the required amount that she needed to take every day in order to stay alive. She flinched as he injected the medicine into her shoulder.
    “ Rest now my lady. Rest.”
    She nodded. He tucked the blankets in around her naked body and left.
    * * * * *
    She didn’t know how long she slept but when she awoke the sky was pitch black and she heard two men’s voices drift through the nearby open window from the cockpit directly above where she slept.
    Looking through the windows, she noted the familiar silhouette of the New Portland skyline and the buttery lights glowing in some of the building’s windows.
    Obviously, they were docked at the wharf and Jude had picked up his brother, Luke. It meant they’d be heading to the Outlaw farm and she would begin her new life as their wife.
    She sighed heavily. Doubts swirled.
    Could she handle it? Could she handle having several men making love to her? Cate squared her shoulders in defiance. Of course she could. It was a new way of life for all of them. Besides, she wasn’t in this alone. Jude would be standing by her side.
    Confidence soared inside her. With Jude behind her, she could do anything.
    If he felt certain that he could protect her from the Barlows and that their relationship could survive this new Claiming Law she would put her trust in him.
    She slipped on the pretty white dress that Jude had given her and then, head held high with pride, Cate pushed open the cabin door and halted when she heard Luke’s strained voice sail through the night air.
    “ It was the agreement we made with the Barlows, Jude. Cate was to be theirs. You know the plan. Didn’t you tell her?”
    Cate’s blood ran cold.
    What agreement with the Barlows? What did he mean Cate was to be theirs? Were the Outlaws giving her to the Barlows?
    Sweet God! No!
    She stood stiffly in the doorway barely feeling the cool breeze blow against her shivering body.
    Anxious minutes drifted by as she awaited Jude’s response.
    Say something, Jude. Tell Luke what you told me! Tell him the Outlaws would protect me!
    She didn’t hear him answer.
    Son of a bitch!
    Her legs wobbled and threatened to collapse. Hot tears of rage bubbled into her eyes.
    She shut the door behind her and flung herself onto the bed burying her head into the pillow to stifle her sobs.
    How could he? How could Jude betray her like this?
    When was he going to tell her? Or was he simply going to let her think she was heading back home to the Outlaw brothers and when they got there they would hand her over to the Barlows?
    She’d honestly believed he’d loved her. Instead, he’d used her for his own sexual gratification.
    A few good fucks to remember him by?
    The bastard had betrayed her. She would kill him. That’s what she’d do. She’d cut off his…
    She cringed as a hand curled gently over her shoulder.
    “ I’m sorry we woke you, Cate. I saw the light switch on. I guess you heard us talking.” Jude said softly. “I should have told you.”
    Whirling up in the bed, Cate couldn’t stop the red-hot anger from screaming through her as she slapped him against his cheek.
    The sharp sound of her sudden violence, the surprised look on his face and the sting to her palm did little to dampen her hurt.
    “ Yes, you should have told me you were betraying me, you bastard!” She wiped away the tears streaming down her face. “God! How could I have been so stupid in trusting you? The only reason you were