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

fucking me was to prepare me for those cruel men. God! I was so naïve. I was so pathetic, clinging to your lies like an idiot. I thought you loved me. What a laugh.”
    Jude frowned.
    “ I do love you, Cate. I love you with my whole being.”
    Cate shook her head with puzzlement.
    “ Why then? Why are you so casually throwing away what we feel for each other?”
    ” He’s not, Cate,” came Luke’s voice.
    Anger burned anew when she spotted Luke Outlaw standing in the cabin doorway.
    His sharp eyes gazed back at her. He looked uncomfortable. Maybe even ashamed?
    Good!
    “ You’re no better than he is,” she spat.
    “ Jude didn’t meet the deadline, Cate. Jude took the damn boat and took you and left me high and dry to deal with The Barlows. They came and they went. They called off the deal.”
    Jude reached out to caress her cheek but he flinched as she pushed him away.
    “ I wanted to tell you, Cate. Wanted to tell you about the deal with the Barlows. About Tyler. About our plan that you pretend you’ve agree to go with them. That we would get you out before they could do anything to you.”
    “ We would have gotten you out after they had given us the information.” Luke explained.
    Cate’s head spun with confusion. “What deal? What information? What news about Tyler? I thought he was dead?”
    “ The Barlows have information about Tyler. He’s alive but they wouldn’t say where he was unless they got you by the end of this week. When they showed up tonight, they said the deal is off. They’re rich men and apparently their money attracted a woman who willingly wanted to be claimed by them. Apparently they’ve already claimed her.”
    Jude sighed with relief. “So they’ve no reason to not tell us about Tyler. Where is he?”
    “ They won’t say yet. Now they want us to give them our land for the information.”
    “ Shit!” Jude cursed.
    Luke smiled at her. “At least Cate is safe.”
    Jude squeezed her closer to his side. “Besides, if Tyler had found out we’d thrown his woman’s sister to those bastards just to try and free him; he would have killed us all. I may just have saved all our lives.”
    Luke grinned. “You sure are right about that.”
    Suddenly he reached for Cate’s hand and shook it. “I want to thank you for telling Jude about Callie.”
    Happiness burst through her heart as his eyes twinkled with an eagerness she hadn’t noticed before.
    “ You’re going to look for her, aren’t you?”
    “ Yes. But before I go, I have to say welcome to the Outlaw family. My brothers are tough on the outside but big romantic teddy bears on the inside.”
    “ Cate’s not going to be claimed by any of our brothers,” Jude said softly.
    She couldn’t help but tremble with excitement at his words.
    Luke blinked in shock. “But the Claiming Law…how are we going to protect her from other groups of men who might want to take her? I mean, it’s only a matter of time before the law comes looking for her to make sure she’s claimed...”
    “ Screw the Law. I’m not taking her home,” Jude said.
    “ But where will you go? The entire world is adopting the Claiming Law. All the states have agreed to it. It’s north and south of the borders. The authorities will question you wherever you go. You’ll need papers to show she’s been claimed. If they suspect she isn’t claimed then they’ll take her away and give her to anyone…”
    Anxiety burst through Cate.
    “ It’s a chance I’m willing to take,” she said quickly.
    “ And I am too.” Jude agreed. “Besides, we’ve made connections during the Wars. Claiming papers can be forged.”
    Luke chuckled and slapped his brother on the back.
    “ Okay, stay put in New Portland for a day. When I get back home, I’ll wire you money. In the meantime…”
    Luke reached into his back pocket and dug out a wad of bills. He held it out to Luke. “Here take this. You’re going to need it.”
    Jude’s arm snuggled warmly around her