Page 44 of Daddy’s Hunted Bride

A deep rumbling sound that might be a laugh emanates from the giant man as he hoists both Little girls into his arms with an ease that should frighten them. But they both only giggle, delighted to see their favorite uncle—outside the family, of course.

At least, that’s what we all tell ourselves.

“Did you come to play with us?” Lanie asks, her eyes widening with a silent plea.

“I’d love to play with you.” Like the rest of him, Gunther’s voice is rough, like he’s not used to using it. Considering he lives alone and rarely ever visits town unless it’s absolutely necessary, the likelihood of that seems high. “But I have to help your Uncle Dane with something first.”

The suspicion returns to Josie’s eyes. “What are you helping him with?”

“Grown-up business,” Bram tells her as he pulls her from Gunther’s arms. “And you, little miss, need a nap so playtime will have to wait anyway.”

“Not fair! I never get to do anything fun!”

Their voices fade as Bram carries his whining babygirl up the stairs. Shaking his head, Gunther grunts. “Shocked that girl can ever sit comfortably.”

“We all are,” Colt agrees with a grin. “Gunther, I’d like you to meet my little one, Tabitha. Tabby, this is your Uncle Gunny.”

Shy little Tabby presses herself closer to Colt, who chuckles as he tightens his hold on his babygirl. “It’s all right, little firecracker. I promise he isn’t as scary as he looks.”

“Promise?”

“Yes, baby. Cross my heart, hope to die.”

Eyes round with some combination of wonder and fear, Tabby nods slowly. “Hi, Uncle Gunny.”

“Hello, little Tabby. It’s nice to meet you.”

“N-nice to meet you too.”

“And that leaves us with Sleeping Beauty here,” Gunther says as he turns his attention to the angelic bundle in my arms. “This must be little Vanessa.”

“Nessie,” Lanie corrects him. “Like the monster. Rawr!”

“Ahhh!” Gunther’s mock scream sends a ripple of laughter around the table. “What a terrifying monster you are, little Lanie.”

“She’s a little monster in need of a nap,” Axel says dryly as he plucks his pouting babygirl from Gunther’s arms.

“Aww, but Daddy I wanna play with Uncle Gunny!”

“You can play with him another time, little runaway. But right now it’s naptime.”

“But I’m not even sleepy!”

Again, we listen as Lanie argues her case the entire way up the stairs. Colt follows suit, carrying a much more subdued Tabby toward the steps. Leaving me alone with Gunther and the three of my siblings who don’t have Little ones to care for.

The change in Gunther is palpable. Gone is the playful uncle figure Lanie and Josie have managed to tease out of him over the past couple of months. In his place is a man who makes me wonder yet again about the mysterious past Eli is always dropping hints about.

“I brought you some options.” Settling on the seat Eli usually occupies, Gunther heaves his backpack onto the table and unzips it. “One is simply a bracelet containing a tracker.”

He pulls a long black box from his pack and opens it. Inside is a simple gold chain with a thicker piece of gold in the middle.

“Where’s the clasp?” I ask, frowning down at the jewelry.

“There isn’t one. You take the two ends” —he lifts the chain from the box and holds the ends together to demonstrate— “and weld them together. Called permanent jewelry. Pretty big in kink circles, from what I hear. I put this on her, nobody is taking it off without cutting it off.”

“And I wouldn’t put it past her to try doing exactly that.” I shake my head. “Too risky.”

“Thought you might say that, from what Eli has told me of her.” Something that almost sounds like pride rings in his voice. “Says she’s a fighter. Giving you a run for your money.”