Dane had come for me. He’d fought for me. He’d called me his girl. I liked being somebody’s girl, and oh God, why was I acting like such a girl?
Red flags sprouted everywhere, alarms blaring. What kind of man could wield such violence, destroy another man’s dignity, threaten his life, then minutes later curl around a child, protecting her from any threat, and fall asleep?
I crossed my arms, leaned against the doorframe, sipped my coffee, and watched Dane’s massive chest rise and fall. Mim’s hair covered his face, her right arm thrown over his neck. Both of them snored, Mim’s soft and sweet, Dane’s deep and rhythmic. The scene was too much, filling my malnourished heart with thick, meaty sustenance.
The front door opened, then closed.
I left my sleeping beauties alone, and found Tito in the kitchen, downing a glass of water.
“Good morning.”
“Morning,” he huffed, his face wet with perspiration. “Mind if I grab a shower?” His black running gear clung to every dip and valley of his lean, well-cared for frame.
“Use the bathroom down the hall. Towels are in the closet by the door.” I set my mug on the counter. “Hungry?” I asked, heading for the fridge. “Eggs and pancakes?”
Tito smiled. “If it’s not too much trouble.”
“No trouble at all.”
He started for the bathroom, then stopped. “Movers are coming today. They’ll have Matthew’s things out of here by this afternoon. Rented a storage space on the other end of town. I’ve already emailed him the details, so he has no reason to bother you. You okay being here, telling them what to pack and what to leave?”
I’d planned on leaving Matthew’s belongings in the street, but heck, if there were men willing to do the heavy lifting, who was I to argue? “You arranged all of that already this morning?”
“Last night, actually.”
“Do I dare ask how?”
“Best if you don’t.”
“Thank you, Tito.”
Our eyes locked, his jaw worked, then his mouth lifted in a smirk and he nodded toward the closed door where Dane slept. “Got movers set up for you, too, in case you change your mind about Whisper Springs.”
“Tito, I—”
Hand raised, he cut in, “Listen. Not trying to sway you either way. None of my business. But that guy in there? He’s someone I can use on my team. I get the feeling, you stay in Shelbyville, he’ll find a way to come to Shelbyville, and he’ll be torn, because he has personal reasons for wanting to stay near Whisper Springs. You come to Idaho, that guy can stay where he belongs. If I play my cards right, he’ll come work with Tucker and me. I need people like Reynolds.”
“Criminals?” No sense beating around the bush.
Tito’s brows pinched. He studied me for a moment. Then nodded. “People who do their best work outside the law.”
Outside the law. That was the problem, wasn’t it? Then again, outside the law was the only reason my niece was safe. Of course, outside the law was the reason her mother was dead.
Words clogged my throat, finding no outlet. Emotions bubbled inside me with no rhyme or reason. I searched but couldn’t find a sane explanation as to why I wanted to scream, yes, yes, take me back to Whisper Springs. Nonsense. All of it. My stomach lurched.
Pushing past Tito, I dashed for the bathroom.
When I came out, Tito waited for me in the hallway, eyes set hard, arms crossed. “You okay?”
“Stress,” I said, waving him off. “Go have your shower. Breakfast will be ready in fifteen.”
“You sure that’s all it is?”
I nodded, staring at a scuff on the floor to avoid his scrutiny. “Been like this since I was a kid.”
“If you say so,” he retorted, shaking his head and moving past me. I waited for the bathroom door to close before releasing a huff and heading to the kitchen.
About the time the bacon started to sizzle, Dane came out of the bedroom, targeting me with a heavy-lidded gaze. “Moriah.”
“Morning.” A whisper was all I could manage, the sight of him sucking me dry. My voice, my confusion, my ire, evaporated, leaving nothing but airy, wispy, head over heels, in too deep, woman.
“Fuck.” He smirked, as if he could read my thoughts, then caught my waist in a crushing hug and pulled me up for a kiss that put the sizzling grease to shame, using tongue and teeth in a way that should’ve been painful but instead polished every rough edge in my body.
“You mad at me?” he asked, while I dangled in his arms.
Yes, should have been my reply. Instead, I wiggled free, mumbled, “Don’t know,” and turned back to the bacon, giving it a poke, then poured pancake mix into the other skillet. “You hungry?”
“Starving.”
“Good.” I pulled a mug out of the cupboard and shoved it his way. “Coffee’s hot. Help yourself. Creamer’s in the fridge, sugar’s on the table.”
Behind me, the chair scraped against the tile floor, then creaked, accepting Dane’s weight. How silly that my first thought was to buy new chairs better suited for a large man.
How inappropriate, the frantic knocking behind my ribs.
How maddening my nonchalance.
“Why are you here?” I asked over my shoulder.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
A huff. “You didn’t call me back.”
“And?”
The chair shifted. “You didn’t call back.”
I turned to face the beautiful, sleepy, frustrating man. “I was busy, getting Mim settled.” Figuring out how to deal with Matthew, I left unsaid.
Dane leaned back, crossing his arms, his legs stretched and crossed at the ankles, brows pulled low. “Put yourself in my place. You’re two thousand miles away. You’re screaming at your ex. You don’t call back to let me know you’re okay.”
“So, your first reaction is to hop on a plane?”
“Yes.”
“Again, why?”
His gaze dropped to the table. “I couldn’t not come.”
“You were worried.”
“I was scared shitless.” Dragging his thumbnail back and forth over his forehead, he huffed. “Moriah, you need to know, nothing scares me anymore.”
Cleary that admission wasn’t easy, judging by the look on his face.
That confession weighed heavy on my mind, too, for so many reasons, the most blaring, though, was that he cared enough to worry for us. And that was a good thing, right?
Trouble was, I knew so little about the man. If I chose to return to Whisper Springs, I risked a future full of scary surprises. Yet, those unknowns were still more appealing than whatever lay ahead for us in Shelbyville.
“Where’s Moretti?” He interrupted my introspect, peeking into the living room.
“Took a shower, then ran to the corner store. Said he needed some pain relievers.”
Tito came through the door that very moment, paper bag in hand.
“Perfect timing.” I set a plate in front of Dane, then another at the table for Tito.
Mim joined us shortly after. We ate. Mostly in silence. Tito cleared the dishes, then announced he had to hit the road, get back to the family, and disappeared down the hall, to gather his things, I assumed.
Dane and Mim made themselves comfortable on the sofa, Mim pointing the remote at the flat screen until she settled on a loud and colorful cartoon.
“I’m going to wash my hair,” I announced, although I was sure nobody was listening.
I bumped into Tito outside my room. He kissed my cheek, said, “I’m off,” then whispered, “I hope to see you soon, Moriah.”
I started to thank him, then thought, for what? For breaking into my home in the middle of the night? For escorting Dane The Destroyer on his mission to mark his territory? Don’t think so. Instead, I wished him a safe trip home, then locked myself in the bathroom, dead set on a long, steamy, soul-cleansing shower.
On the sink sat two boxes. Pregnancy tests with a note shoved in-b
etween that read: If you say so. T
Tito.
Effin’ Tito.
Dane
Fucking Tito. God, I’d never be able to repay the monumental solid he’d done, getting me to Shelbyville on the fly.
Soon as Moriah locked herself in the bathroom, I joined Moretti outside, where he waited by the running yellow cab.
“Moretti,” I grunted, lighting a hand-rolled, desperate for a quick hit.
“Reynolds.”
I pulled a long drag. Held it. Exhaled. “Appreciate your help.”
“Been entertaining to say the least.” He handed his duffel to the cab driver, who then opened the trunk and tossed the thing inside. Tito made to get in the back seat, then paused. Faced me again.
“Gonna need you back soon. No fuckin’ around with this one.” He pointed to the house. “Do what you gotta do, get back. Lettie’s in no shape to take care of that big house by herself. Tucker’s in no shape to do a run, and I got a shit-ton of leads. Could use you on the road.”
Although I respected what Tito and Tucker did on their “runs,” their gig was for guys with any sort of a moral code. I had none. Also, I resented the orders flying my way, so I threw out an, “I’m not up for that shit.”
“No?” He came toe-to-toe, snarl curling his lip. “Go back inside, take a long, hard look at that little girl, remember what they did to her, tell me your chest doesn’t hurt, your insides don’t boil over thinking ’bout other kids suffering the same fate, then tell me you’re not up for that shit.”
Fucker was right.
Still. I wasn’t about to say so. And I sure as hell would not consider leaving without my girls.
Tito dangled another carrot. “You say the word, I’ll make sure Moriah doesn’t get a job in this town. Give her no choice but to accept Carlos’s offer.”
Tempting. Would’ve made things easier if I’d let Tito work his magic, true, but Moriah’s fate wasn’t mine to manipulate. “Not sure I feel right about doin’ her that way.”
“Have a little faith, my man. She’ll choose right.” The prick clapped a hand on my shoulder. Smirked. “Never thought I’d see the day. Dane Reynolds going soft for a couple of girls.”
“Fuck off.”
He laughed, folded into the cab, said, “See ya in a few days.” Slammed the door. Left me alone with my cancer stick.
Minute later, Mim joined me outside, and fuck if I didn’t ditch my half-finished smoke for that little nugget. I’d never ditched a cigarette for anyone.
Standing at my side, she blinked big, sleepy eyes at me, and wore a smile brighter than the morning sun. Damn, my chest swelled, threatening to burst. She slid her fingers through mine and leaned into me, giving me the full weight of that little sack of skin and bones.
Fuck all. I was done for. I scooped her up, set her on my shoulders, and mumbled, “I missed you too, Little Lady,” then gave her knees a squeeze. “Whaddya say we check out the neighborhood?”
Wasn’t expecting an answer, but when she hummed, “Mmhmm,” and bounced up and down, that tiny little creature proved herself a Titan, powerful and mighty, breaking through the prison walls that sick fuck had forced her into, and dead set on conquering the mountains of bullshit that I’d built around myself.
Through the open door, I shouted, “Mim and I are taking a walk.”
Moriah popped around the corner, her hair wrapped in a pink towel, another one wrapped around her body, her bare legs on full display, and damn. Damn. I’d always been a breast man but consider me converted.
It was because of those toned beauties that it took me too damn long to notice the lack of color in her face. And guilt. I could swear, the woman looked guilty as sin.
“What is it?”
“What do you mean?” she asked, coming our way.
Had Mim not been sitting on my shoulders, I would’ve plowed through the door and forced a confession.
“Never mind. We’re just going around the block. Be back before the movers get here.”
“Yeah. Yeah.” Her head bobbed. “If you head south”—she pointed beyond the yard— “there’s a nice park about two blocks down.”
Mim bounced again, her legs kicking under my palms.
“They got swings?” I asked. Mim loved the tree swing at the mansion, and although Rocky was the only person she’d allowed to give her a push, I thought maybe, considering her chipper mood, there was a slight chance she’d allow me the honor of pushing her “high as the sky,” as Rocky liked to say.
“Yes. All kinds of good stuff.”
“Guess we’re heading south, then.”
“Have fun.” Not a lick of sentiment backed her words. Unfortunately, she pushed the door closed, ending the exchange. And as Mim and I walked away, I could swear she’d been trying to get rid of us.
# # #
“That the last of it?” I stood at the door, admiring Moriah’s backside while she watched the movers lift her ex’s things into the van.
She gave a silent nod, then mumbled, “Think so.”
Eye contact had been a no-go since Mim and I had returned from the park. Three hours of cold shoulder. I would’ve taken a knee to the balls if it meant she’d get over being angry. “Wanna do one last run through before they go?”
“No. I’ve done three so far,” she threw over her shoulder.
“Don’t want to give Matthew any excuse to come back.”
The beefier of the three movers slammed the door shut, gave me the thumbs up, then climbed into the cab with his buddies and waved. The truck rumbled to life, then rolled away.
“He won’t come back,” she snapped. “You made sure of that.” Finally. Finally, she turned to shoot me a glare, meeting me eye to eye, a brief and stormy exchange.
A victory short lived, however, because the little firecracker pushed past me and headed into the house.
Club bitches could be brutal when scorned. Never bothered me. They’d never mattered. But this lady, hell. She had my nuts in a vice. One false move, and bye bye baby makers. Funny thing was, she had no clue the power she wielded.
I gave her a good lead, then followed. Mim lay on the couch, one leg jacked against the back, the other kicked out straight. Her mouth hung open, long lashes dusted her freckled cheekbones, and a soft snore escaped her lips. Moriah stood at her side, staring down at the little beauty, one hand spread across her stomach, the other raised to her face, wiping a tear.
Shit. Crying again.
“Moriah.”
“Do you want kids, Dane?” Venom laced her voice.
“What?”
“Do you want to be a daddy?”
“No. Hell no,” came my knee-jerk reaction.
“You say you want me, want to keep us safe? Well, newsflash.” Her arms flew out to her sides. “You stick around, that’s what you’re gonna have to be. A father.” She stabbed a finger in Mim’s direction. “To that little girl.” She turned to face me, cheeks red, eyes blazing something fierce. “Insta-daddy. You get that, right?”
“I’ll ruin a kid.”
“So, there we have it. We’ve had our talk. Nothing more to say. Have a nice life.”
“Wait. What the hell just happened?”
“Don’t you see? I’m a mom now. I have a child to raise. I can’t do the casual dating thing. I can’t do the meaningless sex thing, no matter how good that sex may be. I have to put my niece first. I have to think long-term. And I can’t… I absolutely cannot allow a criminal into our lives. Especially a man who gets off on beating people to a bloody pulp.”
“Finally, she gets to the point.”
“Yes. The point is, you don’t want to be a father. I don’t want to be a single mother, but I have no choice. You have a choice, and you said, hell no. So, the point is, there’s nothing more for us to talk about.”
“The point is, you’ve been pissed all day about me getting that loser out of your house.”
“No. That’s not the point. I mean, yes, it is, well, kind of. The p
oint is, you are violent. I saw that last night. It scared me.”
“You weren’t scared, Moriah. I had eyes on you. You weren’t scared.”
“Okay. Fine. I wasn’t scared.”
“Right. What you are is pissed. You can say it. I get it. You have every right to be angry. I acted like a Neanderthal.”
“You did.”
“Thing is, I’m not sorry. That asshole should’ve respected your wishes. He didn’t and you’re either too nice or too distracted to fight.”
She opened her mouth to argue. Sighed. “Right.”
“So, I fought for you.”
“Dane. Listen. I like you. So much, it scares me. But look at her.” She waved toward the couch. “This is about me being in for the long haul. I have no choice but to be one thousand percent committed to her, to being a parent.”
Crossing her arms around her middle, she dropped her head and whispered, “You do have a choice. You can leave at any time. As soon as the going gets rough, you can bolt.”
“I’m right here.”
“Yes. Now. But…”
“I’m right here.”
“But you’re not ready to be a dad. That’s what she needs.”
“Bullshit. Mim just needs men in her life she can trust.”
Silence. My gorgeous lady dropped her arms, closed her eyes.
“What do you need, Moriah?”
“I need time to breathe. Just me and Mim. No Matthew. No you. I need to get my head together, my life back on track.”
Shit. My guts twisted. “What are you saying?”
“You need to go, Dane. Please.” She swiped at her eyes. “Mim has lived through enough violence. I can’t invite more of it into my home, where I’ve promised to keep her safe.”
Moriah needed time to process. I needed time to cool the fuck down. What I didn’t need was a reminder of what a fuck up I was. Lived it. Breathed it. Wore it with pride most of the time. My set of questionable social skills were what kept me alive for damn near thirty years. Of course, a woman not born into the life wouldn’t understand.
Mim understood, her childhood most likely viler than mine.
Mim had witnessed what I’d done to protect her. I’d die for that girl. I’d die for either of them.
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