Titan (Hades Abyss MC 5): Mississippi Chapter

by Harley Wylde

  I reached over to the bedside table and picked her phone up, then handed it to her. She quickly located her mom under her contacts and put it on speaker.

  “Delilah, are you okay?” her mom asked the second the call connected.

  “I’m okay. I’m just really tired today for some reason.”

  I heard an indrawn breath. “They didn’t drug you, did they?”

  “I didn’t drug your daughter,” I said. “She’s one of the most important people in my life. I’d never do anything to hurt her.”

  “You have me on speaker?” her mother asked in a tone only moms could manage.

  Delilah cringed a little. “I don’t keep things from Titan, Mom. And no, he didn’t drug me. I’m probably coming down with something. That’s not why I called. Are you in town?”

  “Of course we are,” her mom said.

  “We?” Delilah asked. “As in you and Daddy?”

  “Griffin came too,” her mom said.

  Delilah closed her eyes and shook her head. “I’m not two. I don’t need babysitters. If you just came to visit, that’s fine. I’d love to see you. If the three of you are checking up on me like I’m a runaway teen, then you shouldn’t have bothered.”

  I heard the sound of the phone being passed to someone else.

  “I know you’re not a child, Delilah, but you’ll always be my little girl. Is it wrong we want to make sure you’re safe?” her father asked.

  “No, Daddy. It’s not. And if you want to come over, I only ask that you give me a little time to wake up good and get dressed. Like I told Mom, I’m really tired today and probably coming down with a bug.”

  “Are those assholes you’re staying with going to let us in this time?” her dad asked.

  “I’ll make sure you’re allowed in and escorted to my house,” I said. “Your daughter lives here and you’re welcome to visit. It’s just better to give us a little notice next time.”

  “Thirty minutes. That’s as much time as I can give her before her mother loses her shit. I think seeing your… whatever you call it, with all the fencing and guards, freaked her out.”

  “It’s a compound,” I said. “And it’s meant to be intimidating.”

  Her dad hung up without another word and I felt Delilah sag against me. I had a feeling she wasn’t up to this visit. Between her lack of excitement over seeing her family, and her fatigue, I was getting really worried about her. I hoped like hell Bones was on his way over. As much as I didn’t want her leaving the safety of the compound, I’d take her to the doctor if I needed to. Delilah’s safety didn’t mean much if she was sick and needed medical attention.

  “Come on, baby. You need to eat something. I made spaghetti, but it’s probably gotten cold by now.”

  I helped her off the bed, pulled one of my shirts over her head, and led her downstairs. This time, Barney didn’t follow. Delilah would need more clothes on before her family arrived, but right now I just wanted to get some food into her. The fact she’d slept all day meant she hadn’t eaten since last night.

  While she sat at the table, I reheated the pasta before I dished it out onto the plates and sprinkled cheese over it. I handed her a plate and got her a glass of sweet tea. By the time I sat down, she’d only managed a few bites. Her lack of enthusiasm over the food might have dented my ego if she didn’t look so pale.

  “Aren’t you hungry?” I asked.

  “I don’t have much of an appetite right now,” she said.

  I pushed my plate away and stood. Walking to her side, I lifted her into my arms and carried her upstairs. Barney didn’t budge and let out a little snore as I walked past him and into the bathroom. I stripped both of us and got into the shower with her. Delilah could barely stand on her own and seemed to be getting worse by the minute. After a shower didn’t seem to invigorate her even a little, I helped her dry off and into some pajamas. It wasn’t perfect, but other than Bones, the only people who would see her were her family.

  I’d just helped her back into bed and pulled on my jeans when I heard a knock at the door. Barney started barking and raced down the stairs. Delilah moaned from the bed but didn’t seem to be getting up. I pressed a kiss to her brow and went down to get the door, hoping like hell it was Bones and not her family.

  Seeing the club medic on my doorstep gave me a rush of relief. I almost yanked him into the house. “Delilah is in bed. She’s been asleep all day, can hardly stand, doesn’t have an appetite… I don’t know what’s wrong.”

  “Do I have permission to head up and check her over?” Bones asked.

  “Wouldn’t have asked you to come if I didn’t want your help.”

  He slapped me on the shoulder and headed up the stairs. Since Delilah’s parents were probably on their way, I locked the door. The last thing I wanted was them walking in unannounced. I took the stairs two at a time and hurried to the bedroom. Bones had already started examining Delilah, a frown marring his face. I heard him softly ask her questions, and she answered, but her words slurred a little.

  “I think she has mono,” Bones said.

  Shit. “Where the fuck did she get it?”

  “My best guess is her previous roommates. Both Missy and Rissa have it. Neither has been at the clubhouse for several days.”

  “I’ve never had it before. Does she need medication? Will I get it?” I asked.

  “There’s a chance you could get it. The best thing she can do is sleep. Her throat has started to hurt in addition to her other symptoms. Tylenol might make her feel better, and you need to keep her hydrated.”

  “Her parents are on their way over,” I said.

  “I’d keep them away if you can. I know they’re probably worried about her, but she’s not going to be up for company. You can let them see she’s alive. Keep the visit short. She’ll probably sleep through it.”

  “Thanks, brother. She scared the shit out of me when she wouldn’t wake up.”

  “She probably contracted mono about four weeks ago. It has a four to six week incubation period. Poor girl is going to be miserable for a bit.” Bones pulled the blanket up higher, covering Delilah all the way to her chin. “I’ll see myself out.”

  I sat on the edge of the bed and watched her sleep. Her breathing was already deep and even, despite the fact she’d been talking to Bones a few moments ago. Whatever it took, I’d keep her safe, even against nasty illnesses. But first, I had to tell her family they needed to come back when she was feeling better. I had no doubt it wouldn’t go over well.

  Chapter Eight

  Delilah

  Three miserable weeks. Today was the first day I’d managed to get out of bed and not fall asleep on the couch within minutes. I felt like I’d been run over by a truck, then it backed up over me just to make sure I was dead. It didn’t help my parents were here. Titan had convinced them to go home the day they’d arrived, but now that I was on the mend, they were back to see for themselves that I was still breathing. I didn’t know why they thought Titan was going to hurt me. If anything, it seemed I had more to worry about from my own family. Which brought me to the extremely awkward conversation I needed to have with them.

  “Mom, you said grandfather wanted you to marry someone else.”

  My mother nodded. “Thomas Kale III. I disliked the man, a lot. Meeting your dad was fate. He saw me, knew he wanted me, and decided to keep me. We were married less than two days after we’d met.”

  “What do you know about the agreement between your father and your intended?” Titan asked.

  I reached over and took his hand. Thankfully, he hadn’t gotten sick. Yet. I knew there was still a chance, but hopefully it passed him by. I’d never felt so horrible in my life.

  “Just that it was some sort of business deal,” my mom said, her brow furrowed. “Why? The way you asked, it sounds as if you suspect something else was going on.”

  Titan leaned back and studied my mom and dad a moment. Whatever he saw in my dad’s eyes must have convinced him he could t
ell them the truth.

  “Your father isn’t a nice man,” he said. “He brokers deals for rich, powerful men, to get the women they want. Some they marry, although the women are still little more than slaves. The rest don’t even get the pretense of decency.”

  “Are you…” My mother clamped her lips tight.

  “He’s selling women?” my dad asked.

  Titan nodded. “He is. We have proof, and so do the Dixie Reapers. They’re hoping to take him down, and anyone else involved. In the meantime, I’m concerned for Delilah.”

  “What does that bastard want with my daughter?” my dad asked.

  “One of the hackers got into your father-in-law’s files. He has a contract for Delilah to marry one of his associates. The day he found out she’d moved here and was living with me, one of the Dixie Reapers observed him in an agitated state on his phone. We think it’s possible he’ll try to get his hands on her,” Titan said.

  “Over my dead fucking body,” my dad said.

  “Lance.” Mom put her hand on his thigh. “I know you had your reservations about Delilah and Titan being together, but it’s obvious she’s safe here. This place is well-guarded, and you can tell this isn’t just a fling for either of them. He cares about her.”

  My dad nodded. “You’re right. I came here thinking she was being kept against her will. Now that I’ve seen them together, I know that isn’t the case. I’m sorry I didn’t wait until I had all the facts, but Delilah is my only little girl, and she’s my youngest.”

  “I understand,” Titan said.

  I yawned and closed my eyes, leaning against Titan.

  “Why don’t I go upstairs with Delilah?” my mom offered. “She’s still not quite back on her feet.”

  “I was going to make lunch,” I murmured.

  “You okay with pizza?” Titan asked. I wrinkled my nose and he laughed softly. “All right. No pizza. I’ll get Chinese and order you some egg drop soup.”

  Mom took my arm and led me from the room, leaving Titan and my dad to talk. At least I didn’t have to worry about them killing one another. If anything, my dad seemed to have grudgingly accepted Titan as my chosen guy. Although, it probably had more to do with the safety of the compound than anything else.

  I pointed the way to our room and Mom helped me into bed, drawing the covers over me like she’d done when I was little. She brushed my hair back from my face and kissed my forehead. I heard the scrabble of paws and smiled, knowing Barney had followed.

  “Is he allowed on the bed?” Mom asked. “Because I think he wants up here with you.”

  “Titan hasn’t had him on the bed before, but I could use a good puppy cuddle right now.”

  My mom scooped up Barney and set him on the bed. He wriggled, his butt shaking so hard I worried he’d fall off the bed. Once he settled next to me, I wrapped my arm around him and almost immediately felt better.

  “This dog doesn’t exactly match your big, scary biker,” Mom said.

  “He saved Barney. Found him on the street, starved and covered in fleas.”

  “Guess it just goes to show you can’t tell a good man just by outward appearances. Your grandfather is always well put together and charming. But he’s selling girls. I can’t even… How did I not know what a monster he was? And I let him get close to you and your brothers! What does that say about my parenting skills?”

  “It says you have a good heart and wanted to forgive your dad,” I told her. “I don’t blame you, Mom. Or Dad. Neither of you could have known how bad he was. He was going to sell you, and me. What kind of man does that?”

  “It was a common practice at one time. Signing contracts to combine lands, align empires, or secure the safety of future generations. But your grandfather? The only reason he has is pure greed and downright evilness lurking in his heart.”

  “I guess it’s a good thing you only had one daughter. Then again, he may have friends who want men instead of women. I don’t see Griffin being bullied into a marriage with someone, or just being given away and kept as a sex slave. He might be kind of pretty, but he’s mean as a damn snake when you piss him off. He’d go after them like an enraged honey badger.”

  Mom snickered. “You’re not wrong.”

  “How long do you think I’ll have to stay locked behind the gates? I’m not exactly ready to venture out yet, especially since I’m still getting better, but I don’t want to be stuck in the house indefinitely either.”

  “Once I was married to your dad and he’d taken my virginity, my father had to be more careful. He was angry, but he couldn’t just grab me and run. I was an adult so he didn’t have any control over me, other than money. Your dad would have never stopped looking if I’d gone missing, and I think my father realized that. I ruined his plans, and he wanted to ruin your dad in return.”

  “Why didn’t you ever tell me all this?” I asked.

  “I guess I wanted to protect you. He seemed different with you and the boys. I thought maybe he’d changed. It seems I was wrong.”

  “Does Griffin know? Or the others?” I asked.

  “No. We never told them either. Now that your grandfather is showing his true colors again, we’ll have to let them know what’s going on. I don’t want any of them accidentally giving him information on how to find you. He knows you moved away, and we mentioned you’d moved in with a biker, but I don’t think we said the name of the town. I’m hoping it will take him a while to locate you. Long enough someone can put a stop to him and whoever he’s working with.”

  I closed my eyes and wished this was all a nightmare. At least when I’d been too sick to stay awake for long, I hadn’t worried about my grandfather. Or much of anything except no longer feeling so miserable. I still tired easily. From what Bones said, it would probably take another week or two before I felt completely normal again.

  “You think Dad and Titan are getting along okay?” I asked.

  “Now that your daddy knows that man only wants to keep you safe, you won’t have any trouble out of him. He was ready to charge in here and save you. I can’t even complain that he’s quite a bit older than you since I’m younger than your daddy.”

  “I keep waiting for the day he decides being with me was a mistake. We’ve talked a little, and I’ve met his family, but we don’t really have much in common. It’s not just the age thing, although I’m sure that contributes to some of our differences.”

  Mom patted my hip through the blankets. “Honey, you don’t want a man who loves everything you do. You’ve heard the saying opposites attract. That’s what happened with you and Titan, and with me and your daddy. He’ll like things, or do things that drive you crazy, but at the end of the day, those will also be the things that endear him to you. It’s the differences that will keep things entertaining.”

  “If you say so,” I mumbled.

  “You have any other questions for me?” she asked.

  “Like what?”

  Mom squirmed a little. “Well… as far as I know, you hadn’t had sex before you came here. I’m not stupid enough to think you’re sharing this room with him and sex isn’t part of it.”

  I couldn’t contain my snort or the laughter that followed. “Mom, I’m not a virgin. I may have technically been one when I met Titan, but I took my own virginity a while ago. Between the books I read and the porn I’ve watched, I probably know more about sex than you do.”

  Her cheeks flushed and she sucked her lips into her mouth. “I wouldn’t be too sure of that. Your daddy wasn’t exactly a saint before he met me. Isn’t one now either, for that matter.”

  I covered my ears and sang, “La-la-la-la. I can’t hear you!”

  Mom swatted me. “Oh, hush. Did you think the stork dropped you off?”

  “Yep. That’s exactly what I thought because the last thing I want to think about is you and daddy having sex. It was bad enough to see the two of you kissing all the time, or him smacking you on the ass whenever he’d walk by you. If I think about the stuff you
two do behind a closed bedroom door, I’ll be scarred for life and need lots of therapy.”

  Mom rolled her eyes. “So dramatic.”

  “Said the mother of four who just rolled her eyes like a teenage girl.”

  “I’m going to assume the sass is because you don’t feel well.” She eyed me with what I’m sure she thought was a look that would have me quaking in fear. Except my mom had never been able to pull off the “scary mom” vibe. Even when she’d gotten angry, none of us had been afraid of her.

  “Love you, Mom,” I said.

  “I love you too, sweet girl.”

  I heard the heavy tread of steps on the stairs and a moment later Titan came into the room. “Food’s here. You hungry?”

  “Maybe a little,” I said.

  He came around the side of the bed and uncovered me, then picked me up and carried me downstairs. Mom trailed behind him. The smell of Chinese food hit me, and my stomach rumbled. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d eaten much of anything. I felt weak as a newborn kitten. Titan eased me down onto a kitchen chair. There was a plastic container of egg drop soup in front of me, and a spoon.

  “Also got you some fried rice. Just don’t eat too much of it until you know it’s going to hit your stomach okay,” he said, sliding a carton toward me. “It’s chicken. I know you like the shrimp better, but seafood after being sick didn’t seem like a great idea.”

  He wasn’t wrong about that. Just the thought of shrimp made me feel a little green. Mom opened a carton of orange chicken and I covered my mouth. I stood quickly, nearly hitting the floor as my legs gave out. Titan wrapped an arm around my waist and carried me over to the kitchen sink.

  “I’m not puking in the sink,” I said through the fingers covering my mouth.

  He quickly grabbed the kitchen trash can and brought it over. The second the smell hit me, I threw up. I heard the scrape of a chair and knew my dad had beat a hasty retreat. If he heard someone throwing up, then he usually joined them. Titan held my hair until I had nothing left in my stomach. I leaned over the sink and rinsed my mouth before splashing cool water on my face.