by C. M. Steele
Danielle’s eyes looked away from her brother, who put his head down. His friendship with Reed was solid, but it was clear that it wasn’t as solid as he believed because Reed hadn’t mentioned their relationship to him. She knew why he was upset. He’d told her about his new sister during their dinner that night. She wanted to talk to him, but he hadn’t even made an effort to contact her since Vegas. As far as she knew, he wasn’t even interested. Maybe he was drunker than she was and was glad that she left. All she knew was that damn lawyer needed to get back to her before she tore him a new one.
“If something was so bad, how come he doesn’t do something about it?”
“I don’t know. I think it’s about a girl. Although, he hasn’t been dating anyone since Eve.”
“Eve?” Danielle was filled with pure jealousy. She didn’t want to know he had a girl. Was he with her after they saw each other the first time, she wondered.
“Yeah, some broad he was seeing a few months ago. It was the same time I was going to introduce you two. I knew he wasn’t serious with her, and hell, I thought he’d be good for you.”
“Why would you think that?” she asked, trying not to show any emotion.
“Because he’s honest, loyal, funny and likes to spend his time off reading. If you do meet him one day, don’t be a bitch about his uncle. He couldn’t care if the fucker lived or died. He’s even given Dad the evidence to land Mitch in prison.”
“For real?” Danielle felt like a total bitch. She ran from a man who was proving to be nothing like his uncle.
“Yep, told you he was a good guy. Although, I do wish he had been able to catch you before that shit went down with those pigs in Vegas.”
“He was in Vegas at the same time?” she asked, boldly lying.
“Yeah, I asked him to check in on you from a distance to make sure you were safe.”
“You sent him to babysit me?” She was outraged. She wondered if it was the reason this all happened. Only he took his duty to a new level.
“No. I figured he was there working and so were you, but it doesn’t matter because he said he lost sight of you on Saturday.” Danielle knew Reed was referring to the fact that she ran out on him that day.
The moment he left her office, she broke down and cried—harder than she had since she’d walked out. Hearing Spencer’s words, she realized that he was a good man and her family didn’t hate him as much as she thought. But she knew she’d crossed the line, and obviously, Reed didn’t want her anymore. He hadn’t made one attempt to contact her, and it broke her heart.
~~~~
It was three days before Christmas when she’d realized that she had missed her period. She couldn’t be, she thought or could she. Then she remembered they hadn’t used any protection because he wanted her to have his babies. Closing her eyes, Danielle relived their passionate evening together. Remembering that he’d taken her several times during the night, she started to feel the delicious ache between her thighs.
She left her apartment and headed to the local Walgreens to pick up a kit. After a two-minute wait, she walked back into the bathroom and the E.P.T stick confirmed it. They made a Vegas baby. Danielle wondered if it would be harder to get a doctor’s appointment than it was to meet with her lawyer.
Having dinner at her parents that night, they knew something was up with her. Her mother knew it first but didn’t mention it until they were alone. Sitting in her parents’ bedroom, wrapping gifts, her mother asked, “Danielle, my angel. You can tell me anything. Did those bastards rape you?”
“God, no! Where did that come from?” Her eyes widened in shock. Thank God it didn’t happen.
“That’s good to know, but then who’s the father?” There was no fooling Rachel Kane.
However, she still tried to play dumb. “What?”
“Danielle Marie Kane, don’t think I can’t tell. I’ve had four children.” Her look told Danielle that the jig was up. She couldn’t keep the truth from her mom.
She let the tears cascade down her face. “It wasn’t them, but it did happen with someone that night.”
“Are you not sure who it is? Being drugged can make you confused. The bloodwork did say you were given MDMA.” Her mom wrapped her arm around Dani.
“I know, Mama. I know who the father is. I’m just not ready to tell anyone. I just found out two hours ago.”
“So he doesn’t know yet?”
“No, he doesn’t.” Danielle didn’t know how she was going to tell him.
“I haven’t seen you on a date in forever.”
“We only had one date. It was the best date ever, but I ruined it,” she admitted with a sigh laced in sadness.
“We’ll work this out.” Rachel gave her arm a squeeze.
Panicking that the “we” would include the rest of the family, she requested a favor. “Please don’t tell anyone yet.”
“I won’t, not even your father. Just take it easy and think about what you want for this baby. Is the baby’s father worth giving the relationship a go?”
“He’s more than worth it, but that doesn’t mean he wants me anymore.” The pain tore at her as she thought about how she hadn’t heard from Reed.
“Who couldn’t want someone so wonderful? Whatever you did it can’t be that bad.”
“I ran out on him the next morning without a word,” she confessed and dropped her head.
Five
Waking up to his wife missing was a fucked up feeling for Reed. He checked all the places Danielle could possibly be in the hotel suite, then called downstairs to find out that she had checked out an hour earlier. He sat down on his bed with his head in hands. His wife, his virgin bride, his soulmate left him. Reed knew she was running because of the issue with his family, but he wasn’t going to let that stop him. Reed loved her and he was certain she cared for him somewhat enough to give him her virgin pussy.
He needed a way to get her to see they should stay together because no matter what she did, he’d still love her. He talked to Spencer the next day, but he had only mentioned that Danielle came home from her trip early and that she was going to be working strictly in the office until after the holidays. That made him happy because her ass wouldn’t be traveling, and he wouldn’t have to worry about some predatory bastards going after her. Danielle was a beautiful woman and super sweet. And his…
~~~~
Reed was going to meet with her for the holidays after he told Spencer about their relationship. There was no way he wanted to spend the holidays without her. For the next few weeks, he went back to his house and to the several jobs he had. It was a few days before Christmas when he got a call from his uncle.
“What’s up, Mitch?” Reed hissed on the phone.
“Don’t be a condescending prick! I wondered if you spoke to my daughter since yesterday.”
“No. I haven’t. Is she missing?” Reed said in a panic. The news that Rose was his real sister came as a shock, but it didn’t change the fact that he loved her. She was a sweet girl.
“No, she’s supposed to be meeting with Kane for the holidays at their family cabin by you. I can’t understand why she would see him knowing they’re trying to get me put in prison.”
“I’ll talk to Spencer and see what I can find out.” Reed hung up with him, but it wasn’t on his uncle’s behalf that he was going to find out what was going on. Matt was kind of a hothead player and was very interested in Rose. She was too naïve for him. He called Matt first who told him he was busy in a meeting, so he called Rose several times, each time it went to voicemail. Frustrated, Reed sent Spencer a text.
Hey is Matthew up there with you? I just got a call from my uncle asking if I had spoken to Rose and that she was supposed to be meeting with Kane for the Holidays.
Waiting for a text back, he received a call instead.
“Hey, Reed, It’s Spencer. What the hell do you mean she was supposed to be up here with Matthew?” Spencer roared. It wasn�
��t the normal concern roar, but a jealous roar that Reed knew all too well.
“That’s what that jackass told me. I called Matthew, but he said that he was busy in a meeting right now and would call me later, but you know your brother. So I texted you, I was hoping it would get through. You have never met Rose before so you probably don’t know what she looks like, but she is a pretty little thing, and I am worried about her. I know it’s not your problem, but could you check to see if she is in town? Her phone is busy every time I try to call her.”
“Reed, she’s here. Landry is a lying prick. He sent her up here to seduce Matt, I guess since he claims she’s with him. She ran into a ditch yesterday, and I brought her back here. She said that she was supposed to spend the Holidays with you, according to her dad.”
“What! Why would that prick do that?” Reed was ready to do everyone a favor and strangle his uncle, ridding the world of that scum.
“Because he wants us to drop the charges. I used her phone to text him back, saying his plan didn’t work.”
“Good, so she is nice and safe on your watch. I’m glad. Matthew would have seduced her and from their past encounters, I am sure my cousin would have been putty in his hands, and I don’t want her hurt.”
“What do you mean?” He was getting really fucking pissed and Reed could hear it in his voice. Was there a thing between his best friend and Rose?
“Were they seeing each other?” Spencer asked anxiously.
“Well, it was a long time ago that they met and Matt was really into her, but she was a minor at the time. He was planning to go after her when she was older. I don’t know if she was interested, but she did say he was really cute, according to her father, or rather, who we thought was her father. But nobody can trust what that bastard says.” Spencer only grunted to the news, so Reed continued. “Spence, I am so glad you are there with her. I can come back and get her in a few days. I am off on an emergency trip to Vegas. I know she will be safe with you.”
“No problem. I will take good care of her.” Reed hung up with Spencer and remembered he told Spencer the same thing when it came to Danielle. He wondered if there was more between the two than he would like, but then again, he knew Spencer had performance issues.
Reed was just returning to his hotel when he saw Matt enter the lobby. “Hey, Matt. What’s up?”
“Are you busy?” Matt asked with a strange, angry gaze. He wondered if Matt knew about him and Danielle.
“No, I’m done for the day.”
“So, there’s something I need your help with,” Matt said in a whisper. “Let’s go catch a cab and a drink.”
Reed thought it was weird because the Kanes usually never talked to him if they didn’t have to. He wondered if Matt knew and was on a mission to fuck him up. Not that he could, but he knew he wouldn’t walk away unscathed.
He got in the cab and Matt started talking. “I know my brother trusts you, and Spencer doesn’t trust anyone, so I’m here to deal with some people.” He turned to the cabbie and said, “What the fuck you looking at? Drop us off right here.”
I looked out the window and it was the club I followed Danielle to.
“What’s up?”
“Spencer told me that you tried to keep an eye out for Dani, but you didn’t do a good job. Fuck, if it were your job, your ass would’ve been fired.” Matt seemed like he was ready to slam Reed against the cement outside the club.
“What the fuck do you mean?”
“Those fucks that she came to this nightclub with drugged her ass. They planned to date rape my sister. She got away, but she hasn’t been the same since she came home. The family doc did a blood test on her; they gave her shit to weaken her inhibitions. We think they succeeded, and she doesn’t want to admit it.”
Reed was silent as he listened to Matt. His heart fell into his stomach as he thought about how close she came that night. He knew they hadn’t succeeded; he had. He thought there was something up with her, but not that she was drugged. She seemed too sober but horny. She refused to tell him what happened with those jackasses, but now he had his answer. “Are we killing them?”
“No. I want to, but my father made it clear that was not an option. So I came to fuck their asses up.”
“And you think coming here is going to help?”
“No, but I’m looking for them,” he growled.
“Good, so let’s go get them,” Reed cheered. He was ready to bust heads, and just when he walked in he saw the two bouncers that wouldn’t let them in this room. He watched as Matt hit something on his phone before they got in the faces of the bouncers.
“Not you again.”
Reed looked at the bigger one with a deadly glare. “Oh, so you remember me?”
“She’s not in there.”
“I know she’s not. We need to have a talk with the ones from that night. And let me tell you this—if we don’t, we’ll have this club shut down. Especially since we have proof she was drugged, and she admitted that they tried to touch her.”
“Listen, we don’t give a fuck what you do to them in there. The waitress knew what was going on so she told us your woman was making a scene in order to get her out of there.”
“Good. Then I suggest you move out of the way,” he bit off. The two moved out of the way, letting Reed and Matt in.
In the room, there were four men. Reed remembered at least two of them from that night. “Who the hell are you two?”
Matt moved to the first guy on the right. That’s the one Reed had seen take Danielle into the room. The fucker was disgusting looking, and it made him angrier that such a piggish fuck put his hands on his wife.
“You tried to touch my sister,” Matt snarled.
“We didn’t do shit to her. She shouldn’t have played with the big boys if she couldn’t handle it,” the chubby bastard in the suit said.
Reed tried to go after him and almost had him, but Matt held him back.
“You better settle down your monkey before I call my men in here.”
“Who the fuck do you think let us in? You’re all done for. Several people know you drugged my sister.”
“She wanted to have a good time. We wanted to show her one.” Reed pulled out of Matt’s grasp long enough to get a hold of the man’s throat. He squeezed it while looking the fucker in the eye.
Hearing shouts for Reed to stop, the bouncers came and helped Matt get him off the suit.
“I’m going to have you arrested,” he choked out as he rubbed his neck.
“You’re lucky we got him off of you. Claiming my sister would want you when all you can get is bitches you pay for. You’re a pathetic loser who’s going to be doing time for drugging her.”
“You’ve got no proof that I gave her the ecstasy. Now get out of here, and the next time your dad sends a woman to a man’s world, she better be ready to drop to her knees.” This time, it was Matt who ran after the man and decked the fat fuck and dropped him on his ass.
“Bitch,” Matt sneered. “Reed, let’s go. I got everything I need recorded.” Sneering back at the piece of shit on the floor, he said, “You’re the one who’s going to be in a man’s world…you’d better be ready to be on your knees.”
Reed bent down to the bastard and cracked his knuckles. With a menacing glare, he whispered calmly, “You fucked up big time, asshole. You’re lucky it’s only the law that’s going to deal with you. I would love to end you.” Flinching at the prick, Reed chuckled when the bastard jerked back like a little bitch.
They had left the room before the police came into the club. Matt met with his contact as he was exiting.
“Matt, you did good. Adding an angry boyfriend was a great touch. They’ll never get away with this shit again,” Detective Rhodes said as he shook Matt’s hand.
“He’s a friend of the family—not the boyfriend,” he declared.
“If you say so…” he remarked before walking into the private room to make the ar
rest.
Matt looked at Reed with a questioning glare. “What?” he asked defensively.
“Nothing,” Matt remarked with a slight shake of his head. “I need to fly back to the house, we’re going to surprise Spencer for the holidays.”
“How’s Danielle doing?” He hoped she was feeling okay. She only slept with him because she was hopped up on a drug that could make her drop her panties. That’s why she ran out on him.
“I wish she were better, but I really think she’s lying to us. They fucked with her head at the very least. My father is kicking himself for letting her come here.”
“Listen, there’s something I need to tell you.” Reed paused. “Let’s take a walk.”
“Fine.” They walked about a block when Reed stopped him.
“I met your sister that day. We had dinner, but once she found out I was related to Mitch, she ran out on me. That’s when she met with the clients. I followed her to the club, but they wouldn’t let me into the private room. I stood there waiting for her to come out. I’d waited a half an hour before I couldn’t wait any longer. As I was about to force my way in, they were bringing her out. She was acting bitchy with me at first, and I asked her how much she had to drink. She said just the one at dinner and one with them, but she refused to tell me what happened in there.”
“So why didn’t you tell any of us about it,” Matt asked snarling with anger.
“Because that wasn’t the end of our night. One thing led to another…”
“You fucked my sister, then ran out on her,” he roared. He got in Reed’s face.
Pushing him slightly away, he continued. “It wasn’t like that. It’s more than just a one-night stand, and she’s the one who ran out on me. The thing is…I know they didn’t rape her. She was a virgin.”
“A virgin?” Matt gave him a look of confusion.
“Yeah, my sentiments exactly. Before you get crazy with me, I want to be with her. I’m going to my cabin today because I need to see her.”
Matt took a breath, then chuckled to himself. “You must have sucked if she’s that miserable about it. I’m not going to go too crazy on your ass because I want your cousin Rose. Just know I’m not above fucking your ass up.”