by LeAnn Ashers
“Thank you, Ethan,” I murmur.
“Just telling the truth.” He twirls my hair between his fingers and scrapes his nails against my scalp. Sighing, I grab Ethan’s other hand and entwine our fingers.
I’ve never felt this comfortable around anyone. It’s like he gets me. I think another reason is because he’s seen me at my worst. He’s seen me when I was living in my own personal hell. I’m not sure when it happened, or how, but it did.
He twists us around so his belly is to my back with his arms wrapped around my front and around my belly. His hands are so large compared to mine. Lifting one, I put my hand against his, measuring the difference.
“You have the softest hands,” he whispers against my ear, making me shiver. I turn my neck to look at him, licking my lips. His eyes shoot down to look at them. Mine go to his, wanting that kiss even though I’m scared.
“Ethan...” I whisper softly.
“Angel.” His hand cups my jaw as he leans forward. Stiffening, I brace myself. It’s only seconds, but those seconds feel like hours. I close my eyes and wait for his mouth to touch mine. His lips touch the corner of my mouth gently, lips just barely touching.
Shuttering, I open my eyes when Ethan pulls back. His gaze is smothering. I blush and bite my lip. “In time, sweetheart.” He runs his finger over my cheek. I lie back down and turn back to the TV, but my mind is in a million different places, and all those places are Ethan.
“You ready for bed?” He tugs on the ends of my hair a little while later to get my attention.
Nodding, I scoot off the couch. He turns off the TV and sets the remote on the coffee table. I walk ahead of him straight to my room and climb into bed, knowing Ethan will be in in a second.
He chases away the bad dreams when I’m in his arms. I don’t fear the dreams, because he protects me even in his sleep. He closes the door when he walks in and pulls the blankets down. He pulls his shirt off and climbs in wearing only basketball shorts.
Scooting over, I lay my head on his warm, tattooed chest. His nose goes to my hair, inhaling, before he settles back into bed, his hand resting on my hip.
“Ethan?”
“Yeah?”
“Thank you for being here for me.”
“Nothing else I’d rather do.” He kisses the top of my head. Closing my eyes, I fall into a deep sleep.
~*~
“You seem better today.” Chrystal smiles and tilts her head to the side like she’s wondering what’s different.
Shrugging my shoulders, I go back to fixing bags of essential necessities for the ladies. “I like seeing you like this.” She nudges my shoulder then leaves the room.
Honestly, I do feel better. It’s like I woke up a whole new me. I still have that constant fear lurking in the back of my head, but now it’s more bearable, making it so much easier to breathe. It was like I was under water, fighting for my next breath, and now I’m just halfway under.
When I got up this morning, I didn’t dread what could happen today. I was happy. Ethan kissed me on the cheek and walked downstairs to start breakfast. It’s getting obvious I like him. I can’t believe I’m admitting it like that. But it’s true; the way I blush around him, how my heart skips a beat; and the butterflies I feel in my belly don’t lie.
“Braelyn, no wonder you like that man so much!” Jessica says from behind me, scaring me again.
“He’s very good looking,” I admit and turn back around to fill the rest of the baggies.
“Just good looking?” She gasps, holding her heart in despair.
“Okay, he’s freaking hot.” I blush from my head to my toes.
She comes up beside me and helps with filling baggies, “That’s more like it. Those tattoos? That face? Mmm, my ovaries could explode on sight.”
“Oh my God.” I stare at her in shock because I can’t believe she said that. She arches an eyebrow at me before shrugging her shoulders. Giggling, I finish the last bag. I put them all in a large clothes basket, pick it up, and prop it on my hip before I walk out of the room to the women in the big corridor.
The ladies look up as I enter the room. Some are smiling, while others just stare at the wall, expressionless. I avert my eyes, because they remind me of myself. I start at the first bed with a young woman around the age of twenty. “Here you go.” I smile and walk on to the next lady, and the next, and then the rest.
Now it’s time for me to go through the donations of toys we just got in this morning. We have kids here, and almost all the women left their homes with no money and only the clothes on their backs. It saddens me that women are put into that position.
Going through the pile, I spot a Nintendo DS and some games, chargers, and everything they will need. The ten-year-old little boy will love this. I grab everything, and walk back in the corridor where I saw him sitting with his mom.
He looks up at me and then to the game in my hand. His eyes widen then return back to my face.
I put the DS in his hand. “This is for you.”
The biggest smile I have ever seen covers his face. My heart expands a little at the sight. A sob behind me make me turn. It’s his mom standing there with her hand over her mouth. Her eyes stare at her little boy like it’s the first time she’s ever seen him.
I walk over to her after I give him the games and chargers as well. Wrapping my arms around her, I hug her tightly. She lays her head on my shoulder and sobs. Her body trembles as she lets everything out. It’s apparent she’s been through a hard time just like her little boy. I know she loves her kid but has been too wrapped up in her own misery to care about his too.
I hear a loud bang coming from the front door. Pulling away from her, I wait for another sound. That’s never happened before. My heart pounds out of my chest as my gut instinct tells me something bad is about to happen. My whole body shakes as I get the courage to look around the corner.
One of the MC guys who work here is fighting a man with a gun. I pull back quickly and run back into the room, “Everybody up! Go into the kitchen quickly.” The ladies jump up, pale with fear. I’m shaking myself, but I can’t panic.
Everyone runs out of the room. They go into the pantry that has a bulletproof firewall and locks from the inside.
I’m the last one in and lock the door, knowing Chrystal will be safe because she’s with her man. I grab my phone and call Ethan.
“Brae, are you okay?” he rushes out.
“I’m fine, but a man broke in, and one of the MC guys is fighting him. He has a gun. I got the ladies out and into the safe zone,” I whisper to him quickly, not even sure he understood me.
“Stay in there and don’t come out until I tell you to. Understand?” His voice is stern.
“Okay, I won’t,” I tell him breathlessly and hang up. My legs give out and I hit the floor. The fear finally gets to me, chilling me to the bone. I feel like I may pass out because I’m so lightheaded.
Letting out a deep breath and counting to ten, I pull myself back up on shaky legs. I turn around to face the women and children.
“It’s going to be okay. Everyone in here is safe. Nobody can get in.” I give them the most reassuring smile I can muster before I turn back around and stare at the wall. The only thing you can hear in here is the sound of our breathing.
“Angel?” I hear Ethan call through the door not too long after. I unlock the door, throw it open, and jump into his arms.
“You okay?” he asks, holding me tightly to him.
“Yes, I’m fine. I saw what was happening and got everyone out,” I tell him, finally feeling like I can breathe again.
“You’ve done great, Angel.” He kisses my temple. I pull gently away as I hear Chrystal and her husband talking. They walk over to the pantry to the women who are still inside, watching Ethan and me.
“What happened here?” Ethan tucks me against his side and asks Kyle. Chrystal is tucked hard against his side with him alert and ready for anything.
“The prospect on duty to watch
the fucking door went to take a piss. One of the ladies’ husbands or boyfriends managed to get in with a gun. One of my brothers saw him and managed to take the gun from him.” I look behind Kyle and see a man sitting on the floor in handcuffs. He sees me looking and glares. I shiver and watch as a police officer comes into the room and pulls him off the floor and out of the room.
“Your girl here remembered protocol and got the women out.” He turns to me and nods his head approvingly.
Chrystal pulls away from him and goes into the pantry with the other women. “Is everyone okay?”
There are head nods and murmurs of yeses. “Let’s go back to your room. Everything is safe.” She backs out and motions for them to follow her. They reluctantly follow after as they scan the room, looking for something out of the ordinary.
I rub Ethan’s hand then pull it away from my waist. His grip almost left a brand on my skin. “I need to go help her,” I tell him and step away. He tightens his grip for a second before he lets go and roughly rubs his face.
“I need to know this won’t happen again,” he tells Kyle.
“It won’t, I can promise you that. My woman and baby are here,” he tells Ethan menacingly. Ducking my head, I walk quickly out of the room, wanting to escape his wrath.
All the women are sitting on their beds while they’re looking at the entrance and where the man was earlier. I notice multiple MC men are stationed around the room and two at the entrance. I instantly feel better knowing they are here.
“All right, the danger is gone and this won’t happen again,” Chrystal tells everyone. They nod slowly, but it doesn’t take the fear out of their eyes.
I walk over to Chrystal and ask her quietly, “What do you need me to do?” She sighs and rubs the back of her neck as she looks around the room then back to me. “Just comfort anyone in any way you possibly can. The kids are the ones who need to be calmed down the most.”
Kids I can handle. I walk over to the closest mom and bend down next to her. “Do you mind?” I lift my hand and motion to the little girl. She nods hesitantly, clutching her little girl to her. I lead her through the room and into the next, which is a playroom of sorts.
Noticing dolls, I lead her over to them. She sits down and picks up a ‘Frozen’ doll while looking at me warily from the corner of her eye. I grab a strand of the doll’s hair and start to braid it. I can feel her looking at me and then back at my hands.
“Do you want me to show you how?” I smile at her. She smiles slightly and nods her head quickly, and for the next ten minutes, I show her how to braid step by step until she gets the hang of it.
“Are you okay?” I don’t look at her, just at the doll.
“Yes,” she squeaks out. “I thought it was my daddy.”
I notice her bottom lip trembling. Hurt fills her little eyes.
Taking her little hand, I move so we are eye to eye. “Your daddy won’t hurt you again. You’re safe here.”
“I am?” she stutters as her tears fall down her face.
“Yes, baby.” I wipe away her tears. She flinches a little before crawling over and wrapping her arms around my neck.
Feeling someone behind me, I look around and see Ethan standing in the door, watching. I give him a smile before I turn back to the little girl, whose arms are falling from my neck. She sits back down onto the floor, looking up at me.
I smile excitedly. “Now, let’s play dolls, shall we?” Winking, I pick up a similar doll. We play for a few minutes until I get up and walk over to Ethan.
“You were great with her.” He tugs at my hand and pulls me slightly out of the room. “I’ll be back in an hour, okay?” He kisses my cheek, really close to my lips. I let out a sharp breath, blushing, and my lip instantly enters my mouth.
His hand comes up to my lip and pulls it from my teeth. He smirks and walks away. Smiling, I busy myself with the other children, making sure they are okay.
Chapter Nine
Braelyn
“Where do you want to eat, baby?” Ethan places my hand into his lap with our fingers entwined. Scooting a little closer, I relax into the seat of his truck. My back is aching from standing and running around all day long.
“Doesn’t matter to me. Wherever.” I close my eyes as I rest my head against his shoulder, inhaling his scent.
“Don’t do that to me. You choose.” He leans over and kisses the top of my head. Smiling, I burrow my face deeper. Every single moment of my time with Ethan is amazing.
“Want to get a pizza, then go home and relax?”
“Whatever you want.” I can feel him slowing down to turn into a parking lot.
He orders and it’s a short wait until I am holding the pizza in my lap. The smell is mouthwatering. It hits me that I haven’t eaten since breakfast.
Unable to resist, I open the box and take a slice out. Ethan laughs at me as I take a huge bite.
“Want some?” I mumble with my mouth full. He nods, and I take another slice out of the box, holding it up to him so he can take a bite whenever he wants. Lost in thought, I stare out of the window. Alleys pass us by. My thoughts shift to the time I was homeless and living in those alleys.
Lips wrap around my finger. Gasping, I look around at Ethan, who is nibbling at my fingers that hold a small bite of pizza. I open my fingers and feed him the last bite. His tongue touches my index finger.
I pull away, shivering. “Holy crap,” I mutter under my breath as my heart tries to jump out of my chest. My whole body heats with embarrassment. I peek out of the corner of my eye. Ethan has a smirk on his face. He knows exactly what he’s doing to me.
He pulls up in front of his house. I start to open my door, but he halts me with a hand on my forearm. “Always wait for me to come get you, Angel.” I watch as he struts over to my side of the truck. He’s such a man sometimes. Rolling my eyes, I scoot to the edge of the seat so he can lift me down because I’m feeling lazy.
He holds me with one arm and grabs the pizza with the other. I start to reach for the pizza, but he pulls me away by my hand. Huffing, I glare up at him. “I carry things when I’m around.” He gives me a pointed stare that leaves no arguments.
“Ethan, it’s a pizza.” I say each word slowly as we walk up the porch steps.
“It may be just a pizza, but I carry it.” He opens the front door.
Looking up at him, I smirk evilly. “I’ll remember that. You can carry my purse for me.” I wink at him as I walk into the house.
“Whatever you want, Angel.” He chuckles and walks past me into the kitchen. I forgot I slid my first week’s check into my back pocket without looking at it when Chrystal gave it to me earlier. Opening the check now, my eyes almost burst out of my head at seeing the amount of two thousand dollars.
“Holy shit!” I squeal, jumping up and down. I run toward Ethan and stop when I see him hurry into the room, guns blazing. Rolling my eyes, I thrust my check toward him. I need to go shopping.
“Congrats, baby.” He chuckles at my antics. He puts his hand into my hair and pulls me toward him. I can feel him smiling against my forehead when he kisses me there.
Pulling back, I look up at him, hopeful. “Can we go shopping? Puhleasee?” I stick my bottom lip out, being tired long forgotten.
“All right, let’s go.” He motions toward the door. I watch as he struts to the front door, walking his walk, not knowing. I tilt my head to the side.
A throat clearing has me jumping. Ethan is looking over his shoulder with a shit-eating grin. I’m busted.
“What were you doing?”
Oh God, oh God. What do I say? I repeat in my head. I open my mouth to answer something, but it comes out as a squeak. I’m sputtering like a little child. “I was umm...” I comb my brain for what to say next.
“Looking at that spider.” I point down to the floor by him. I blush from my head to my toes, knowing I just lied through my teeth.
“Angel…” He crosses his arms across his chest, tilting his head to the side with a
big ol’ smile on his face.
My eyes widen. I know I’m beyond busted and caught red-handed. Ground, please swallow me up. My cheeks burn hotter the longer he stares at me.
“Were you looking at my ass?” he asks in a teasing tone. Baby Jesus, save me. I never thought it was possible, but I’m going to die from embarrassment. I close my eyes for a second to brace myself before I look at Ethan.
“Yes,” I tell him under my breath, hoping he will let it go.
He walks forward a step then bends toward me, cupping his ear. “What’s that?”
I roll my eyes then tell him in a louder voice, “Yes.”
“That’s what I thought.” He chuckles and walks backwards toward the door. “Just so you know, you just gave me full rein to do the same to you.”
Umm, what? Not thinking too much of it, I grab my purse and follow him out the door.
~*~
Ethan and I walk hand in hand to another store at the mall. He’s actually surprising me. Most men would wait outside until I was done shopping. He’s giving me his opinion about what to get, but I’m noticing everything he is suggesting is the closest thing you can get to a turtleneck.
I take out a white and a black dress. Both would be perfect for clubbing. Not that I think I will ever go, but maybe one day when I get the nerve? I tuck them under my arm and duck into the dressing room before Ethan can see.
I slip on the dresses. The white one is more showing, but not to the point where you would think I was a hooker. When I try on the black one, I notice it’s more modest with almost everything covered.
I collect everything and head to the counter to pay for it. I feel Ethan before I see him. He places his hand on the small of my back. I turn my head, smiling at him before paying. Ethan takes my purse for me together with all the bags, putting them all under one arm. His other hand entwines our fingers, and I get those butterflies again.
I’ve got everything I could possibly need or want. This also means I can return Sydney’s clothes. She and Kane are a thing now. I’ve never seen her so happy. The way he looks at her? He would move heaven and earth to make sure she was happy.