“I tried to protect her,” she continued. “They held me in this house with all these poor women who were addicted to the drugs they kept feeding them. One of the girls had a phone and I tried to call and warn Tilly.”
“She thought you wanted her to help you.”
“What?” Miller gaped at him in shock. “No! I wanted her to run. I knew they would come for her. I overheard them talking about going after her to get the money.”
“So you didn’t make that call as a test of your loyalty to the gang? To try and lure Tilly here?” he asked, thinking about what Iker had told him.
Her eyes widened and she gaped at him in shock. “What? No! What makes you think that?”
“Because that’s what Iker Florez told us.”
“Oh my God. Tilly must hate me! She thinks I betrayed her.”
“Actually, Tilly never really believed that. Don’t worry, I’ll call and explain all of this to her.”
“They walked in while I was on the phone. They wanted to know everything I’d said and I wasn’t strong enough to hold out. So I told them. I’m so sorry. Most of the time, they must have kept me high because everything is a bit of a blur after that. Do you think Tilly will ever forgive me?”
“Tilly seems like a very forgiving person. How did you find out about Javier cheating the Vipers? And why did you even want to get involved with the Vipers? What were you looking for? A fix?”
“No!” She glared at him. Maybe she was stronger than he’d thought. “I told you, I’m not a junkie.”
“Sweetheart, that’s what all junkies say.”
“I’m telling you the truth. I wanted in with the gang because I think Iker killed my mother.”
He narrowed his gaze. “Explain.”
“My mother left just before my seventh birthday. My father was in and out of jail and I guess maybe she got sick of waiting around for him or maybe she was just sick of me, I don’t know. But she left me with a neighbor and never came back. I was sent to live with my grandmother and I never saw my mother again.”
She took a deep breath.
“My grandmother eight months ago. I was going through her stuff when I found this newspaper article. It was about my mother’s murder. They never found her killer. All this time I thought she was alive, out there living her life. Even though she abandoned me, a part of me still loved her. I figured I’d never know what happened to her and I tried to put it behind me. Then a few months ago, my father turned up.
“He does that every so often, looking for cash or wanting a place to stay. I usually give him money to get rid of him, but this time he was drunk and in a talkative mood. So I asked him a few questions.”
She took a deep breath.
“He said he knew who killed my mother. Iker Florez. He actually said she deserved it. For leaving him. Deserved to be murdered. Then he told me how he’d gotten his own revenge on Florez. My father was supplying Javier with drugs and he knew Javier was taking a bigger cut than agreed, hiking the price up before selling them on to the Vipers. My father was getting his cut. I asked him what he was doing on my couch if he was flush and he told me his money man was in jail.”
“So you decided to do your own investigation into your mother’s death?” Rogan asked incredulously. “That was a damn stupid thing to do.” He hadn’t meant to be so blunt. She was still recovering—she probably needed understanding and sensitivity. He wasn’t really the person to offer those things.
Miller narrowed her gaze. “I know that. But I couldn’t just take my father’s word for it. I needed to know for sure.”
“And you thought Iker would just tell you?”
“No, I figured if I could get close to him I might be able to find out something. People talk when they’re drunk or high. I guessed I hoped I could catch someone who might know at the right time. I pretended to be a junkie, but they didn’t believe me.”
“So you told them what your father told you.”
“I thought they’d trust me after that. But I just became someone to use. They got to Javier and he told them Tilly had the money. I tried to escape, but they beat and drugged me. I never imagined Tilly would try to save me.” Miller looked ill. “That was so dangerous.”
“Luckily, she had help.”
“You helped her,” Miller said. “Thank God. If Iker had gotten hold of her, I would never have forgiven myself. He’s an evil man.”
“You don’t have to worry about him anymore,” he told her. He hadn’t meant to say anything, but he didn’t like how afraid she was. She was his responsibility now.
“You killed him,” she said.
“You don’t have to worry about him anymore,” he repeated.
Relief had her sagging. “Thank God.”
She’d been stupid and naïve and she’d placed Tilly in danger. But she was a victim as well.
“How did I end up here?” she asked, gesturing to the room.
Rogan filled her in on everything that had happened.
By the time he finished, she was looking even paler than before. She placed a hand over her stomach. “Oh God, I feel ill. Tilly should just stay away from me.”
“As soon as she can visit you, she will.”
Miller just shook her head.
“Miller, listen to me. Listen,” he ordered.
She raised her stricken gaze to meet his. “Do not waste this second chance you’ve been given. Yeah, you were stupid. You could have gotten yourself killed. But your father would have talked eventually and placed Tilly in danger. At least you tried to warn her, even if things didn’t work out quite as you expected. What you need to do now is get well, pick yourself up and find a way to get on with your life.”
“I don’t know if I can.”
He wasn’t so sure himself. But he knew that getting her to believe she was strong enough was half the battle.
“You can. You’re a fighter, you wouldn’t have survived your time with the Vipers if you weren’t.”
“I don’t feel like a fighter,” she whispered.
“Did they hurt you?” he asked.
“They hit me, but nothing else. As far as I know. I would know, wouldn’t I?”
“You’d know,” he told her firmly, even though he wasn’t sure himself.
She relaxed slightly.
“What happens next?” she asked, sounding small and lost.
Rogan stood and pulled up the covers. “Now, you lie back down and close your eyes. You’re going to go to sleep.”
“I don’t think I can.”
“You can. I’m going to wait here until you do.”
“Really?” she said in a hopeful voice.
“Yes.”
“And after tonight, what then?” she asked.
“You take one day at a time. Just get through tonight and tomorrow things will seem better.”
***
Tilly tried to calm her nervous stomach as Dylan drove down the long driveway to her family home.
“Wish I had my truck,” Dylan grumbled as they went over another pothole. The Dodge was great on the highway, not so good on unpaved, rough roads.
“Do you think Rogan and the others are all right? Do you think that there will be any problems from the Vipers?”
“Rogan can handle anything that comes up. He’ll keep his people safe.”
“No matter the cost?” She glanced at him sideways.
Dylan was quiet for a long moment. “He has his own moral code. He has things he believes are right and wrong. I’m not saying I agree. We have laws for a reason. But Rogan was forced into that life and he’s making the best of it.”
“I can’t believe his own father did that to him.” She couldn’t imagine her father betraying her like that.
“When is the last time you were home?” Dylan asked her.
“Umm, about eight months ago when Miller’s grandmother died.” She hadn’t stayed long.
Dylan pulled up outside the house. It was a large single-story wooden house, it had a wide
porch which wrapped around three sides.
Dylan climbed out of the car then came around to open her door.
“Ready?” he asked, squeezing her hand.
No. But then she didn’t know if she’d ever be.
“Let’s do this,” she said.
Dylan watched Tilly with worry as they climbed the steps to her family house. Had it been a mistake to come here? Had he pushed her too far? Her pale face and the nervous way she clung to his hand had him second-guessing his decision.
The large door opened and an older man stepped onto the porch. He was as tall as Dylan and nearly as wide. His short hair was white, a stark contrast to his deeply tanned face.
A huge smile covered his face and he opened his arms. “Midgie?”
Tilly flung herself forward, clasping the other man tightly. “Daddy.”
“Welcome home, baby girl.” Tilly’s father clasped her close. They spoke quietly to each other and then her father glanced over at him, the look of joy on his face turning to one of guarded suspicion.
“Who’s this?”
Tilly gazed back at him. “Daddy, this is Dylan. My boyfriend. Dylan, my father, Zach King.”
Her father glared at him.
Why had he thought this would be a good idea?
***
Tilly took a sip of iced tea. “Ahh, Rosa, you make the best iced tea,” she said to the large woman who’d been the housekeeper here since Tilly was born.
The other woman blushed. Her black hair was now interspersed with gray, and there were more lines around her eyes and mouth, but she still had that warmth in her gaze and a spring in her step that belied her age.
Rosa placed a hand on her shoulder and squeezed. “We missed you, Tilly. You don’t come home often enough.”
“I know, I’m sorry. I’ll try to do better.”
Rosa left the living room after giving Tilly’s father a sharp glare. Tilly knew what that look meant, she was silently warning him to behave himself. Her father was giving Dylan the stare. It was the look he gave anyone he was trying to intimidate. To his credit, Dylan didn’t look offended. He just sat next to her on the sofa and sipped on his iced tea.
“She’s right, midgie,” her father told her. “This is your home. You should be here.”
“I’m happy where I am, Daddy,” she said gently.
“Really?” her father asked skeptically.
“Yes, really. I’ve made some good friends there.”
“You should be going to college. You could go places, Tilly. You’re wasted as a waitress. Or is there another reason you’re staying in a dead-end job? Don’t you agree that Tilly should be making something of her life? Or does that threaten you?” her father challenged Dylan.
“Daddy! Don’t speak to Dylan like that. What I choose to do has nothing to do with him.”
Her father raised an eyebrow. “I’m sorry. Did I misunderstand your relationship? Are the two of you just friends? What do they call it? Friends with benefits?”
“Dylan is my boyfriend,” she said as patiently as she could manage. “I brought him home to meet you, not to be interrogated.”
“I didn’t realize he couldn’t handle a few friendly questions. Can’t he speak for himself?”
Dylan cleared his throat. “I can speak for myself just fine, sir. And I can assure you that I am very serious about your daughter. I think she’s the most amazing person I have ever met.”
“Then you agree with me. She should be in college, even if she has to put your relationship to one side for a while. You’ll wait for her, won’t you, boy? If you think she’s worth it.”
Old bastard, she thought with a mix of frustration and affection.
Dylan squeezed her hand as he sat forward.
“I think that Tilly can do whatever she sets her mind to. If she wants to go to college, then we will find a way to make it work. Tilly is very smart—”
“Exactly!” Her father hit his thigh with his hand for emphasis. “Which is why she should be in college—”
“Smart enough,” Dylan continued, “to know what she wants from life. My role is to support her, to be there for her, to cherish and protect her. I would never presume to tell her what to do.”
Yeah, right. She sent him a sideways look and he winked at her.
“Hmph.” Her father sat back, looking disgruntled.
“Daddy, can we please not argue about this?” she said. “I’ll think about college again, okay? But there are a lot of things to take into consideration.”
“I’ll release your trust fund to pay for college.”
Tilly sighed. “I know. I appreciate it. Just give me some time. I really don’t want to argue about this.”
“Neither do I, midgie. So how long have the two of you been…” he trailed off, looking uncomfortable.
“We’ve known each other for two years,” she said diplomatically.
“Huh. How’d you meet?” he asked suspiciously.
“Through friends.”
“So why is this the first time you’ve brought him home?” her father questioned.
“Because I didn’t want to get the third degree,” she said, her patience thinning. “Daddy, don’t you think you’re taking the overprotective thing too far?”
“I didn’t question Javier enough and look what happened there. Forgive me for making sure that this guy is good enough for my little girl.”
“What happened with Javier wasn’t your fault, it was mine.”
She sent Dylan an apologetic look. She knew this would be a bad idea. Her father was taking his overprotectiveness to a whole new level. She wouldn’t blame Dylan if he wanted to run away from this whole fiasco.
“Why don’t you go to your room and rest, midgie? Give us men a chance to talk.”
Tilly blew out a deep breath. God, give me patience.
At one time, she’d have jumped at the chance to leave the room. The tension would have been too much for her. She’d rather have hidden than deal with any sort of confrontation.
But the last few years had shown her that she was tougher than she thought. No way would she leave Dylan by himself.
“I’m fine where I am, Daddy,” she replied.
He looked at her in surprise. Dylan squeezed her hand and gave her a small nod of approval.
“You’ve changed.” Her father studied her closely, almost as though he saw her for the first time.
“I have. I’m not the same girl who left.”
“No, I can see that. I’m not sure that I like it.”
Man, he really knew how to deliver a punch. She sucked in a deep breath and squeezed Dylan’s hand tight. “Well, I’m sorry if you feel that way. But this is who I am now. I’m in love with Dylan, Daddy. He’s a wonderful man and if you give him a chance, I’m sure you’ll grow to like him. Now, I think I would like to lie down.” She stood and reached for Dylan’s hand. “Come with me?”
Dylan stood and took her hand.
“Nice to meet you, sir,” he said to her father before she led them out of the room and down the corridor to her bedroom.
As soon as the door closed behind them, Dylan held out his arms. Tilly practically leaped into his arms and he squeezed her tight.
He just held her for a long moment before moving to the bed and sitting on the side. He pulled her onto his lap as he studied his surroundings. It was a typical teenage girl’s bedroom with posters covering the walls and a purple bedspread. Sleeping together in the small double bed was going to be interesting.
It was important that she reconnect with her family. As soon as she let go of the guilt she held she would be a lot happier.
Winning them over was going to be an interesting endeavor. He wondered if her brothers were as protective as her dad. Not that he blamed her father for his reaction. He’d be understandably wary of some man he’d never heard of coming home with his daughter.
“I’m so sorry about the way Daddy acted,” she said finally, leaning back to look up at him.
/> “Don’t apologize for him, baby,” Dylan told her gently. “I’m sure when I have a daughter, I will be just as protective.”
“He’s always been a little protective of me, being the only girl. But that was out of line.” She sent him a small smile. “My brothers will be home soon. That will be a whole new minefield. Sure you want to do this? We can sneak out the window and avoid the whole lot of them.”
“And have your dad hate me? No way, that man is scary.” He gave a fake-shudder and she laughed.
“The big, bad Marine is scared of a Texas rancher thirty years older than him?”
“A mhuirnín, every man is slightly scared of the father of the woman he loves.”
“Really, he’s a big marshmallow. He’s just extra-protective because of what happened with Javier.”
“How much do he and your brothers know about your relationship with Javier?”
She grew pensive. “They know Javier was controlling and verbally abusive. Apparently he said a lot of nasty things about me when they arrested him and Dare heard it all. But they don’t know specifics. I couldn’t go into any detail.” She sighed. “I wish Daddy would stop going on about college.”
“Do you want to go to college?”
She was quiet for a long moment. “Maybe? I don’t know. It’s a big commitment.”
“What did your father mean when he talked about your trust fund?” Dylan asked curiously.
“My mom left a trust fund for each of us kids. We’re supposed to get it when we’re twenty-five. But daddy can override that and he said if any of us wanted to go to college we could use our trust to pay for it.”
“Ahh,” he said, imagining it couldn’t be a large trust. Not when she had four brothers as well.
“None of my brothers went to college, but they’ve all come into their trusts now. Not that you’d know it since none of them have moved away from home.”
“Maybe they’re saving for a bigger deposit,” he said.
She laughed. “That must be a hell of a deposit. I’m pretty sure a million dollars will buy a nice place.”
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