by Faith Gibson
“Is Quinn hot?” Havyk asked. The other Hounds chuckled, and Judge slapped Hayden on the shoulder.
Ryot grinned at his youngest brother. “She’s not bad, but she’s older than you and way too serious.”
Hayden crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m not opposed to older.”
Ryker shook his head, ignoring his brother. “Does anyone have a serious question?” Ryker waited, and every Hound remained silent. They trusted him to make the best decisions for the club. “Moving on to the next reason I called you in. On my way back from meeting with Shepherd, I stopped to get gas, and a female was running away from a man.” Ryker recounted the story of Rhi hiding out in the dumpster and him getting her a hotel. “The female, Rhiannon, was running from Josiah Talbert’s compound. Sutton and Rory are with Rhi now, and they’re bringing her to my house. Rhi is close to Mac’s age, and I’m hoping they will be able to help one another. In speaking with Rhi, she confirmed Elijah is alive and at that location. She was able to give us an estimate of how long it took to get from the compound to town, so Lucy is already searching for both the compound as well as any men in the area looking for Rhi. I’m meeting Sutton and Rory back at my house, and once Rhiannon is settled, I’m going to ask her more about the layout of the area as well as the men who act as guards. As soon as Lucy gets a location, I’ll send two of you in to recon the area. Any questions?”
Hayden smirked, and Ryker pointed a finger at him, effectively shutting him up. The other Hounds laughed heartily, but Ryker didn’t want his brother asking about Rhi. And wasn’t that a punch to the balls? Ryker wouldn’t claim the young woman, but he didn’t want anyone else to either. “If nothing further…” Ryot banged the gavel announcing the end of the meeting. Most of the Hounds had families to get home to, but those who didn’t hung around, chatting, drinking, and shooting pool.
Ryker left them to it as he strode out the door. Hayden was right behind him. “Wait up.” Where Kyllian was the quietest and most reserved of all the brothers, Hayden was the goofball, but at the moment, he toed at a rock when Ryker gave him his attention. “I’d like the first job you get from Shepherd.”
That surprised Ryker. Hayden was still learning about being a mercenary. He didn’t hesitate to take jobs, but he never asked for one either, preferring to spend his time building bikes or working on his art. Something about his younger brother was off. “You okay?”
Hayden wouldn’t meet Ryker’s eyes. “Fine. Just ready to get back out there.”
“You know you can talk to me, don’t you?” Ryker often felt like the odd male out when it came to his family. Sutton had Rory. Mav and War had their twin bond, and now they had their mates. Kyllian and Hayden were close because they were the youngest. Ryker had their love, but being the asshole he was, most of his family didn’t seek him out unless it had to do with MC business.
“Yeah, I know. I just…” Hayden blew out a breath and crossed his arms over his black leather kutte. When Ryker looked at his brother, really looked, he saw the sadness around his eyes. If they were alone… No, fuck that. This was his brother, and Ryker didn’t give a shit who was watching. He stepped up to Hayden and pulled him into his chest, wrapping his arms around him. Hayden stiffened for a second, then he relaxed against Ryker. Hayden grabbed hold of Ryker’s hips, his fingers squeezing into Ryker’s sides.
“Talk to me,” Ryker urged.
Hayden stepped back and cleared his throat. “I’m not sure how to explain it, but ever since Jenna brought the twins back to Mav, I’ve felt like something is missing in my own life. I want that. The mate and kids. Going out and fucking for the sake of getting fucked has never been my thing. It’s like every date I go on ends in the female getting mad because I’m not what they expected. Just because I’m a biker, they expect me to be and act a certain way. Hell, the last woman I asked out got pissed when I wanted to take her to dinner. I want someone who can see past the leather and the bike to the male who likes to have fun on occasion, but one who’s a gentleman too.”
“And she’s out there, I promise. You’ll find her when you least expect it.” Rhiannon immediately flashed in Ryker’s mind. As much as it pained Ryker, he said, “Come home with me. I need to get there and introduce Rhi and Mac. I’d like you or Kyllian to be the one to ask Rhiannon about her time at the compound.”
“Why?”
“Kyllian’s not nearly as abrasive as I am, and you have a way of making people smile. She’s going to be telling some hard truths, and I’m going to get pissed off, grunt, and scare the girl.”
Hayden grinned, even though the sadness was still in his eyes. “You’re not wrong. Yeah, okay. I’ll come with you.” Hayden strode to his bike and climbed on. Ryker’s Gryphon cursed him ten ways to Sunday, but Ryker knew he was doing the right thing. He wasn’t the right male for Rhi. Hayden might not be either, but Ryker wouldn’t stand in his brother’s way if he and Rhi hit it off.
Rhiannon
The closer they got to Ryker’s home, the more nervous Rhi got. Rory and Sutton had done their best to make her comfortable, and Rhi enjoyed talking with the couple. She still couldn’t believe they were old enough to be Ryker’s parents, good genes or not. If Ryker didn’t look so much like his father, she would have chalked it up to him being adopted. She thought back to a book series she’d read when she was younger where a group of vampires had young-looking parents, and Rhi snorted at the thought of Ryker and his family being less than human. There were no fangs or sparkly skin. Ryker and his parents had enjoyed their meal. They walked freely in the sunlight.
Rory kept Rhi’s thoughts busy with talk of all their grandchildren. Rhi didn’t miss the wistfulness in the woman’s voice when she spoke of her daughters who still lived in Texas. Rhi couldn’t imagine Daisy moving hundreds of miles away leaving Rhi behind. She would have followed her mother to the ends of the earth to be near her. All six of Ryker’s sisters had husbands and children. Maybe that would have been the one thing keeping Rhi from her mom — a family of her own. Ryker’s stern face popped into her mind, but she knew he wasn’t interested in her. How could he be? He was a badass biker. An older man with a daughter nearly Rhi’s age. He probably saw her as a kid. Besides that, she had nothing to offer someone like him, or any man for that matter.
When there was a lull in the conversation, Rhi asked, “If Josiah finds me, can he make me go back?”
“No. You are of legal age and can make your own decisions. Lucy is already working on getting a copy of your birth certificate and Social Security card. If Josiah is looking for you, that helps us in finding him. Do you know of any others who aren’t there of their own free will?” Rory asked.
“Other than Elijah? Not really. We were taught to keep our thoughts to ourselves. I kept to myself because nobody liked me.”
“Because you’re pagan?” Sutton asked.
“I never came out and said I worship the goddess. It’s not that I’m ashamed of my spirituality, but when everyone around you believes something different, it’s easier to keep it inside. I saw enough opposition from my grandmother when she spoke hatefully about and to my mom. Since she was the one who convinced my dad to go to Josiah, I knew better than to speak out. No, it was because I talked to the plants and trees when I first got there. The other kids thought I was weird, and the adults… Let’s just say they called me worse names than the kids did.”
“What about your father? Did he not try to protect you?” Sutton looked at her in the rearview mirror, his eyes narrowing.
“No. He told me to keep my head down and stay out of trouble. He went off with the other adults, leaving me to live with the kids. I rarely saw him after we entered the community.”
“Rhi, I know you were young when your mom died, but do you know if your father was having financial troubles?”
“Not that I know of. He went to work every day. We lived in a nice-enough house in a good neighborhood. Mom didn’t have a job outside the home, but I never heard him mention her getting o
ne or that we didn’t have enough money.”
“What did your dad do for a living?” Rory asked.
“He worked with computers.”
Rory and Sutton shared a silent look, and Rhi wondered what they were thinking. She didn’t get the chance to ask about it because they pulled into a driveway and parked next to three motorcycles. Rhi looked out the window at the two-story house. “Is this Ryker’s home?”
“Yes. He’s already here, and so are Hayden, Mac, and Kyllian.” Rory unbuckled and turned to face Rhi. “I want you to know you are safe now. You might get overwhelmed with our family, but I promise, every one of my sons, their women, and all the Hounds have your back. You are one of us now for however long you want to stay around.”
Rhi’s eyes watered, and she swallowed hard. It had been a long time since she felt like part of a family, but Rory’s words rang true. Josiah’s community was supposed to have been home, but it always felt like a prison. Sutton opened the back door to the SUV and held out his hand. Rhi grasped it, welcoming both the strength and warmth. He was a slightly older version of Ryker, and although quite handsome, Rhi didn’t feel the same draw to him. Not that she would have sought a married man. She was merely making a comparison between the two men in her mind. During the three-hour drive, she had compared Ryker to all the men at the compound. Sure, some of the men had been nice-looking, but none compared to her biker. He’s not yours.
Speaking of the man, Ryker was waiting on the front porch alongside a young woman Rhi assumed was McKenzie and two younger men. One was dark-haired like Ryker and Sutton, and the other was blond like Rory. From listening to Rory speak about her sons, Rhi knew the blond was Hayden and the other was Kyllian. Or Havyk and Kayos as they were also known as. Both were handsome, but neither held a candle to their older brother. When Rhi caught sight of McKenzie, she forgot all about the Lazlo brothers. Mac had a scar on her face. It was visible, but it didn’t detract from her beauty. Her eyes were haunted, and Rhi vowed then and there to do everything in her power to see some happiness on the other woman’s face. With Rory on one side and Sutton on the other, Rhi approached the steps.
Chapter Six
Rhiannon
Rhi shuffled from side-to-side as Sutton introduced everyone. Both younger brothers had cute smirks on their faces. She’d already heard how playful Hayden was, but it seemed Kyllian had the same roguishness. Rhi ignored them both and gave Mac her attention. “Hi, Mac.”
“Hi. Uh, my dad said you know Elijah?” Mac’s voice was hopeful.
“As well as you can know anyone in a compound. But I saw him last week when I was leaving the dining hall. He didn’t appear to be harmed, so that’s a good thing, right?”
“Yes. It’s a great thing. Come on in, and I’ll show you around.” Mac moved to the door and held it open. Rhi looked over at Rory, and the woman nodded her head, smiling. Rhi strode up the steps, ignoring the two younger brothers, but she couldn’t stop herself from looking at Ryker. He returned her gaze briefly, then he turned to his parents. Yep, she was nothing to him other than someone he saved.
The inside of the house reminded Rhi of her old home. The living room had a comfortable-looking sofa, two recliners, a coffee table, and a large-screen television. She’d thought the TV at the hotel had been big. The floorplan was open, with the dining room and kitchen visible from where she stood. There was a sliding glass door leading out back, where Rhi could see lots of greenery. She couldn’t stop her feet from carrying her that direction. She stared in awe at all the plants and trees. “Hello,” she whispered.
“Who are you talking to?” Mac asked.
“The plants and trees. I’ve missed them terribly.”
Mac opened the door and ushered Rhi outside. She looked at Mac. “Can I?”
“You’re not at the compound, Rhi. You don’t have to ask permission. The only thing you need to be mindful of is one or more of the Hounds can stop by at any time. I don’t suggest walking around in your underwear.” Mac grimaced.
“Got caught, did you?” Rhi grinned.
Mac rolled her eyes, but she smiled back at Rhi. “Yes. Not my best moment. I may or may not have thrown a glass of beer at Uncle Hayden. It’s a good thing he has quick reflexes.”
“You drink beer?” Rhi asked as they walked out into the yard together.
“Not often. I did it more because I could than because I like the taste of it.”
Rhi knelt beside a large pot of pansies and stroked their leaves, whispering to them.
“Did you work in the gardens?” Mac asked.
“No. I was caught talking to the flowers when I first moved there, and after that, I wasn’t allowed anywhere near the gardens. The only greenery I was allowed around were the vegetables in the kitchen.”
“How old were you when you moved there?”
“Thirteen. My mother passed away, and my grandmother convinced my father I needed a godlier environment. My mom was pagan, and she taught me all about plants and gardening. I’ve missed digging in the dirt.” Rhi looked around. “How long did it take you to get used to all this?”
“Who says I’m used to it?” Mac squatted next to Rhi. “I was in love with Elijah, but Gideon promised me to one of the guards.” Mac looked around, then leaned in and whispered, “Lewis, the guard, raped me. I didn’t tell my family that. They think the baby was Elijah’s, but he and I were never allowed to be alone together for more than a few minutes. It was then I really started causing trouble, and they took Elijah away. I ran the first chance I got, but some of Gideon’s men and their dog chased me through the woods.” Mac touched the scar on her cheek. “Then I was held in solitary, had my baby stolen from me and given up for adoption. I was all but branded a whore, and nobody was allowed to interact with me. Not even my family. Or, who I thought of as my family. Kerrigan was the first person to be nice to me and not judge me.”
“Kerrigan, that’s War’s girlfriend?”
“Yes. She was kidnapped on the side of the road one night and brought to our compound because she looked like my mom. Gideon had a thing for redheads. Anyway, I’m still getting used to my freedom. Kerrigan and the others are trying to get me out of the house more, but I’m still self-conscious about my scar. Dad’s offered to find a plastic surgeon, but I’m scared something will happen and I’ll look worse than I already do.”
“For what it’s worth, I think you’re gorgeous.” Rhi stood and held out her hand to Mac. “How about we go back inside and you can show me where I’ll be sleeping?” Mac allowed Rhi to help her stand, and the two of them left the peacefulness of the outdoors.
Ryker, his parents, and brothers were in the living room when they stepped through the door. “We’re going upstairs,” Mac said. Nobody stopped them, so Rhi followed. Mac pointed to a door on the right. “This is my room.” Rhi peeked inside to see a tidy room with white furniture and a television mounted on the wall above the bureau. “That’s the bathroom, and we’ll need to share it,” Mac said, pointing to the room on the left. It was as large as the bathroom at the hotel and decorated just as nicely. It was as neat as Mac’s bedroom. Living at the compound, they didn’t have much in the way of personal items. All toiletries, which they were required to share, were kept in a small closet. Rhi had no problem sharing with Mac. “And this is your room.” Mac stood in the hallway so Rhi could go first.
“Are you going to laugh at me if I bounce on the bed?” Rhi asked.
“Nope. I did the same thing. These mattresses are heaven after the shitty cots we had to sleep on.”
Rhi wasn’t used to cursing, but it didn’t bother her. It made her feel like Mac was settling into her new environment. She took Mac at her word and launched herself onto the bed, bouncing up and down like a kid. She flopped backwards and spread her arms and legs as though she were making snow angels. “Goddess, you’re right. I might never get up again.”
Mac leaned against the doorframe, smiling. “You want to know the best part about being here? It’s the fo
od. No more disgusting oatmeal.”
“I embarrassed myself in front of Ryker at the hotel. I ordered way too much food, but it had been so long since I had a cheeseburger and fries. Then this morning I had pancakes and bacon. Oh, and I tried coffee too.”
“I get it. Little things like ketchup on fries, flavored creamer for coffee, choosing pancakes over cereal. Hell, having cereal for lunch if I want it instead of a sandwich. I’m not much of a cook, but I’m learning. You mentioned the kitchen at the compound. Did you cook?”
Rhi sat up and slung her legs over the side of the bed. “No. Sometimes I had to do the prep work, but mostly I washed the dishes. I’m surprised they let me have a knife. I’m not an aggressive person, but more than once I thought about stabbing Marion. She’s my dad’s wife. They got married soon after we moved there.”
“And I take it you didn’t approve?”
“I couldn’t understand how he got over losing my mom so quickly. It was like he forgot all about her. And me. I rarely saw him, and when I did, it wasn’t like before when we were back at home. There were no hugs. No ‘how was your day at school?’ He became this stranger to me, same as all the other men.” Rhi closed her eyes and let out a heavy breath.
“Are you ready to go downstairs? We can retreat up here when the family leaves.”
“Yes. I’m sure they have plenty of questions about the compound.” Rhi pushed off the bed, not ready to leave the softness. But she could enjoy sleeping on the lush mattress later.