by Faith Gibson
“Oh, we didn’t open it. Mac thought it would be best to tell you about it.”
“After supper, you’re welcome to go see if anything is hidden there.”
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Tamian asked. Lucy’s boyfriend had been quiet up until that point. There was something different about the man, but Rhi couldn’t figure out what.
“I seriously doubt Lucius left any of his journals in the spare bedroom. Everything he had would have been in the lab.” Lucy waved her fork. “I’m not worried.” Lucy leaned over and pressed a soft kiss to the man’s lips. The smile he gave Lucy made Rhi’s heart flip-flop. What would it be like to so freely show love like that?
“Your computer is pinging,” Tamian said, his fork halfway to his mouth.
“Thanks. Please excuse me,” Lucy said as she stood from the table and left the dining room. Rhi hadn’t heard anything, but she hadn’t been paying attention to anything other than the food. Everyone went back to eating without Lucy, with Kyllian keeping the conversation going. Rhi really liked the man. He was charming and flirty, but he didn’t make her feel self-conscious. He had been the same way with Mac, and she was his niece. Once they finished dinner, Rhi and Mac did the dishes while Hayden and Kyllian patrolled the property. Sutton and Rory left afterward but promised they’d return the next day. Rhiannon thanked them again for everything before they left.
“I love your family.” Rhi scrubbed one of the pans. “I’d forgotten what it felt like having supper together.”
“Just wait ‘til they all get together. It’s a madhouse, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Even the Colins weren’t like this before we went to live at the Sanctuary. And it’s not because my family has money. It’s because they care. Even the Hounds I’ve met are the same way. I expected a bunch of bikers to be rough and hardcore, but because of who they are, they’re all about family.”
“I’ll admit I don’t know anything about bikers. I don’t know much about a lot of things. Everything I experienced before I was taken to Haven was limited, probably because I was young. I lived in a nice neighborhood where everyone knew everyone else. All the parents were still married with the exception of Mikey’s parents, but his stepdad was nice. It’s strange, coming back to the outside after ten years. Time moved on, whereas in Haven, nothing ever changed.”
“I get it. Like I said earlier, I’m still getting used to all the changes. Getting to decide what kind of clothes I like, wearing makeup if I want, having toiletries that aren’t homemade. Listening to music has been the best thing. There’s this rock band I really like, and Tamian knows the lead singer. He’s friends with the guy’s father. I get to go backstage next time they’re in town. You should come with me.”
Rhi looked over at Mac. “Really? You wouldn’t mind?”
“Why would I mind? I’d love to hang out with you.”
“That’s…” Rhi swallowed hard. It had been so long since she had friends. Maybe Mac felt the same way. “What job did you have at The Sanctuary?”
“Before everything went to hell, I worked with the animals. I always wanted to be a veterinarian, but since we weren’t allowed to go to college, feeding the cows was the closest thing to it. Elijah worked in the barns, keeping them cleaned out and maintained. Everything was as perfect as it could be for us. We had plans to go to Gideon and ask to be allowed to get married, but Lewis decided he wanted me, and when I told Gideon no, that’s when things went from bad to worse.”
“Why don’t you go to college now? You’re plenty young enough. You can still become a vet.”
Mac paused drying the dish in her hand. “I’ve considered it, but I don’t think I could stand being around so many people. Even if I didn’t have the scar.”
Hayden sauntered into the kitchen and hopped up onto the counter next to Mac. “Haven’t you heard? Scars are sexy.” He wiggled his eyebrows at Mac, and she popped him on the leg with her cloth. His previous bad attitude was gone.
“Maybe on brutish males such as yourself.” Mac finished drying the pan and asked Rhi, “What about you? Do you want to go to college?”
“No. I like Rory’s idea of working at a florist. Eventually, I want a place of my own where I can have a garden, but that’s just a dream.”
“I don’t think that’s out of reach, especially if you work for the family. Rory and Sutton can always use people who’ve been on the inside to help those we rescue.”
“You mean others like us?”
“Yes. Not everyone who lives within the Ministry wants to be there. Kerrigan—”
“Hide, now!” Kyllian yelled, storming into the kitchen.
“What the fuck?” Hayden jumped down from the counter.
“We have company. Four men just walked up the driveway, and from the way they’re dressed, I have no doubt they’re Josiah’s men.”
Lucy ran into the kitchen. “Mac, Rhi, come with me.”
Rhi and McKenzie followed Lucy deeper into her home. She opened a door and took off down a set of stairs. When they reached the bottom, Lucy stopped at a bookcase, pressed something on the side, and the large shelf slid open. “Get in here. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
Mac entered the tunnel without hesitation. Rhi didn’t understand what was happening, but she didn’t have a choice. Not if she didn’t want to be sent back to Haven. When the bookcase closed, Rhi was glad the passageway was illuminated. “What is this?” she asked.
Mac grabbed Rhi’s hand and led her away from the entrance. They walked for quite a ways before she stopped. “I don’t want to risk being overheard. Lucy’s father was a scientist. A geneticist. The room we came through, it was his lab. I’m not sure exactly what all he experimented with, but I do know not all of it was good. He built this tunnel so he could hide what he was doing from his wife, Lucy, and the outside world. If we keep walking a quarter mile, the tunnel ends at the edge of the lake on the other side.”
“Is Lucy okay with what her father did?” Rhi asked.
“Not at all. When she worked for the GIA, her boss took her to an underground lab and had her continue her father’s work after he died. Only Lucy wouldn’t do it. She figured out what was going on, managed to escape, and then Tamian and the Hounds found her.”
“I can’t imagine finding out something like that about my dad. I mean, I don’t know him anymore, but I hate to think of him doing something… wrong.” Mac gave Rhi a funny look. “You don’t have to say it. I just wish I could go back to being the naïve teenager. You know, before my mom died.”
“Tell me more about her.” Mac slid down the wall to sit against it.
Rhi was too nervous thinking about the men upstairs to sit, so she leaned a shoulder on the opposite wall in case she needed to make a run for it and told Mac about Daisy. “Somedays, it’s hard to remember everything about her, and others, I feel like she’s with me, here.” Rhi pointed to her chest. “She was the kindest soul I’ve ever known, and it wasn’t until Dad took me to Haven that I understood why my grandmother didn’t like her. Mom was pagan, and my grandmother wouldn’t abide her choices. I never once saw my mother cast a spell or anything like that. What little I know about witches comes from watching movies or TV shows when I was younger. I do know she worshipped the goddess instead of God, but I don’t think that made her a bad person. Rory said your family worships the old gods, and from what I can tell, they’re good people. They’re out here in the world helping others, while my grandmother and dad are living out in the middle of nowhere, keeping to themselves.”
Mac bent her knees and wrapped her arms around her legs. “My adoptive mom, Amy, she took me and Sparrow, their biological daughter, to church before we moved to the Sanctuary. I can tell you the sermons were different. I remember our preacher talking about Jesus and how he was kind and loving. It was none of the fire and brimstone stuff Gideon spewed day after day. The older I got, the more I realized that was his way of keeping his flock in line. If we didn’t adhere to his teachings, we were
punished. Then to find out both he and Josiah were the worst kind of men out there? Kidnapping women for their own pleasure? Josiah’s the one who abducted my mom when she was pregnant with me. Gideon convinced his brother to give Juliette to him.”
“But Josiah’s married. Why would he want your mom?” Rhi didn’t understand much of the ways of the world, but even she knew that was wrong.
“Because he’s a hypocritical, sadistic bastard? I don’t know. These men – the leaders of these cults – think they’re above the law. That’s why they move out to the middle of nowhere and start their own communities. Ones where they make the rules. They go out and find people who are down on their luck and convince them the Ministry is a better way of life. They offer them somewhere to live without having to worry about paying bills and things like that. It’s all bullshit. They take them there, give them a small cabin, and use them for free labor. Sure, they no longer have to worry about paying bills, but they also lose what freedom they had on the outside. But then, you know all about that.”
“I do, and I hated every second of it. I got into so much trouble the first couple of years because I wouldn’t give up on my mom’s beliefs. Josiah refused to call me Rhiannon because he said it was too pagan, so he called me Anna. I got in trouble for talking to boys. I was disciplined for talking to the plants. I finally just stopped talking. It was a lonely existence, and when Josiah began letting James ‘court’ me, I knew I had to get out of there.”
“I’m glad you did. I’m really glad my dad found you.”
“Yeah, me too.” Rhi didn’t tell Mac how she felt about Ryker. She didn’t want to ruin the tentative friendship they had started. Yes, the Lazlos were good people, McKenzie included, and Rhi didn’t want to ruin everything by having a crush on the handsome man who rescued her.
Mac must have realized it, though. She smiled up at Rhi. “I think you would be good for him. I know he loved my mother, but he needs someone in his life to love now. He comes across as this stoic, angry man, but deep down, he’s the best of all of them. He’s strong. Honorable. A protector. He needs someone to remind him he doesn’t have to sacrifice happiness to be the amazing leader he is. I think you should be that someone.”
The sound of the bookcase being slid open echoed down the passageway. Mac jumped to her feet, placing herself in front of Rhi. The movement warmed Rhi’s heart. Ryker wasn’t the only protective Lazlo, and if Mac was giving her blessing, maybe Rhi could be the woman Ryker needed.
Chapter Nine
Ryker
Ten minutes passed and there was still no sign of the males. Ryker eased over to the window and pulled back the curtain just enough to look down to the street. The four males were running back across it. A nondescript SUV pulled up, and they hopped in, speeding away.
“Fuck! They took off in a vehicle like their asses were on fire. That can’t be good.” Ryker pulled his phone out. When Lucy didn’t answer, he called Kyllian. He didn’t answer either, so he dialed Hayden.
“We have company. I’ll call you back.” Hayden disconnected without explaining further.
Ryker wanted to throw his phone across the room but stopped at the last second.
“Havyk said they have company. That’s all the fuck he said. How the fuck did they find Rhi?”
“What do you want to do?” Hawk asked.
“I’m calling Sutton. We’re too far away. Fuck!” Ryker needed to calm down and trust his family to take care of Rhiannon. He didn’t want to examine why he was so upset.
Because you know she’s ours.
Not now.
Ryker dialed his father. When Sutton answered, Ryker stormed, “Where are you?”
“At home. Why? What’s going on, Son?”
“Hayden said they have company and hung up. That’s all I know. Pop…” Ryker swallowed hard.
“I’m on my way back. I’ll call a couple Hounds to go with me.” Ryker could hear his mom in the background asking what was wrong. Ryker ran a hand through his hair while he paced the room. Sutton told Rory to calm down, then he told Ryker, “I’ll call you as soon as I know something. I’ll keep them safe, Son. I promise.”
“What if you’re too late?”
“Your brothers and Lucy will protect the girls with their lives.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of. Fuck!”
“Ryker, stop. Let me call the others. Get on the road home and let Hawk or Spyder drive. That’s an order.”
It wasn’t often Sutton pulled the alpha card, but when he did, Ryker knew to listen. “Yes, Sir. I’ll be waiting.” He disconnected and took a deep breath. “Sutton’s headed over there now. He said for us to come home, and one of you are to drive.”
Spyder held out his hand for the keys. “Let’s go.”
No one spoke until they were on the road. Ryker stared out the side window, his phone clutched in his hand. “We really need to find David. It’s obvious he has better equipment at his disposal. If they get hold of Rhiannon…”
“Your family will protect her. You know that.” Hawk cleared his throat. “Is there something more going on with Rhi than you wanting to protect her from Josiah?”
“What? No. I… Shit. Maybe. No. No. She’s too young.” And Ryker was a rambling mess. Yes, he wanted Rhi, but he wasn’t the kind of male she needed. “She’s a beautiful young woman, but there can never be anything between us. She needs someone softer around the edges, like Kyllian.”
Spyder barked out a laugh. “Kayos? Soft? You really don’t know your brother, do you?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Ryker asked, harsher than intended.
“Kayos might be the softer spoken out of all your brothers, but that’s where it ends. It’s going to take a special female to tame that beast.”
Ryker stared at the Hound, waiting, but the male didn’t add anything. “Spyder—”
“Ryot, Kyllian’s lifestyle isn’t mine to share. If you want to know what your brother gets up to in the privacy of a hotel room or the back rooms of certain clubs he visits, you need to ask him yourself.”
“Clubs? What kind of clubs is he visiting?”
Hawk leaned up from the back seat and set his hand on Ryker’s shoulder. “Calm down, Ryot. It’s nothing bad, okay? Let’s just say your brother isn’t exactly vanilla.”
“How do both of you know this and I don’t?”
“Do you share your sex life with him? Or any of the rest of us?” Spyder didn’t give Ryker a chance to answer. “No, you don’t. Not that we expect you to. We only know about Kayos because we go to the same clubs he does.”
“Like fetish clubs? Are you telling me he – you all – are into BDSM?”
“Are you judging right now?” Hawk growled.
“No, of course not. Just… Fuck. How did I not know this?”
“Because it’s really none of your business.” Hawk leaned back, taking his hand with him. “What we do in our personal time is just that – personal. Some of us need more than a simple romp in the bedroom.”
“So, what? You go to these clubs so you can beat your partner?”
Spyder sighed heavily. “It’s not about beating someone. It’s about giving or getting a different kind of release. Some like to wield a crop or whip, while others like to be on the receiving end. For some, it’s about being tied up in ropes or bound to a bench or cross, giving complete control over to another person, trusting that person to take care of you while all you do is feel.”
It took a lot to surprise Ryker, but Spyder’s words had rendered him speechless. He stared out into the night, thinking about his younger brother dressed in leather and using a whip on someone helplessly tied up. Ryker wasn’t completely clueless. He had heard of fetish clubs, but he’d never seen the appeal. Yes, he liked rougher sex, but the thought of actually hurting someone…
“I can hear your brain from here. If you have questions, just ask,” Hawk offered.
“I have plenty of questions, but I’m not sure I want to know that much
about Kyllian. What about Hayden? Does he go to the clubs too?”
“He went once, but it wasn’t his scene. Hayden’s the gentlest male I’ve ever come across in my life. And it’s not because he’s the youngest out of the five of you. He would make a good Daddy for someone with the way he likes to protect and nurture.” Ryker snapped his head around at Spyder’s words.
“Daddy?”
“It means—”
“I know what it means. Jesus fucking Christ.” Ryker scratched at his beard. He felt like he’d fallen down the rabbit hole.
“I’m just saying, if you want someone gentle and loving for Rhiannon, Havyk is a better fit than Kayos.”
Ryker didn’t want to think about Hayden with Rhi. That made his skin itch. Or maybe it was thinking about Kyllian and some of the other Hounds living a lifestyle Ryker knew very little about. But their sexual proclivities had no effect on him or their club. As long as they did their jobs, which they all did, what they preferred in the bedroom or elsewhere wasn’t any of his business. But knowing what they’d shared, he would never look at them the same way again. This information made him feel normal. No, that wasn’t right. Their preferences weren’t any less normal. When it came to sex and what someone liked, it wasn’t abnormal, just different.
“I’m sorry if I came across as judgmental. Whatever you like is, like you said, personal. I think I’m just more shocked that I didn’t know this about my brother.”
“Well, you aren’t exactly welcoming or forthcoming when it comes to personal stuff. And I say this as your friend, Ryot. You aren’t the easiest male to get close to.” Spyder reached across the console and squeezed Ryker’s forearm. “Your family, both biological and the MC, we love you, Brother, and we understand why you are the way you are. Don’t forget most of us have been in your life since before what happened with Juliette. Not only that, but you’re our Pres. You carry the weight of us all on your shoulders, and we couldn’t ask for a better leader. You stepped into some mighty big shoes when Sutton handed you the gavel, but you filled them well. More than filled them. Even if you hadn’t been the oldest, I think Sutton would have chosen you to take his seat at the table, because you were the best male for the job.”