I hear the rumble of the bikes pulling up but don’t say anything, preferring to let it all play out. When the front door opens and Hatch stomps in, both guys jump. He’s got a fierce set to his jaw and with his windblown hair and leather cut, everything the girls just said appears to have come to life and gives their words merit. “Who the fuck are you?” he barks out at Tristan and Pike.
“These are my buddies, Hatch,” I say, attempting to break the tension in the room. “They’re on my team and we all share this place.”
“How many boys are going to be here with my daughter?” I’m not sure if he’s yelling or asking.
“Enough,” I mutter not wanting to give him an exact number.
“That’s not a number, Maddox,” his vision lasers in on me and I feel the fine hairs at the back of my neck stand on end. I know I can’t give into him, if I do I’ll always be backing away and that can’t happen. I need to keep putting my foot down so he doesn’t go stomping all over me for the next fifty or how many years he has left on this planet.
“Jesus, Dad, give the guy a break,” Talon says, coming up alongside Hatch. Thank God for reinforcements. “Besides, he knows if anything happens to my sister, they’ll never find him. Ever.” Okay, maybe he’s not a reinforcement after all. I thought Talon and I were buddies. I’m beginning to second guess that with his statement however.
“Oh for crying out loud, Dad! I’ve met his teammates and they’ve all been very respectful towards me,” Maysen says. “Stop yelling, you’re making my headache worse than it already was.”
“You’re the one who’s yelling,” Hatch points out, and he’s right. He was just grunting and growling, she’s the one who raised her voice.
“Hatch, are you starting shit again?” my uncle asks as he steps inside.
“Not yet, but I’m about to,” Hatch replies. “Now, you two listen carefully because your lives may depend on it. First of all, this one,” he points to Maysen, “and this one,” he points to Rae, “are my daughters. Lily is my niece. Not one hair on any of their heads better be touched or so help me God, there won’t be a rock big enough to hide under. Got me?”
Tristan’s and Pike’s eyes are huge as they nod. “Furthermore, you’re athletes and shouldn’t be drinking so lose the beers. Or better yet, give them to the adults in the room.”
“Dad, you’re being unreasonable,” Rae says. “Stop scaring them.”
“No, unreasonable would be to pack up my daughter and move her back home.”
“He tried,” DJ states, standing there with her arms over her chest and tapping her foot on the ground. “The only reason it’s not happening is I tossed a few threats of my own.”
“With Shirley?” Maysen inquires.
“Who’s Shirley?” Tristan asks. I can hear the wobble in his voice but don’t say anything. At least neither of them has pissed themselves. Yet. The way the guys and women are acting, I’d swear that what the girls were implying about them is all true.
“My pliers,” DJ replies. “And no, I didn’t bring her into the conversation, did I?” she asks, glaring at Hatch. Guess there’s a first time for everything. I’m personally sick and tired of yielding threats from Shirley. My balls and dick have shriveled up many times from needless threats before I even touched Maysen. And what’s sad is that it was Hatch who threatened me with the infamous pliers, not DJ.
“Gah, Mom. You threatened him with sex stuff?” Rae questions throwing her hands in the air. Did I mention Maysen’s family is a bit...dramatic? Crazy? Borderline certifiable?
Hatch glares back at DJ and huffs a bit before saying, “That’s neither here nor there. While Maysen is staying here there will be rules, y’hear me?”
“Yes, sir,” they say in unison. Hell, he hasn’t even said what the ‘rules’ are and there are fifteen other guys who live here. Fat chance of getting them all to comply. A fact I wisely keep to myself since I personally like the way my face looks. And my dick. That particular appendage needs to stay right where it is. I’m rather fond of it and so is my girl.
“I know there are more boys staying here, so I’ll be having the rules written up for all of y’all to sign. Anyone fucks up and they’ll answer to me,” he states.
“Next you’ll have them signing a non-disclosure statement,” Cara adds with a roll of her eyes. “These men are a little too much sometimes. Y’all don’t listen to him, he’s steam rolling y’all.”
“Now, baby, I’d be the same way if it had been Lily,” Uncle Braxton says.
“Uh, I was planning to stay with Rae in one of the spare rooms, Dad,” Lily interjects. Fuck. The three of them here? That’s why she asked earlier if there were any empty rooms. I think I just got played.
“And when did you decide this?” he asks, his President voice in full effect. Hell, I see Tristan and Pike shrink a little at his venomous tone.
“So, you’re saying you don’t trust my cousin to keep me safe?” she inquires.
“That’s not what I said at all. Dammit, Cara, what have you old ladies done with my sweet girls? They never did this before.”
“It’s called growing up, Braxton. Welcome to this next phase of parenting,” she replies, a grin on her face.
“I ordered ten pizzas and they’ll be here in twenty minutes. I think we should take a load off until we hear from Chief and Law,” Talon says, breaking the tension in the room.
“Tristan, if I give y’all some money would you please run out and grab some more sodas?” I ask. Both of them nod and stand so I pull out my wallet and hand them some cash. “Any preferences?”
Uncle Braxton says, “Put your money away, boy, we got this.” I shake my head because he’s just as bossy as my dad is at times.
With a list now firmly in hand, Tristan and Pike grab their shoes and head out, saying, “We’ll be back in a few.” Maysen lays her head on my shoulder and begins to doze and we sit around watching the game and talking. I kiss the top of my girl’s head, thankful that she is okay. She may have some bumps and bruises, but she’s alive and that’s all that matters right now. The rest will take care of itself later.
* * *
Maysen
* * *
I wake to the smell of pizza permeating the air and the sounds of motorcycles pulling in the driveway. When I lift my head from Maddox’s shoulder I can see a plate of pizza is sitting and waiting for me on the coffee table.
“Made sure to set you a couple of pieces aside, you know how much your sister and dad can eat.” I smile at him because he’s right. Dad, Rae and I used to fight over the last piece in the box because we all like the same kind.
“Thanks for fixing me a plate,” I say.
“What are you implying?” Rae asks him, her hand on her hip, a plate piled high with pizza in her other one.
I nod at her plate and state, “Point made, dear sister.”
“Whatever. I just wanted to make sure I got some since Dad tends to hog this one.”
“And...this is why I bought so many pizzas,” Talon mutters around a bite. “Y’all are terrible when it comes to the meat lover’s pizza. I got half of them with you guys in mind.”
I’m laughing at his words when the front door opens and Uncle Chief, Uncle Law and the two detectives walk in. My heart starts to beat erratically because none of their faces give me any indication for the reason they’ve shown up. Well, I mean, my uncles are a given, but the detectives? Unless they caught the guy?
“Maysen, the detectives got a call when we were at the hospital. Campus security picked someone up who may be the individual who attacked you. We need you to look through this photo line-up and see if you recognize anyone,” Uncle Chief calmly says to me. I’m shaking so hard now that Maddox grabs my plate and sets it down before he pulls me into his arms.
“It’s okay, Maisy-Daisy, I’m right here, your dad and brother are right here, and all of your uncles.”
“What am I, chopped liver?” Rae mumbles out underneath her breath. I give her a look b
ecause she’s always needing to be the spotlight, but this time, I need the men keeping me strong and Maddox knows this which is why she didn’t make the list along with my aunts, mom and cousins.
“Now’s not the time, Rae,” Mom states. “Maysen, do you want to do it on your own or do you want us here?” God, I love my mom. She’s giving me a choice even though there’s no choice in my mind whatsoever.
“I want y’all here,” I reply. “Yes, even you, Rae.”
I’m about to say something else when Dad comes over to the opposite side of me and sits down next to me. I’m surrounded by the scent of the man who took me in as a little girl when he wasn’t aware I even existed on one side, and the man who is my world on the other. I feel Mom behind me on the couch, her hands on mine and dad’s shoulders and before I can look around, I sense that everyone else is surrounding me as the detectives sit on the coffee table in front of me. Taking a deep breath, I say, “Okay, I’m ready,” to Detective Rodriguez. I liked him better in the hospital because he wasn’t afraid of my family. Detective James still looks like he’d rather be anywhere else than here.
He hands me a book and I’m impressed that despite my shaking hands, I don’t drop it. Maddox’s hand is rubbing my leg despite Dad’s glare. I take another breath and slowly open the book, conscious that everyone’s eyes are on me. They apparently took my ramblings at the hospital and found every dark-haired man they could to put in this book! After going through half the book, I’m wondering if I was mistaken when I turn the page.
My breath stalls in my chest.
My hands start shaking worse than they were.
I can’t breathe.
Can’t speak.
Can’t even point.
As darkness threatens to descend, I hear my mom’s voice from far away saying, “Get her head down between her knees, she’s having a panic attack!”
But I’m lost to the darkness and don’t hear anything else.
Maysen
I feel like I’m lost in a fog as I hear my name being called. I try climbing out of the dreariness, but my eyes won’t cooperate with me and open on my command. “She’s coming around,” I hear my mom say. Who is she talking to? I can hear moaning and worry about who that could be. It takes a minute, but I feel my chest rattling and realize it’s coming from me.
“M-m-Maddox?” I whisper.
“Right here, baby. You’re okay, you just had a panic attack.” Wait...a panic attack? Me? I’ve never experienced anything like that in my life, why on earth would I have one now? Then it comes crashing down around me and I remember seeing that man’s face staring at me from the book the detectives gave me.
I try to look around, embarrassed at what just happened, only to see my dad crouch next to me. “You’re okay, kiddo. The cops left after you identified your attacker.”
“I...I did?” I ask. I don’t remember anything past seeing his photograph sitting there staring me in my face. Almost as if he was daring me to identify him.
“Baby, you kept saying ‘him’ as you were passing out,” Maddox replies. Huh, go me. I look down and see my hands are shaking, a feeling of numbness takes over and I feel dirty, violated and shattered. The world as I knew it yesterday is no longer valid today. “Baby, are you going to pass out again?” I can hear the worry in his voice so I try to compose myself the best way I can.
“I...I need to go, I can’t stay there.” I know my voice is high-pitched, but I can’t help it.
“Mom, Dad, what if I move up here?” Rae asks. “I’m almost done with school anyway, and I can finish what I need online then start college the next semester.”
“What if we put Tig on her?” Talon inquires. “He’s still a prospect, but at least she wouldn’t be alone. And if Rae comes up, then he could watch over both of them.”
“And what’s he supposed to do while they’re in classes?” Braxton asks.
“Hell, he could take some courses, I’m sure there’s something he could study that would be beneficial to the club,” Talon states.
“How can he protect them if he’s in a different class?” Dad growls out.
“Fuck, I don’t know, I’m trying to come up with a solution here,” Talon replies. “Seems to me, if he can get classes at the same time they’re in theirs, then it could potentially work.”
“We need to think about this a bit more. Chief, call Trinity and see if she knows of a good therapist in this area,” Mom says. “Wait, never mind, I’ll call her myself, you guys keep figuring out how to keep my girls safe.” Well, it sounds like Rae may be coming here based on what Mom has just said.
I’d feel better if one of the guys were here, that’s for sure, because right now, I want to go home. Not home here, but home where my dad and family are. “Do you think he’d go for that?” I finally ask. I don’t want to leave Maddox and I know that he has to stay in the house the team has, so if Tig could come up here, I would feel safe and be able to be with my man.
Mom heads out of the room, presumably to call Trinity, and I’m left with my man, my dad, my uncles and Rae. Cara and Lily followed Mom.
“What if he takes online courses? That way, he can be outside their classes and keep a watch out, and still be there to walk them back and forth,” Talon proposes.
“Oh for fuck’s sake, this is my life we’re talking about,” I state. “I’m perfectly fine when on the campus so he doesn’t need to haunt the hallways. It’s just those places that are not as secure, like the laundry room.”
“If we get you an on-campus apartment, we’ll get one that has space for a washer and dryer,” Dad replies.
“Fine, but I don’t want Tig’s life being put on hold because of me.”
“He’ll be earning his patch while protecting you girls,” Braxton announces. “So don’t you worry yourself about him, he’s one of mine and I take care of my boys.”
“I know you do, Uncle Braxton, I didn’t mean it that way.”
“I know you didn’t, sweetheart.”
“So then it’s settled?” Dad asks. It’s lovely that all I have to do is sit here while everyone decides my future living arrangements and how to keep me safe.
* * *
Two months later
Maddox
* * *
It’s been a trying time these last eight weeks. The club, true to their word, got the girls a place to stay. But was it an on-campus apartment? Hell to the no! They had to go and get them a three-bedroom house a street over from the campus. And Hatch, my soon to be deceased father-in-law, will do anything to keep his daughter from staying at my place so he went and purchased her a tub to rival mine because he ‘didn’t want her to have to go to my place to soak’! Fucking asshole. If he thinks that will stop us from spending the night together, he’s sorely mistaken.
Rae and Tig have made themselves at home and are enjoying college living. Tig has even started his online courses and from what I understand is doing extremely well. He’s taking some general education, and carpentry courses. He’s also taking some business classes which has my mind whirling in future plans. He and I have become close friends the last few weeks.
As for my girl? She’s struggling a bit. She hasn’t said anything, but she’s lost weight and tends to jump at the smallest noise. Even the therapist that Trinity found for her doesn’t seem to be helping. And despite my assurances, she’s been reluctant to resume our physical relationship. Oh, she’ll let me spend the night and vice versa, but all we end up doing is falling asleep. I’m about to push the issue, though, because she’s too fucking strong to fall down a rabbit hole.
Walking up to her door, I knock and when she lets me in, I see determination upon her face. I really look and take in her features before asking, “What’s going on?”
“I had a great session today, and for the first time since my attack, I’m starting to feel like me again. Not gonna let him steal my life any longer.” Thank fuck!
“Wanna share, baby?”
“Well, it involves u
s, me and you, that is. I was telling Jane that we haven’t had sex since I was attacked and she asked why and I didn’t have a good answer. I mean, I’m not afraid of you, so why am I afraid of us getting physical? She said that you’ve been my ‘safe place’ since it all happened and somehow, my brain got it confused. So, I’m telling you right now, I may feel safe with you, but I wanna jump your bones, too. Can you help with that?”
I’m blown away at what she’s sharing. Moving close, I cup her face and say, “I love you, Maysen Hatchet. Always have, always will. That will never ever change, do you hear me? Now, I’m gonna kiss you and see what else we can get into as long as we’re alone.”
She grins at me and states, “Tig is following Rae around because she went on a date tonight.” Ah hell, she’s embracing this college shit full force. Shaking my head at her antics, I take my girl’s hand and lead her into her room, closing and locking the door. First things first, I wanna see if her tub’s as good as mine.
“Got any of those bath bombs?” I ask as I head toward the bathroom.
“Yeah,” she says, a smile crossing her beautiful face.
Once the water temperature is where I want it, I push the plug in and toss in the bath bomb she has unwrapped. Turning, I slowly undress her, kissing the bare skin as I expose it. I don’t waste any time getting naked before I lead her to the tub and help her in, situating myself behind her. “God, now I see why you like them,” I state. Whatever is in these things has a fizzy effect which feels slightly invigorating against my skin. I grab her sponge and start washing her, using the body wash that reminds me of her.
Each stroke, each touch, is lighting a fire in me and I pray for my girl as well. I know we tend to go hot and heavy at times, but this time, I want her to be here, in the moment, so she knows just how precious she is to me. “Maddox,” she whispers as my hand glides along her side. “Quit teasing me.”
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