by Evie Monroe
My mother must’ve heard it, or sensed it, with her intuitive mom powers. “Oh, sweetheart. It’s all right, dear. Of course, your father is mad. But I was, too. He’s just as worried about you as I am. I’m glad you’re safe.”
I frowned. Being worried about me shouldn’t have included punching my mother. “Where is he now?”
“Oh, you know. He’s at the club. He has things to do and can’t hang out here with me all day. When are you coming home?”
I looked back toward the bedroom and swallowed. “I don’t know if I am, Mom. I guess you can say I’m making other plans. And they include you.”
“Honey, what the hell are you talking about?
“Mom. You and I have always talked about getting out. Leaving. What if I found someone who could help us?”
She was silent for a few seconds. “You and I both know that no one can help us. And even if they did get us out of here, he’d find us. Slade’s a powerful man. He’ll never let us go.”
“Yes, but what if I found someone more powerful? Who promises to look after us no matter what?”
She laughed bitterly. “Ain’t no one in the world like that, sweetheart.”
I sighed. “But what if there was? Daddy isn’t God, no matter what he’s put into your head. He’s not all-powerful. Something—or someone—could stop him. Wouldn’t it be worth it to at least try? So maybe for once we wouldn’t have to walk around on eggshells wondering if today is the day he finally kills one of us?”
Her voice changed suddenly, from warm to hollow. “Caitlyn. I don’t know where you are or who you’re with, or what you think you might be doing, but I promise you, it’s not going to work. And it’s only going to piss your dad off. Which will only make things worse.”
“Mom!”
“Listen to me. If you really did find someone to help you, then go. Run as far away as you can from this place and pray to God he doesn’t find you. But I’m not going anywhere. If both of us leave, he’ll definitely come after us. He can’t lose both of us. I’ll be fine here on my own.”
“No, Mom. No. He’ll kill you. I’m not leaving you alone with him. Come with me.”
“Honey. This conversation is over,” She growled. That was it. When my mom said it like that, I knew there was no convincing her.
But it didn’t mean I had to give up trying to protect her. I’d never do that.
“All right,” I finally said. “Please be careful.”
“I will. And you stay safe, wherever you are,” my mother said. “I love you, no matter what.”
I forced back the tears that were threatening to spill out of my eyes. “I love you, too, Mom.”
I ended the call, put my phone in my purse, and padded back to the bedroom. I crept up to the bed and took in the breathtaking sight of Drake’s naked body, tangled in the sheets, face down on the bed. His tanned skin was a stark contrast to the white sheets, his broad back and bulging biceps on full display, wrapped around a pillow.
And just the sight of him was enough to make my knees go weak.
I slipped out of his shirt, put a knee on the mattress, and leaned over, smelling the shampoo and soap and sex on him. I laid a hand on his big shoulder, savoring the warmth of him, then slid my fingers down his back, under the sheets, over the dimpled curve of his ass. My nipples puckered as I slid my body closer to him, stretching out against him. He was so warm and inviting, I could’ve stayed like this forever.
The sheets rustled, and the mattress creaked as he shifted fully onto his back, and I held a breath as his beautifully muscled body came into view. As a doctor, he studied the human body and appreciated its form, but damned if he didn’t have the most exquisite human form I’d ever seen.
I could see every muscle in such detail, like he should’ve been a part of one of his anatomy textbooks. I took in his powerful legs, the V between his hips, and that massive cock. Washboard abs, hard chest, and handsome-as-hell face. He was such a man, it was almost enough to make me weep, knowing that such perfection had been inside me.
I reached out and touched his stubble on his chin, sweeping a finger up to his jaw. I kissed the shell of his ear and he lazily turned his face to the touch. Those thick eyelashes fluttered, and his amber eyes fell on me, sleep-hazed and smoky. “Hey, baby,” he said, his voice full of grit. “You okay?”
I nodded. He reached up and took a tendril of my hair, wrapping it around his finger.
“Come be with me,” he murmured, still lost in the throes of sleep. He snaked a hand around my waist, and I pressed myself up against him, absorbing the warmth of his gorgeous body.
Next to something so powerful and virile, it was almost easy to believe that nothing bad could happen. That I could finally find the protection I desperately sought. That maybe for once, in a very long time, I wouldn’t have to worry about anything.
I’d have to convince my mom, though. I couldn’t leave her alone with that psycho.
Chapter Seventeen
Drake
There was nothing sexier than watching Slade’s pretty little daughter lying spent in my bed.
Her shiny red hair was falling over my chest, smelling like shampoo. Her soft cheek pressed up against my bicep, her warm breath on my skin. Smooth legs tangled with mine. I lie there on my back, watching her, wondering if I’d ever get enough of this.
We’d already been in bed, fucking and cuddling, for twenty hours. That had to be some sort of record. But I fucking loved watching her come, watching that little uninhibited spitfire of a girl completely surrender herself to me.
And right then? All I wanted to do was see the look on her face when she came again.
But we had things to plan. I had to get in touch with Cullen and tell him that I had to abort my plan to drop her off at her house. He needed to know first, because every minute Cait spent in Cobras territory was a minute too long. If Slade or the Fury had any idea where she was, she’d be in deeper shit than she was now.
Careful not to disturb her, I grabbed my phone with my free hand and thumbed in a text to him one-handed. Problem with the original plan. Can’t talk on the phone. I need you over at my place, stat.
A moment later, he came back with, Fuck man. Your early morning texts are starting to piss me off. WTF?
I sucked in a breath, my eyes roaming to the ceiling. Then I typed in Just come over please. He was going to go apeshit when he saw Cait here.
He replied back, Be there in 30.
I’d deal with it. Cullen would understand. He’d know I couldn’t very well leave her there while Slade was beating the shit out of her mom. Fuck, I felt like shit just knowing her mom went through that and we’d left.
Setting my phone down, I looked at Cait as she slept. I ran my hand up her back, deciding which part of her I wanted to devour first, inhaling the smell of her skin. Then I dipped my head and kissed her forehead gently.
Her eyelids fluttered against my chest and she opened her sweet blue eyes. I swept her hair to the side and traced my thumb against her lower lip. “Hey.”
“Hi.” Her eyes searched me out and she sat up suddenly, afraid. “I shouldn’t be here, should I?”
I knew what that look meant, and I was flattered she’d think of me. But she didn’t have to. One thing I had that those other men didn’t have? My brothers. I wasn’t concerned in the least.
I stroked her ass cheek. “Yeah, you should. What are you worried about, baby? I can take care of myself.”
She gave me a pout. “You don’t know what my daddy can do.”
“Yeah, I do. I heard what you said. But maybe you don’t know what I can do?” I gave her a wink and dragged her lower body up to me, tangling her legs with mine. “Want me to show you?”
She smiled weakly. “I know very well what you can do where that’s concerned. But I don’t want you to get hurt because of me, Drake. I . . .”
I reached for her, cupping her face. “I know. I get it. You don’t have to worry that you being here’s going to put me in any
danger. Danger is my middle name. I can handle it. All right?”
She let out a long breath and nodded, then settled against me. “I’m just not used to this. You know. Encore engagements.”
I chuckled softly. “I think after last night, we’ve gone past the encore. We’re frequent flyers at this point.”
She gave me a look. “That’s probably because I don’t know what else to do. I’m not good at dating or whatever the hell men and women are supposed to do together.”
I cocked an eyebrow at her. She was totally serious. Well, fuck. She’d never had a serious guy? I couldn’t say I’d done much better, but I’d at least gone out to eat with a girl or taken her for a ride on my bike or just shot the shit with her. Cait had been so afraid of her father catching her that she hadn’t done any of that.
“Gotcha. You want to eat, or watch television, or do something else? We could definitely do that instead,” I suggested.
“Well. I am kind of hungry,” she admitted.
I kicked off the sheets. “All right. Cool. Your wish is my command. I’ll make you breakfast.”
I pulled on my boxers and handed her one of my shirts. We went out to the kitchen together and I started the coffee maker. She sat on the counter while I started to crack eggs into a bowl. She stared at me in astonishment, like I was performing some amazing magic trick for her.
“Wow. You’re such a grown-up,” she said to me, her elbows on the countertop, her chin resting in her hands as she watched.
I raised my eyebrow at her as I turned up the burner on the stove, then opened up the fridge to get some milk. “What do you expect me to be?”
She blushed. “No, I’m just impressed. Full fridge, clean house, making your own breakfast. It’s like you’ve got your shit together.”
I had to laugh at that. “It’s an illusion. Trust me.”
“No. If it is an illusion, it’s a pretty good one. I mean, I live at home. I’ve always lived at home. My mother still does my laundry. I guess I’m very sheltered. I wanted to get my own place, but . . .”
She trailed off, and I knew what she was getting at. Her father wouldn’t let her. He kept her in his own little prison, didn’t he? What an asshole. “How old are you?”
“Twenty-four,” she said sheepishly, looking just about half that. “You?”
“Twenty-nine next month.”
“Hmm. Anyway, it’s probably for the best. I think if I was off on my own, I’d probably end up lighting the house on fire or something equally dangerous.”
“Fuck that. You’re an adult. Your father’s been keeping you down, trying to keep you helpless and reliant on him,” I said to her, waving a spatula at her to make the point. “The sooner you break free of that, the better.”
“Yeah, I totally understand that, but how am I supposed to break free?” she asked.
“I texted Cullen. He’s on his way.”
Her eyes widened and she crossed her arms over her chest. “He is? Isn’t he going to be pissed when he sees me here?”
Just then, the doorbell buzzed.
Her jaw dropped, and she jumped off the counter like someone had lit a fire under her ass. “Great!” She looked down at herself. “You could’ve given me a warning!”
I stopped whisking the eggs and set the bowl on the counter. “Don’t worry. He’s not the president of the United States. You’re appropriately dressed.”
She swiped her hair behind her ears and gave me a doubtful look as I yelled, “Door’s open!”
Cullen pushed through the door, holding his helmet under his arm. He took one look at Cait. His expression didn’t change, but he breathed, “Fuck.”
She waved at him and rolled her eyes. “Love you, too, Cullen.”
Ignoring her, he strode over to me and tossed his helmet on the counter. “So? What’s this all about? Why is she still here?”
She gnawed on her lips. “You know, I think I’ll go and get changed,” she said, heading back toward the bedroom.
Cullen watched her leave, his eyes on her ass. Then he looked at me with fire in his eyes. “Couldn’t let her go, could you? Have fun last night?”
“Look. I tried to drop her off. But Slade was there.”
“You actually saw Slade?” he asked, surprised.
I nodded. “Well, we weren’t formally introduced. I went to drop her off and he was in the house, wailing on her mom. He was fucking incensed. The bastard has a hell of a temper. Cait’s got bruises all over her body. I couldn’t just leave her there. In the mood he was in, he’d have fucking killed her.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Shit. I heard that about him. Moody son of a bitch.” He reached into the pocket of his kutte for his cigarettes but then probably remembered whose house he was in and put them back in his pocket. “Did he see you?”
I shook my head. “Naw. Don’t think so.”
“Good.” He pushed away from the counter and paced the kitchen for a few seconds, then stopped. “You said he was beating on her mother?”
I nodded. “Yeah. Bitch is one tough cookie. I wanted to get her out of there, but I couldn’t chance it. I didn’t want it escalating to a shoot-out or something. So we called the police. And Cait called her after the fact. She’s okay for now. But who knows for how long.”
“Well. Shit. You made the right decision, then. She can’t go back to that crazy motherfucker.”
Cait appeared in the doorway then, wearing her camisole and jean skirt, her hair back in a ponytail. “We have to get my mom out of there.”
Cullen was silent for a minute. “Yeah. You’re right. We have to.” He motioned to her and pointed to the living room. “Come in here. Sit.”
She paused for a moment, as if she thought it was a trap, then went and sat on the sofa. His eyes scanned the bruises. “How much trouble would you say she’s in?”
Cait shrugged. “She’d say none. She’s so used to it that a few smacks now and then are normal for her. But with me here? I think it’ll get worse. And if he finds out where I am . . .” she swallowed. “I wouldn’t put it past him to kill her to teach me a lesson.”
Cullen rubbed at his beard. “Okay. Here’s the deal. If the Fury find out Cait is here, we let them think we’ve got her against her will. That way, they’ll come after us. Not her.”
I nodded at Cait. “That means you don’t leave here.”
“Right,” Cullen said. “I’ll get everyone together for church tonight and make the plan. If we hit him where it hurts, we might be able to bring him down for good.”
Cait frowned. “He’s still my dad. I know he’s out of control, but I don’t think he’s going to listen to reason. What are you gonna do to him?”
“Just make him believe something different,” Cullen said with a snarky grin.
I looked at Cait, who was nodding, but I saw doubt in her eyes. She had no other choice but to trust us. She couldn’t go home to that bastard. She seemed to think he wouldn’t hurt her like he’d hurt her mother, but I knew better. She was fucking her father’s sworn enemy. That had to be the worst offense against a club—a father—that a person could possibly commit.
If Slade knew what she was doing, he’d kill her.
Chapter Eighteen
Caitlyn
Listening to these two big, virile men as they discussed my situation and how to help me, made it easy to believe that I’d be perfectly safe. They weren’t just massive and muscle-bound, tough and rugged, they were packing heat. I’d seen the bulge in the back of Cullen’s jeans that had to have been a gun, but besides that, they were Cobras. My daddy easily disposed of things he hated, and I knew he hated the Cobras. Just the fact that they were still around showed that they were a force to reckon with. Maybe the only force in this town that could stand up to Slade.
My father wasn’t big, but he was nasty. And now, I knew there was no hope of getting my old daddy back. That man was gone. Forever.
If I’d gone back home after all this, my father would surely beat the crap out o
f me. This was the worst act of betrayal I’d ever committed. Maybe he’d kill me. Maybe this would be the straw that broke the camel’s back.
“What’s your mother’s name?” Cullen asked me, taking a gulp of his coffee.
“Roxanne.”
“And she lives with you and Slade? She at your house at night, usually?”
I nodded. “She rarely goes out now because he won’t let her. She only goes to the supermarket to get food some mornings. But that’s about it. She’s home every night.”
He set the mug down on the coffee table. “All right. I’ll get the guys together and we’ll get her out of the house.”
I blinked. He made it sound so easy. “Uhm. Just a warning. She might not want to go. She’s pretty head strong.”
He nodded. “We’ll take care of it. Don’t you worry.”
Oh, I was worried all right. But it didn’t matter. My mother would be going with them anyway. When I got her with me, I could convince her this was for the best and eventually she’d see.
And when my father found out? World War Three.
I just hoped the Cobras would be ready for it. “You know my daddy’s going to unleash hellfire on you, right?”
Drake crossed his thick arms in front of his chest. “Yep. He’s already done that. Bombed our clubhouse and a lot of other shit. I think right now’s about time for a little payback.”
I shook my head. “Believe me, you taking my mother out of his house is not little.”
“Good. That’s what I like to hear. The bigger, the better.” He nodded at Drake. “I’ll text you later. See you, man.”
I couldn’t believe it. There wasn’t even a tremor. Not a single word of doubt. They were just going to storm my father’s house and save my mother, as if it were business as usual. As nervous as I was about it, as worried I was that people would get hurt, relief overcame me at that moment, and tears came to my eyes.
I jumped up as Cullen walked to the door. “Cullen,” I said.
He turned around, and I wrapped my arms around him and gave him a hug. “Thank you. This means so much to me. I don’t know how I can repay you.” I let go of him and looked at Drake. “Both of you.”