Roam (Guarding Her Book 5)

by Anna Brooks

  He stares at me, still not giving me an answer, so I go in for the kill. “She told me what she did at that foster home… and why she did it.” I lower my voice when the panic sets over his features. Men like him don’t have weaknesses, but I know his.

  He tosses the liquor down his throat and stands, then walks over to the window that overlooks the city. “You see my view?”

  “Yeah. Tell me something I don’t know.”

  “I could look down there any time during the day and see her sitting right there. Know she’s safe. Know nobody can ever fuckin’ touch her again.” Now he’s talking. And I’m sure as fuck listening.

  “I owe her. Everything I have is because of her. Built it from the ground up, but it all started with her heart. Her guts. If it wasn’t for her, I never would have escaped. I’m sure she gave you a glossed over version of that night, but it wasn’t just that night. I owe her everything.”

  “I appreciate the sentiment and no disrespect, but I don’t give a shit. I want to know what you mean by again.”

  He studies his shoes. Or maybe it’s the pattern in the hardwood floor. Whatever it is he’s debating is starting to weigh down his shoulders. “Put a bullet in the head of a guy beating the shit out of her on my turf.”

  My gut drops along with my head. “Fuck.”

  “When I got outta that place, I never thought I’d see her again. I asked her to come with me back then, but she didn’t. Once I had my shit together and had the resources, I used them to try to locate her, but she wasn’t turning up anywhere. After she aged out, she couldn’t make it on her own and ended up living out of her car. I don’t know why she was over here, but I heard her scream. Man… I’d recognize her voice anywhere, heard it, and the ice running through me turned to fire. Ran around the corner and saw him with his hands around her throat. Didn’t hesitate and I don’t regret it. Only thing I’d change is I’d rip his dick off and shove it down his throat before I put a cap in his ass.”

  Can’t say that I blame him because I’d have done the same thing.

  “She saved me; I saved her. And as much as I want her, and it shits me to no end to say this, I know I can’t have her. She’s too good for this.” He motions around his large office with monitors everywhere. “But she wouldn’t listen because she’s stubborn as hell and felt like she owed me even though I’ve told her a million times we were square.”

  I lift my head and find him turned to me. “Not surprised.”

  “She knows how much she means to me, and I mean a lot to her, too. So I gave her some stupid ass bullshit assignment ’cause I could see her deteriorating every day. When I found her, she had nothing. No cash, no extra clothes. Nothing. It took some convincing for her to let me help her, but she eventually moved here to this building.

  “After that, I thought she’d get a job and be fine, but she was on my ass, and frankly, I didn’t have time for her shit. I don’t gotta tell you, with the business I run, the homeless front is a common cover for my dealers. She knows that, and she had the experience to do it convincingly, so she gets to think she’s doing me a solid, and I get to keep her close and safe. The problem is, and this is on me, it gave her too much time to think.”

  Things are starting to make sense. Everything is clicking, and I relax. “You were the one creepin’ around my house.”

  “Yeah.” I knew it. “I traced her cell just ’cause I wanted to see with my own eyes that she was good. That didn’t happen, and she didn’t show up in a week like she said, so now we’re to today. And fuck…” He shakes his head. “I know I’ve lost her to you.”

  Things are clicking now. “Let’s back up. She saw you murder a man in cold blood. You didn’t think that’d fuck with her head?”

  “No. I thought she’d be grateful. Forgot how soft her heart is and how fragile she really is. Now she carries the guilt for a man’s death. There ain’t no other bitch, hell, no other person, I give a shit about more than her. I did what I had to, and if you don’t like it, ain’t fuck all I can do about it.”

  I shake my head. “You didn’t do shit for her. You did it for you.”

  “Damn straight I did.”

  “She grew up in the system, but she’s not heartless, Danny. That shit’ll fuck with her head even when she doesn’t realize it. Christ, man. She aged out of a system that let her down, lived out of a car that she stole money to get, witnessed a murder of a man who was planning on doing God knows what with her, and you let her sit on a street corner with nothing but her thoughts, thinking she was being helpful? What the fuck?”

  “What else was I supposed to do?”

  I throw my hands in the air as if to say duh. “Not kill a man in front of her. Get her some help. Find her a job.”

  “He needed to go down.”

  “No doubt.”

  “And she wouldn’t take another job because she wanted to work for me as payback for setting her up in the apartment.”

  We stand off, me pissed that he was so fucking stupid but at the same time grateful to a murderer and thug for keeping her safe until I came around.

  “What’s in it for you?”

  My eyebrows shoot up at the accusation. “Excuse me?”

  “What’s in it for you? With her? She’s a little young for you, no?”

  “Age is the least of my issues.” She’s too sweet, she’s too kind, and she’s too good for me. But I still want her, and she knows me. She knows who I am better than anyone, and if she’s willing to settle, I’d be an idiot to say no to that. I’m just having a hard time saying yes to myself.

  “Getting all that sweet in your bed is a bonus, though, am I right?” He tilts his head, and I step up to him.

  “Don’t go there.”

  “She let you in yet?”

  I squeeze my hands in to fists so I don’t strangle him. “Don’t fucking go there.”

  He nods. “I see. You won’t take yourself there.”

  Not many people can read me, and it shocks the shit outta me that this asshole can. “Like I said, she’s too good for me.”

  “You sayin’ she’s trash, spreading her legs for me?”

  I grab his shirt and pull him up and off the desk, inches from my face. “Last warning. You say one more word about her like that, and I’ll break your fuckin’ jaw. Got me?”

  And then, like the goddamn psycho he is, he smiles. “Good, brother. That’s what she needs.”

  Jesus, he was testing me, like an older brother would. I drop my hand and move away, walking to his window to look down at where he’d watch her. When I put all the pieces together about what he is to her, who she is to him, I realize something he’s probably aware of. “She’ll never let you go. But I’m here to give you this one warning. Do not, ever, come to my fuckin’ house again. If she wants to see you, she’ll come to you, but all you are is a reminder of the toxic shit in her life.”

  “I got a street to run, and I can’t have vulnerabilities, and that’s what she is. I’ll always have her in my life, nobody’s gonna stop that, but as much as I want to, I can’t give her what she needs.”

  “Lucky for you, I do. I know exactly what she needs, and I’m gonna give it to her.”

  Chapter 14

  Brinley

  He came back.

  Luna’s head lifts from my lap and her ears perk up, then she yaps right before she jumps off the couch and rushes to the door. I’m surprised he’s back so quickly, and I click the TV off with the remote, and then walk to the kitchen to meet him when he comes in.

  I punch the code in and open the door, surprised to find a woman on the other side. “Uh.”

  “Hi.” She smiles and bends down when Luna rushes up to her. “Hey, chickadee. How are you?” She pets her and laughs when Luna jumps up and plants a wet one on her.

  “Who are you?”

  When she straightens, she tilts her head and smiles. “I was going to ask you the same thing.”

  “Well, since I’m the one in the house, I’m pretty sure
you’re the one who should be answering the question.”

  She crosses her arms and leans against the jamb. I do the same and cock a hip out, waiting. I don’t know who this bitch is, but clearly, she wasn’t expecting me. I might not have experience in the relationship department, but when you’ve lived the life I have, you learn really quickly not to take shit. And after what I’ve dealt with today, there is no way some random lady is going to fuck with my reunion when Noble gets back.

  After a minute, she throws her head back, pixie haircut bouncing, and laughs. Her hand rests on her throat, and she uses the other to wipe beneath her eyes. “Oh God. I’m sorry. Q was right.”

  “Sorry?”

  “Quinten. Q. He told me you were a spitfire. I’m Bebe.”

  I have no clue who she’s talking about, and it must reflect on my expression.

  “I’m a friend of Noble’s. Just a friend. You can put your claws away.”

  “I didn’t ha—”

  “Yes, you did.” She pushes past me and walks right into his house. “But I’m glad. He needs someone who will fight for him. Where is he anyway?”

  I close the door and follow her to the living room where she’s already taken a seat on the couch. Her skinny jeans are almost white, and she’s in a pair of chunky black sandals with a matching T-shirt. Her hair is a weird color gray, not natural but it also doesn’t look overly dyed. Not everyone could pull off that color, but somehow, she does. I can tell she’s older, but she’s one of those women who looks younger than she is. “He’s out running errands. He’ll be back.”

  “He’s out running errands at ten at night?”

  “Who are you again?”

  “I own a bar that Noble headed security at until very recently. He was there for a couple of years, and in that time, we became friends. Since I haven’t seen him in a while, I was just stopping by to say hi.”

  I sit opposite her, and Luna jumps up on my lap, so absentmindedly I pet her. “Well, you could call him. I’m sure he’ll be back soon.”

  “I’ll wait.”

  “Um… okay.”

  “So what’s your story? Q just said you were an old friend of Noble’s family and recently reconnected.”

  That’s one way to put it. “I was his daughter’s best friend.”

  She puckers her lips. “Oh.”

  “I haven’t seen him since he left, and I’m kind of in a… um, a spot right now, so he’s being his usual self and helping me.”

  “Are you living here?”

  Wow, she’s very brazen. “Uh… yeah, I guess.”

  “He’s not being nice. He wouldn’t let just anyone stay at his house. In fact, I don’t think a lot of people even know where he lives. He likes his privacy.”

  “I know. But he told me he wanted me to stay.”

  “Oh, I’m sure he did.” She waggles her eyebrows. “Are you guys dating?”

  Okay, she’s really presumptuous. “I’m not sure that’s your business.”

  “Let me guess. He’s doing everything he can think of to push you away while he still tries to keep you close.”

  I giggle because she’s totally right. “You know him well, though I’m a little uncomfortable with how well.”

  She waves her hand in the air as if what I just said was stupid. “It’s a gift I have, reading people and looking through their bullshit. So tell me these excuses so we can figure out how to crush them.”

  “What?”

  “His excuses. What’s he saying? You’re too young?”

  My laughter ceases. “Yes.”

  “He’s a dumbass. What else?”

  “He thinks I’m not ready.”

  “Are you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Yeah, total dumbass.”

  I really like her and find myself tucking my legs beneath me and leaning toward her. “You don’t think I’m too young?”

  “How old are you?”

  “Almost twenty.”

  “Psh.” She waves her hand in the air. “My Ed is eleven years older than me. Age really is just a number.”

  I grin at the way her face lights up when she talks about him. “How long have you two been together?”

  “Sorry, hon. I should have said was. My Eddie passed away about ten years ago. But we were together a lifetime.” She offers a melancholy smile. “Is that it? Age and he thinks you’re not ready?”

  “Well, no…” I don’t know what it is about her, but I spit out everything. She’s absolutely right—she has a gift—because I don’t hold anything back. I tell her it all. Absolutely everything. I tell her about my life in foster care, how I was homeless, how I found Danny, what I did for Danny, how I freaked out on Paisley, and how Noble found me. “So, yeah. I also think he probably changed his opinion of me after he found all this stuff out. Which is another reason he was waiting, because he could tell I was holding something back. And incidentally, it happened earlier today. As soon as I confessed everything, he left.” I shrug my shoulders when she doesn’t respond and openly stares at me. “See… it’s not good. It’s bad. It’s really bad, huh?”

  “Honey, you’re perfect for him. Don’t give up on him. He just needs to realize it.”

  I scrunch my nose in confusion. “How am I perfect for him? I’m a criminal. I lied.”

  “You’re strong. You’re a survivor. But, and please take no offense to this, you need someone to take care of you, and Noble needs to take care of someone. He needs to have a purpose, and you give him that.”

  I don’t have time to refute her claim that I need someone to take care of me because Luna runs to the door when she hears his truck. I barely had time to think about what all has happened today because about five minutes after he left, Bebe showed up. And now I don’t have time to think about what she said because he’s here.

  But talking to her, her just listening and then reassuring me, is all I needed. I had nobody else to talk to about it, so it was perfect that she showed up because I feel better now. A moment passed when I wanted to talk to Q, but I know that would be a bad idea for several reasons.

  Noble comes in the door and pets Luna’s ears when she jumps on his leg, but shakes his head as he spots Bebe. “Saw your car. What’re you doin’ here?”

  He comes right to me and kisses the top of my head. Bebe’s face softens. “Aww. You two are so cute together.”

  I wait for him to protest that we’re not together, but he just grunts and lifts me, then sits down and plops me back on his lap. Oh God, I could cry at how relieved I am that he came back. But even more that he doesn’t seem to be mad at me. I cuddle into him, and he runs his fingers through my hair as he talks to Bebe. “You’ve met Brinley, I see.”

  “Yes. Q may have let it slip that you have a woman in your life, and I couldn’t wait for you to bring her around, so I had to see for myself.”

  Involuntarily, I stiffen when he does.

  “She won’t ever be at Reverie, Bebe.”

  “Oh.” She sounds disappointed, and I’m about to ask why he won’t take me to her bar, but she continues before I have a chance. “That’s okay. I’m here now. But you’re home, and I’m sure you have a lot to discuss.” She practically jumps up and rushes to the door, but stops to look at Noble. “Don’t be a dumbass.”

  Noble

  Brinley’s head falls forward, and she laughs like I’ve never heard her before. Bebe smiles and gives me a nod of approval. I’m gonna kill Q for saying shit to Bebe, but she has a way of making people talk. And since Q’s the one who runs all of the background checks on the clients at Reverie, the two of them talk often.

  I wait for the door to close behind Bebe, and as soon as I hear her car drive away, I tilt Brinley’s face up with a thumb beneath her chin. “You okay?”

  “I am.” She swallows. “Are you?”

  “Yes.” And I am. Now that I’ve got the truth and the history, I know how to navigate things, so I’m most definitely good. “I am tired, though. Wanna go to bed?”

&nb
sp; She gazes at me so soft, so hopeful, and I wave the white flag. I hold the back of her head and lift her toward me, and run my nose along hers. She releases a breathy gasp, and I press my lips to hers. Jesus… home. A literal spark ignites what was supposed to be a chaste kiss, and I trace my tongue along the seam of her full lips, and she whimpers when I slide it into her mouth.

  So sweet.

  I cup the side of her face, and she tilts her head. I have control, complete control as I devour her; lips, tongue, and teeth. But then she moans as she slides her fingers through my hair, and I temporarily lose hold of my sanity with the desire to have her beneath me. I lift her and she wraps her legs around me as I carry her down the hall.

  When we get to the bed, I lay her down, gazing at her flushed cheeks and swollen lips. She changed after I left, so she’s in a pair of pink pajama shorts and a tank top with no bra. I reach behind my head and grab my shirt between my shoulder blades, then pull it off. Her eyes widen as she looks at my bare chest, and I slide my jeans off before leaning over her. I cup her face and rub her cheek with my thumb. “You’re so damn pretty.”

  “I never felt like it until you.”

  “And I never felt alive until you.”

  As much as I want to sink into her and let her tightness squeeze all the trepidation out of me so I feel nothing but beauty, I pull back and then pull her into my arms before settling us beneath the covers. Not yet. Our breaths even out and she rolls over to her back and smiles up at me. “So… Bebe.”

  My chest shakes when I laugh. “Yeah. She’s awesome. Sorry she dropped in on you like that.”

  “It’s fine. I like her a lot. And somehow ended up spilling my guts to her.”

  “She has that effect on people. Even me.”

  “Why did you say I wouldn’t be going to Reverie? That’s her club, right?”

  Jesus, the thought of her there, naked with other men watching her, repulses me. I don’t want her to know the details of the club, not because I don’t trust her, but partially because legally I can’t. And also because she doesn’t need to think I want that shit, and if she knows about it, she’ll think that’s what I need. So I lie. “Because you’re not twenty-one, darlin’.”