Bound to the Daddy (Knotted for Life)

Chapter 7

CHAPTER 7

STEPHANIE

“FUCK” I scream out into the small confines of my cramped car. “Fuck, fuck, FUCK!”

Next to me, horns honk as they try to navigate around me, as if I’ve somehow chosen this exact spot to break down and fuck up their day. If I had my way, the check engine light wouldn’t have even been fucking on, let alone my car die on me like that. Rolling down my window, I motion for them to move around me.

Not that it helps. They still give me dirty looks, honk their horn, shoot me the bird, or a combination of all three… my favorite.

Rex

You’re five minutes late.

“No shit, Sherlock,” I grumble under my breath as I toss the phone to the side. Even if my car hadn’t broken down, I knew I wouldn’t make it in time.

We both knew. And yet…

Gritting my teeth, I turn the key again, praying to anyone or anything that will listen to let it start. No such luck. Frustrated tears pour down my face as I scream again, slamming my palms against the steering wheel. The sounds of my aggravation almost smother the raucous noise threatening to drown me.

Almost.

Unfortunately, I still hear them. Still see them. My heart pounds in my chest as my vision starts to swim. Each additional noise pings against my skin as if it’s a physical sensation instead of just auditory. The last time I felt this way, I had a full-blown meltdown.

I ended up in the hospital for at least a week. No way I can afford that now. I don’t even have insurance after being fired. Fuck. I don’t have insurance. Oh, my god.

What if something happens to me? What if I get in an accident because I can’t move my car? What if I get sued because someone else damages their car running into me?

What if-

What if-

What if-

The thoughts circle and spiral until I can’t breathe. Holding my hand to my chest, I rock back and forth, tears stinging my eyes as I do my best to get ahold of myself. But nothing helps. Even as I wrap my arms around my waist and hum, it doesn’t calm me down.

Somehow, Mother was able to soothe my mind with just a tight hug and a lovely hum. Why can’t I do the same? Why can’t I just regulate myself like everyone else? The phone dings again, adding another sound to the constant cacophony.

Rex

You’re ten minutes late.

“I fucking know!” I cry out, my body trembling as all the overwhelming sensations try to crash in.

Is he going to message me in increments of five? Does he think I don’t know the fucking time? I do know. I see the minutes pour by with no end in sight.

If only I brought my medication. But then, shouldn’t I still be feeling the effects from the one popped earlier? Why isn’t it working? Why is nothing working?

Again, my thoughts drift back to the bathroom. I should have thrown the kit into the incinerator the moment I saw it. I shouldn’t be craving the burn, needing the sting. I should be able to fucking manage this on my own.

Resting my head on the steering wheel, I sob as everything in me shatters open. Finally, I hear nothing except the sounds coming out of my lips to punctuate the din. Everything purges—me being fired, me being evicted, my car, my parents, everything.

Time has no meaning as I continue to cry, releasing everything I can into the visceral reactions that wrack my body, forcing me to nearly convulse in the seat. A loud rap at my window startles me, breaking through the mental mire I find myself entrenched in. There, just outside, an officer peers down at me, his brows knitted in what I hope is concern.

My fingers tremble as I roll down my window. “Yes, officer?”

“What seems to be the trouble?” He ducks down a bit and squints at my face. “Are you okay?”

Helpless, I shrug and let my hands flop to the side. What even is okay anymore? Am I not dying? Is that okay? Reaching into the car, he unlocks my door and opens it.

“Step outside, please.”

My brain buzzes as I force my body to move into action. Everything feels numb as I crawl out and see the onlookers gawking at the spectacle.

“Have you been drinking?”

I shake my head.

“Taking recreational drugs?”

Again, I shake my head.

“Medication?”

I look up at him, nodding this time. “I can’t remember the name. It’s for anxiety.”

He crosses his arms and looks me up and down. “Doesn’t seem to be helping, is it? Walk this line for me, heel to toe.”

My movements are shaky as I do what he asks, but with my body trembling so hard, I can’t seem to even walk a stupid line.

“I’m sorry,” I sob out. “I’m so sorry. I’m trying. I really am. I’m trying so hard. I promise I didn’t drink. I don’t even have the money to do that.”

The officer says nothing, crooking his finger at me to get me to come back over to him. With a heavy sigh, he pulls out an odd contraption and holds it in my face. “Wrap your lips around this part here and blow.”

“Do I really have to do this?” I squeak, my face heating up as others start to gather around.

“If you didn’t have any alcohol, there should be no reason you can’t pass this test with flying colors.”

“But I promise I didn’t drink. Please. Everyone is watching.” It’s bad enough I can’t even get a basic job right now, but to have potential employers see me like this? It’s almost too much to bear.

“You can either do it here,” he grinds out, infusing his tone with an Alpha growl. “Or we can do it down at the station. The choice, of course, is yours.”

Fuck. If they take me downtown, how will I explain that to Mr. Rothsbourne? Would he even help me after that? Stuffing what little pride I have left down to the depths of my soul, I lean forward and blow into the machine.

Tense moments go by until a loud, piercing beep pings out into the air. The officer’s brows rise as he shows the readout to another officer coming up next to him. Dread seeps into my limbs until I fear I might collapse.

Out of nowhere, a strong pair of arms wrap around my waist, hoisting me up. Until that moment, I didn’t even realize I was falling forward. Glancing up, my heart pounds in my chest as Mr. Rothsbourne glares at the two.

“Is there a problem here?”

“N- no,” the Alpha stammers. “Nothing at all, Mr. Rothsbourne. Sorry. I didn’t realize she was working for you.”

Hope blossoms in my chest as my breathing comes in quick pants. Does this mean he’ll vouch for me? The fact that this stranger knows who he is on sight must work in my favor. It has to!

“She doesn’t,” he murmurs, his lips thinning as he looks down at me. What little hope sprang up withers at his glare. “Not yet anyway. She was on her way for an interview. I assume your car broke down?”

“Yes, Sir,” I manage to mumble as I look down at the ground.

“Why are you giving my future employee an alcohol test when she clearly wasn’t in an accident? Shouldn’t you be calling a towing company? Seeing if she’s okay?”

“But Sir. When I found her, she was… I don’t know… having an episode.”

Mr. Rothsbourne’s hands feel a bit gentler, tender even, as he pulls away, taking his comforting warmth with him. How I long to cry out and beg him to keep touching me, to keep holding me. It’s the only thing keeping me sane, keeping me able to breathe. But soon, he strokes my cheek and tips my face up so that our gazes can meet.

“Are you okay?”

“Physically, yes.” My voice quavers as I note the concern etched on his features.

“I see.” Turning to the officers, his brows crash down again in a thunderous glare. “She’s obviously distraught. Didn’t you take a moment or two to think about how nerve-wracking it might be to have your car break down in the middle of heavy traffic?”

“Well yes, but-”

“But nothing. What about her screams imbibing to you?”

“I had her do the line test, and she failed horribly. Said she was on drugs.”

“Medication,” I scream out, exhausted by his veiled and not so veiled accusations. “I don’t take it for fun. It’s not like I get high off of it.”

“For fuck’s sake,” Mr. Rothsbourne growls. “Can’t you two smell? Can’t you tell she’s in distress? What are they teaching you rookies? The scent of her terror hit me from several feet away, and here you two are standing with your dicks in your hands, making it worse.”

Mr. Rothsbourne pulls out his phone and leaves me alone on the street as he takes pictures of both cars and their badges. “I will certainly be putting in a complaint. Now do something helpful and call a damn tow truck. Unless you’re charging her with something, she’s going with me.”

They have the intelligence to look abashed and keep quiet as he wraps his hand around my waist again, grounding me for the moment.

“Her breath test showed not even a hint of alcohol.”

My body sags at his words. I knew I didn’t have a drink, but with the way my day was going, I was worried that there would be a malfunction, and they’d find a reason to put me in jail. Again, Mr. Rothsbourne is there to hold me up, keeping me firmly planted by his side.

With another squeeze, he motions towards his town car. “Is there anything you need out of your vehicle?”

“Just my wallet and a few other things.”

“Very well. Gather them up and head to my car. I’ll finish up with the officers.”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Leave me the keys.”

My fingers just can’t keep from shaking as I duck into my car and grab what I need. The metal from the keys jingle as I pull them out of the ignition and bring them over to Mr. Rothsbourne.

“Steady, sweet girl,” he murmurs, wrapping his hand around mine, allowing my heart to settle a bit. “I’ve got you now. Don’t you worry about a thing.”

For a moment, the fear and anxiety give way to relief. But only for a moment. All it takes is the world to come crashing in again for my pulse to spike and my adrenaline rush through my veins.

“What’s going to happen to my car?” I wail. As much as it’s let me down recently, it’s still one of the few things I have left from my parents.

“That’s part of what I’m going to discuss with the officers. Either way, your car will be safe and sound until we talk about what to do with it. Don’t worry your pretty little head any more about it.” With a firm squeeze, he grabs the keys and pushes me toward his car.

Tears obscure my vision as I hobble over to the large, black blur. Just as I get close enough to reach out to grab the door handle, a beta steps out and yanks it open. His deep bow as he motions for me to go inside makes my stomach flip.

Right now, I’m no better than him. In fact, I’m far below his station. No job, no apartment, and no car. He shouldn’t be bowing to me. It’s not right. None of this is right.

As I sit alone in the car, I rock back and forth again, my body nearly convulsing as fear and anxiety swirl through my mind. The only thing keeping me together is knowing that Mr. Rothsbourne will be here any minute. I can’t have him see me like this.

He can’t know just how bad my anxiety can get. In truth, it’s been a few years since it was this bad, but it doesn’t matter. First impressions always make a difference. He’s never seen me like this. Since I depend on his good graces now, I can’t let him know I’m crazy.

When the door opens up, my heart stutters for a moment. Mr. Rothsbourne ducks down and slides in next to me and opens his arm.

“Come here, sweetie. Let it all out. I got you.”