Raze (Dirty Soul MC: Long Beach #1)

Chapter 5

Ilisten to her moaning in her sleep, tossing and turning around like she’s in some kinda pain and when she screams so loud that it pierces my ears, instinct takes over my sanity and I move toward her. I don’t know what to do, or how to comfort her, so I slip into the space beside her and slide my arm under her body. Then, dragging her closer I clutch her head to my chest.

“It’s okay, you're just having a dream,” I whisper into the top of her head, my hand automatically starting to stroke through her hair. She’s shaking, covered in sweat and I can feel the heat that comes from her skin burning against mine. She takes me off guard when she turns around, wrapping her arms around the trunk of my body, and clinging to me tight as her breathing starts to regulate.

“It's okay, whatever it was you're not there now.” I remind her, and when she lifts her head and looks up at me I cuss myself for finding such beauty in her fear.

“You okay?” I check, watching the way her bottom lip trembles, and still wondering what it would be like to kiss it. She nods her head but I don’t buy it.

“You want me to stay here with ya?” I ask, narrowing my eyes and wondering why I want her answer to be yes so badly. She nods her head again and so I stay put, holding her close and letting her cling to me till she falls back to sleep.

“Morning.” I take the pan off the gas stove and serve up the eggs I’ve cooked for her when she starts to stir. She seems a little startled by her surroundings when she first opens her eyes and when she sits up and stretches, my dick automatically reacts when her tee rises up and shows off her tight stomach.

“Ya hungry?” I place her plate down on the table and when she nods her head and smiles I watch as she climbs outta bed and takes a seat at the table.

“Do you serve all the women who stay here breakfast before you send them on their way?” She sniggers.

“Dunno, ain’t never had one stay here before.” My answer must take her by surprise because it wipes the clever smirk right off her face.

“So, ya gonna tell me what all that screamin’ in ya sleep was about last night.” I wait until she’s finished up her eggs before I ask her. Realizing that I just sat and watched her eat every single mouthful.

“No.” She looks me straight in the eye defiantly.

“That’s a shame, I was considering letting you stay here a little longer.” I shrug taking her plate from under her so I can dump it in the sink.

“Really?” She suddenly drops her act.

“If you tell me what you're runnin’ from.” I turn back round to face her, waiting for her to make a decision.

“I can’t. I–”

“You were scared last night and I’m guessin’ whatever landed you up here is still out there. Now, I’m not promisin’ I can help you, but I can give you a place to lay low for a while. If I’m gonna do that, I’m gonna need some honesty.” I lay it out for her and when she closes her eyes and takes a breath I take the seat opposite her again and prepare to listen.

“There was a guy who was in a relationship with my mom before she died,” she starts, and I can already tell from the look on her face that I ain’t gonna like where this is goin’.

“He…” She shifts in her seat. “He promised he’d take care of us after she was gone, and we believed him. We put all our trust into him and…” She pauses as if she’s not brave enough to get through the rest of her story.

“He’d come into my room some nights wearing a mask over his face. He’d have Mom’s scarfs in his hands, the pretty ones she wore for special occasions, and he’d use them to tie me down. The first time he did it I thought it was some kinda home invasion or a bad dream, but…” She shakes her head sadly.

“He hurt you?” I check, trying to stay calm and fighting the urge to get off my ass, find this fucker and slit his fuckin’ throat.

“Me, and my brother too. It took Kane a while to admit it, but Billy would visit both of us.” She turns her head away from me and I quickly grab her chin and force her to look back.

“And this Billy guy, where is he now?” If she knows his location I can make her problem disappear and take pleasure in it.

“He was in jail, but I got a letter a few days ago to say he’d been released.”

“And that's who you're runnin’ from?” I check, getting the impression that there’s still something missing from her story.

“Yeah.” Her eyes fall off mine again like she’s ashamed.

“And Billy’s second name?” I need more information.

“Skillet.” She closes her eyes and I drop my hand from her face.

“You can stay here for now. But the same rules apply as before. I got a lotta shit to be dealin’ with and I can’t be worrying about you gettin’ into trouble.”

“You keep saying that, what makes you think I’d be trouble?” She smiles, and after seeing her look so sad I can’t help appreciating how pretty it looks.

“Darlin’ trust me when I say that around here trouble finds you.” I stand back up and lift my cut from the hook by the door.

“Hey, Raze,” she calls after me, and when I turn around she’s lookin’ a lot like she belongs in my space.

“Thanks.” She smiles for me again and I get myself gone before I come up with any other stupid ideas.