Chapter Two
Cotton
“Bring us a round of beers, Vinny, and make it quick,” Tyler said.
“Vinny?” I asked.
“Lavinia, but she prefers Vinny.”
The way he bossed her around, and I hadn’t noticed her paying attention to anyone else, made me think she and Tyler were together. I’d have put money on Tyler being a bachelor. I didn’t remember him ever mentioning a woman. He’d always been more interested in shooting pool and drinking beer. I watched her as she went to the kitchen, grabbed six cold bottles, and brought them out to us. Was there only hard liquor at the bar?
She kept her gaze lowered. Her strawberry-blonde hair fell over her shoulder, the long strands nearly reaching her waist. She had a slight build, but the way the flannel shirt and jeans hugged her body, I could tell she had curves in all the right places. Damn!
“Thanks, Vinny,” one of the guys said, holding out his bottle.
She gave a brief glance and nod before going back into the building.
“You didn’t tell me you were shacking up with a woman,” I said.
“Didn’t think it was important,” Tyler said. “She cooks and cleans. She’s not much trouble.”
Tyler had a woman here with him. I hadn’t missed the way she’d fidgeted with the hem of her shirt. I wondered how much she actually liked being around all these men. I’d bet anything she kept to herself unless Tyler gave her a chore to do.
“What about you?” Tyler asked. “What’s new?”
“Not much.”
One of the guys cracked a joke and the others started laughing. I leaned back and watched them, a smile tugging at my lips. I didn’t know what the future held and didn’t care. I’d enjoy tonight and worry about the rest later.
I sipped my beer and listened to the guys, my eyes occasionally straying toward the building. Where was the woman? Lavinia? I’d never known Tyler to be with a woman for more than a night, but this one didn’t have a temporary feel about her. The way she scurried about, obeying his every demand, made me think they’d been together for a while. She didn’t seem like his usual type, either. I’d bet she’d fallen for the wrong man. Tyler might be my friend, but I’d never deny the man had a mean streak. I’d just never seen or heard about him being violent with a woman. And the barracks were rife with rumors. That sort of shit would get around.
When the door opened and she came out again, my gaze zeroed in on her. She kept tugging on the sleeve of her flannel shirt, and I realized why. I’d bet anything she had a bruise on her wrist. I scanned her from head to toe, looking for any other signs of abuse.
Her shoulders were hunched, and she moved like she was trying to make herself as small as possible. She set off every alarm in my head. Had he done anything worse than hit her? Not that I had concrete proof the bruises were from him. Lots of guys here. Could have been one of them. I watched as she hurried over to the fire pit, a little faster than I thought necessary. She bent and put more wood on the fire before Tyler could say anything.
“Go grab us another round, Vinny,” Tyler said.
When he spoke, she flinched. Didn’t matter he hadn’t touched her. His voice had been enough to make her jerk. The fuck ? Had Tyler really changed so much since I’d last seen him?
She nodded, hurrying into the house again. When she came back, I swore I saw a hint of a bruise on her cheek. The more I observed her, the more it seemed likely he’d been hurting her. I rubbed my hand along my jaw and tried to figure out what to do. I didn’t have any proof he’d done anything. I could ask her, but if she was scared, she’d probably deny it.
“Vinny!” Tyler barked. “Stop dragging ass.”
She flinched again and hurried over to us. She avoided looking at any of us as she handed out the beers. When she finished, she backed away and wrapped her arms around herself.
“How long has she been with you?” I asked.
Tyler shrugged. “Few months. Maybe longer. I don’t really remember.”
He didn’t remember ? The woman was living with him, and he didn’t know how long she’d been here?
I got to my feet and went over to her. From the corner of my eye, I noticed Tyler watching us. He seemed relaxed. If another man approached my woman, I’d have been pissed. Just another thing that wasn’t adding up. She stiffened, and I wondered how many times Tyler and his friends had tried to touch her.
Up close, I could see how beautiful she was. If the situation were different, I’d have been interested in her. But I wouldn’t poach my friend’s girl. “You okay?” I asked.
“I’m fine.” Her tone was clipped, like she didn’t care for me asking.
“You sure? You seem a little skittish.”
“I’m fine,” she repeated, then went back into the house.
I’d learned long ago when a woman said she was fine, she was anything but. I also knew pushing the issue could make her angry, or that had been my experience in the past. The word “fine” meant a woman could easily be a ticking time bomb waiting to go off. And I sure the fuck didn’t want her blowing up at me.
And why did I get the feeling I’d already worn out my welcome? The woman hadn’t been rude while bringing us our drinks, but the moment I pried into her life, she’d shut down. It could have simply been because I was a stranger, but what if it was yet another sign she wanted to hide something? Like the fact she was being abused.
I glared at Tyler.
“Something wrong?” he asked.
“Not sure,” I said. “I’ll figure it out.”
He snorted. “You do that.”
I settled back in my seat and sipped on my beer slowly. Whatever the fuck was going on, I’d get to the bottom of it. If Tyler was hurting the woman, he’d have to go through me to get to her again.
My gaze kept straying to Tyler and Lavinia. The longer I watched, the more I was sure something was off. Tyler’s voice was too harsh when he called her over. The hours passed and not much changed, except the men were getting drunk. I’d been pacing myself and sipping my drinks slowly. Which meant I was possibly the only one still in control of myself.
“Vinny! You keep those beers coming,” Tyler snapped.
I saw the momentary tremor in her hands before she nodded and hurried inside. She came out with another six-pack.
“What’s taking you so long? You really are useless. Can’t even grab beer without dragging ass,” Tyler muttered. “You’re fucking lucky I let you stay here.”
I didn’t miss the way she winced when he spoke. When she finished, she started to walk away, but Tyler grabbed her arm and yanked her back. Tears shimmered in her eyes as she gave him a pleading look.
“Didn’t say you could leave, bitch,” Tyler said. “Why don’t you sit right here?” He patted his lap.
“I… I…” She swallowed hard. “I need to use the bathroom. Please.”
A muscle in his jaw twitched. He released her arm and I saw her take a step back. I wondered if she needed a bathroom break, or if she just wanted away from Tyler.
“Don’t be gone too long,” he said.
“Yes, sir.” She hurried into the house.
Sir ? She’d never called him that before. If anyone in our past had known about this side of Tyler, we’d have given him shit for it. While Tyler wasn’t going to be as rough on a woman as some of the guys I’d served with, he wasn’t exactly a gentleman either. Had he gotten off on her calling him that? Although the longer I observed the two of them, the more I wondered if I really knew Tyler.
I saw her arm shake when she came back outside. She had her arms crossed over her chest, and I knew it wasn’t from being cold. The temperature hadn’t dropped much. Whatever was going on, I knew it had to be bad if she called him sir. I’d bet anything he’d demanded it, and she’d only done it to stay out of trouble.
“Don’t bother talking to her too much. She’s a little slow. She doesn’t have much to say.” Tyler grinned. “Unless you want her to suck your cock. She’s pretty good at that.”
Her cheeks turned pink, but she didn’t say anything. Did he make her service his friends in other ways? I didn’t want to think the man had sunk that low, but I knew people changed. In this case, not for the better.
I watched as she wandered back toward the house, going up the steps and into the kitchen. I saw her through the window as she got a drink of water. The longer I watched her, the more tense I felt.
“Lavinia!” Tyler yelled.
Jesus. Every time she went inside, he called for her again. I hadn’t seen her sit down even once since I got here. What the hell was wrong with him?
She jumped and dropped her glass. I heard it shatter on the floor, and I saw her shoulders slump. She bent to pick up the pieces and dropped them into the trash. When she came outside, she kept her gaze on the ground.
“You were gone so long I figured you’d left,” he said.
She didn’t say anything, but I’d bet she wanted to. I saw the way she stiffened, rubbing at her wrist, and knew I needed to get a closer look. Shit! If she really was in trouble, this wouldn’t be easy. Friend or not, I couldn’t leave her here with Tyler. But I doubted he’d just let her walk out of here, either. Otherwise, she’d have probably been long gone.
I felt a growl build in my chest and forced it back down. Now wasn’t the time to lose my cool. I needed to keep my head on straight if I wanted to figure out what was going on. If Tyler was hurting her, I needed to know the truth. I didn’t have any proof yet, but the way she kept rubbing her wrist made me suspect she had a few bruises.
I stayed quiet and watched Tyler’s every move. Seemed he’d changed a lot since the last time we’d met. Menacing looks were tossed Lavinia’s way, and I watched his fingers tighten around an empty bottle. His knuckles turned white, and I tried to figure out what was going through his mind.
“Cold as fuck out here,” Tyler said. “Get more wood.”
I saw Lavinia’s shoulders tremble and wanted to demand she get a jacket. She didn’t say a word as she added more wood. Tyler’s chuckle and the way he kicked at the bottom log when she wasn’t looking made me want to put my fist in his face. What the hell had happened to him?
Lavinia didn’t notice anything was wrong until she tried to add another log. The whole pile shifted and the flames leaped up. She let out a scream and jumped back, dropping the log she’d been holding. My heart stuttered when Tyler jumped up, grabbed her arm, and shook her.
“Stupid bitch! You know better than to put it on like that. I told you more than once to watch what you’re doing,” Tyler said.
“Sorry,” she whispered.
“Sorry? Sorry! You’re not even good for a fuck.”
Her lips trembled and I saw tears fill her eyes. The way she winced when he squeezed her arm made me want to step in. I clenched my fists and told myself to wait just a little longer. I needed more proof. Didn’t matter if he was my friend. I wouldn’t let him hurt a woman. Not once I knew for certain he’d been the one to cause her pain.
He threw her down and I saw her scramble to her feet. She backed away from the fire, turned, and went back into the house. I saw her through the window as she pulled up her sleeve and rubbed at her arm. When she rolled it down, I knew she hadn’t wanted anyone to see what he’d done.
Or was she only hiding it from me and anyone else who might not already know what was going on? Regardless, it was all I needed to see. I didn’t know what had happened to Tyler, but he wasn’t the man I’d thought he was.
Tyler was back to drinking and laughing with the others. He didn’t seem to be paying much attention to me, or Lavinia. At least for right now.
Getting up, I crossed to the building and stepped inside. Lavinia went to the sink, and I saw her putting some water into a glass. She downed it and rinsed out the glass before putting it in the dishwasher. “You okay, Vinny?” I asked.
She startled and turned to look at me. “I’m fine. And call me Lavinia. I hate the way Tyler’s shortened my name.”
“He grab you too hard?”
She rubbed at her arm again and shook her head. “He’s always too rough.”
“Why do you let him?”
Lavinia stared at me for a moment. “Where would I go? I don’t have any family left. He wasn’t always so mean.”
“Yeah?” I asked. “When did he get mean?”
She blinked, and I saw her lower lip tremble. “About the time I found out I was pregnant. I wanted to tell him, but he left before I could. Then when he came back, I blurted it out and… things didn’t go well.”
“Pregnant?” I asked, frowning.
“I’m four months along.” She rubbed her stomach.
“I’ll get you out of here,” I said.
Tears filled her eyes, and she shook her head. “I can’t. They’ll hurt me.”
They ? It made me want to ask more questions, but for now, I just needed to get her somewhere safe.
“No one will hurt you. I’ll make sure of it.” I glanced toward the main room. None of the guys had come inside. If we were quiet, we might be able to slip away. They’d have to be drunk and high enough I could get her out without anyone noticing. If I needed to, I’d lie to my buddies about why I left. Wouldn’t be the first time I’d ditched a party. Probably wouldn’t be the last.
When I went back outside, I kept my distance. I tried to listen to her and Tyler, but the wind kept me from hearing them. I did see the way he kept glaring in her direction. The times she came outside, he was a complete dick.
I’d see her safe, even if it meant I got my ass kicked. If I took her with me, Tyler wouldn’t be too happy. I had a feeling the guys would gather their shit and head to the club. At least they’d try.
I waited a little longer before I went back into the house. Tyler had been extra harsh to Lavinia. I wanted to check her arm and make sure she wasn’t hurt too bad. I got the impression she wasn’t going to ask for help. I needed to convince her to come with me. Pushing out of my chair, I stretched.
“Where you off to?” Tyler asked.
“Need to take a piss. Why? You want to help?”
Tyler flipped me off and I went inside. The sound of my boots hitting the floor echoed in the empty kitchen. I glanced around and didn’t see her. The faint sound of crying reached me, and I followed it down a hallway. I wasn’t sure what the rest of the place looked like. What I could see was a shit hole for the most part. The floors creaked under my weight. Dust clung to the walls, and the paint was peeling. The baseboards all had scuff marks.
I glanced in each room I passed. Most of the doors were open. I found a bedroom with a bed that had shirts, pants, and socks all over it. I figured it was where Tyler slept -- I recognized the gun with the custom grip laying on the mattress. The man never traveled without it. I didn’t see any sign of Lavinia. The next room looked like they used it for storage.
I paused when I reached a door that seemed out of place. Didn’t match the others. The door had a new lock on it. I wondered if she’d been locked inside. The thought made me sick. I turned the knob and eased the door open. The crying grew louder.
The overwhelming smell of dampness hit me in the face. I looked at the small room and saw a single window. Bars had been placed on the outside. The mattress on the floor didn’t have any sheets or blankets. Looked like it had been there a while. The lock on the outside told me just how much Tyler controlled her. There was no need for it to be outside the room otherwise.
My heart raced and my jaw tightened. When I filled my lungs, I thought I might explode from the rage building inside me. I wanted to put my fist through the fucking wall. The longer I stood in the doorway, the more time I had to get pissed. The faint scent of mold had me wondering if she’d end up sick from being in this place. I doubted Tyler would let her see a doctor if she did.
How long had he kept her locked up like this? The fact he’d done it at all told me he needed his ass beat. I wouldn’t get the chance. Not tonight. Maybe ever. But I’d make sure Lavinia was safe before I left.
They’d have to kill me to keep that girl here.
I knew what needed to be done. I’d get her out of here tonight. She should have been sleeping in a bed, or on the couch, or anywhere but in a room that had water running down the walls. I’d bet the window leaked when it rained. I’d be surprised if they’d bothered to keep the roof in decent shape.
I clenched my hands into fists. My breathing became slow and deliberate. My jaw tightened until I worried I’d break a damn tooth. I wasn’t sure how I’d get her out of here without raising suspicion. If I only got one shot, I’d make damn sure it counted. I just had to figure out how to get a pregnant woman out of the house without anyone noticing.
No woman deserved to be chained to a man like Tyler. I’d trained over and over in the Navy, learning how to do the impossible. I’d pull from that. With Tyler and the others being drunk, I had to hope it would give me an edge. I’d barely finished two beers and didn’t even have a buzz going. Getting her out might be the hardest thing I’d ever done, but I wouldn’t leave without her. Even if I had to carry her out kicking and screaming, she’d go with me.
Lavinia’s crying got louder, and I heard her inhale sharply as if she tried to hold in her tears. I could see her shadowy form, and the color of her hair and skin, but not much detail. Very little light spilled into the room. I’d have to leave the door open a little. I didn’t want to risk turning on a light and getting spotted by someone outside. I took a step into the room and her soft gasp reached my ears.
“I won’t hurt you,” I said. “I came to see if you were okay.”
“I don’t understand.” She sniffled. “Why would you care?”
Fair question. I didn’t have a good answer for her. I’d seen enough blood and death to last a lifetime. I’d made my share of mistakes. The brotherhood of the club had kept me sane and given me something to fight for. I had to believe I could do the same for this woman. No one deserved to suffer like this.
Just standing in this room made me want to vomit. I’d seen some nasty places, but this one topped the list. I’d seen rats living in better conditions. I wouldn’t be surprised if the rodents outnumbered Lavinia in this place. And since they had supplies stacked all over, I’d be willing to bet they had bugs too.
“I’m going to get you out of here,” I said. “I need to talk to you first. Let you know what I have in mind.”
She sniffled and I heard her crawl across the floor. When she stepped into the light, I realized she wore a T-shirt that hung to her knees. I wondered if she even had panties on. Her feet were bare and dirty. She had more bruises than I’d noticed outside.
I led her down the hall, checking each room until I found the bedroom where my things were. I shut the door and flipped on the light. The bed only had a thin blanket, but I’d make sure she stayed warm tonight. I’d sleep on the floor if I had to.
I took her hand and leaned in close. “Don’t freak out, but I need to put on a show,” I whispered.
Once she gave me a slight nod, I raised my voice so anyone in the area would hear me. “I need to touch you, Lavinia.” I didn’t know if anyone was lurking nearby. Making it sound like I wanted to fuck her seemed the best way to fly under their radar. And if someone other than Tyler overheard, I hoped they’re report it back to him. Since the sick bastard seemed to like giving his girl to anyone who wanted her.
“I need to know if you need help,” I whispered. “If you want to leave this place.”
Her lower lip trembled, and her eyes filled with tears. She glanced down at the floor.
“Lavinia?” I tipped her chin so she’d look at me. “Are you safe? Do you need help?”
Tears slid down her cheeks. She gave a small shake of her head, and I saw the moment she gave in. Her shoulders shook. She lifted her left hand, and I saw she clenched a fist so tight her knuckles had turned white. I pried her fingers open and noticed the nails had bitten into her palm. “No one will hurt you again, Lavinia. I’ll make sure of it.”
“I…” She inhaled and let it out slowly. “I’m scared.”
I cupped her cheek, and she winced. The skin didn’t look broken, but if Tyler had hit her hard enough, I knew her face would hurt. I’d seen it enough times to realize the bruising would get worse before it got better. I didn’t know if Tyler had done it all himself, or if his buddies had helped. If they had, I’d make sure they suffered. It was clear my old friend had turned into someone I didn’t want to know. I shouldn’t have come.
“I won’t hurt you, Lavinia. I promise. I’ll get you out of here. Whatever it takes. As soon as I have you somewhere safe, we’ll figure things out.”
She reached for my hand and held on tight. “You’re one of them. Why would you help me?”
I slid my arm around her and pulled her close. “I’m not like them. At least, I hope I’m not. I don’t know what Tyler has told you, but I’m not in the military anymore. I joined a motorcycle club. The kind people tell their kids to avoid.”
“Why would you join a club like that?”
“Because I needed a family. My parents died when I was overseas. My sister married some asshole and never calls anymore. I got tired of coming home to an empty place. The club gives me something to fight for. They’re my family now. I know my patch might scare you, but I promise the brothers in the Hades Abyss won’t hurt you.”
She sniffled and I brushed the tears from her cheeks. “When do we leave?”
I ran my hand up and down her back. “I’d wanted to give you tonight to rest up, even if it meant taking you to my room and fooling Tyler into thinking we were doing something more than sleeping. Then I’d have told him I wanted to take you for a ride tomorrow, and we could have escaped then. But… I don’t want to risk all of that not working. I’m afraid we’re going to have to wing it. Just remember, anything I say that sounds suggestive isn’t what I really mean. I need to keep Tyler from getting suspicious.”
I heard the others come inside, and it didn’t take long for Tyler to come to my door. He didn’t bother knocking, just yelled. “Cotton, is Lavinia with you?”
I glanced at her and put my finger to my lips so she’d remain quiet. “Thought I’d take you up on your offer. I’ll keep her busy tonight.”
I heard Tyler laugh and walk off. As the minutes ticked by, tension built inside me. Once I heard the place go quiet except for snores, I knew it was time. We couldn’t wait until morning. It would be too risky. “We’re going to get a few of your things, then we’ll leave. Understand?”
“Yes,” she said softly. She pushed up to her feet. I stood and we quietly went into the hall and back to her room. I stood guard and waited for her to dress and gather a few items.
Lavinia grabbed another pair of jeans, some panties, and two shirts. I knew it wasn’t enough. I tucked them into my duffle bag, doing my best to keep from cursing. She needed more than that. “Ready?” I asked.
“Yes.”
Taking her hand, I opened the door. We slipped into the hall, and I stayed close to the wall. I heard snoring in one of the rooms, but we walked past without stopping. At the end of the hallway, we went to the right and into the kitchen. The layout reminded me of a puzzle. There were more twists and turns than I’d seen in any other place. There were even more shadows. I’d use them to my advantage.
I heard a snort, then a mutter. I froze and pulled Lavinia closer. She clung to me, and I knew she wanted to run. So did I. I wasn’t sure if someone had woken up, or if they were still asleep and talking in their dreams. I waited until I didn’t hear anything, then I took a breath and led Lavinia through the kitchen and out the back door. I didn’t hear the snoring anymore, but I wasn’t going to check.
We didn’t have much farther to go. I’d parked my bike near the tree line. I’d wanted it in the shade and hadn’t realized I’d put it in a spot where we could make a fast getaway.
We walked as quickly as we could without making noise. The closer we got to my bike, the more my nerves went on edge. I kept glancing over my shoulder in case someone came after us. I didn’t think any of the men would wake, but I wasn’t going to let my guard down. Not yet. Maybe not ever.
When we reached the bike, I rolled it away from the house before Lavinia and I got on. I didn’t want the sound of the engine waking everyone up. I pushed it as far as I could, then got Lavinia settled, and we left. It wasn’t until we hit the main road that I let out a sigh of relief.
Even if it meant she didn’t want to be with me, at least she’d have somewhere to call home, and she’d have food in her belly. I’d do whatever it took to make up for what happened to Roe. If that meant protecting Lavinia, then that’s what I’d do. One way or another, I’d get her to the Hades Abyss MC, and make sure nothing bad ever happened to her again.
Lavinia’s arms wrapped tight around my waist, and I felt her shiver. I kept the speed just below the posted limit, not wanting to get pulled over. It would be my luck a cop would be prowling the streets and spot us. Even as careful as I was, I knew Lavinia held on for dear life for at least the first hour or two. Once I noticed her grip loosening, I looked for a place to pull off. I spotted a gas station about a mile up the road and figured it would be a good first stop.
I eased over in that direction and parked off to the side of the building. Lavinia didn’t move at first, and I wondered if she’d fallen asleep. When she finally climbed off the bike, she stumbled a little. I grabbed her arm to steady her and heard a soft “thank you.”
I glanced around to see if anyone watched us before I spoke. “Good place to stop?” I asked.
She glanced around and then nodded. “Seems all right. Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Helping me. I knew Tyler had issues, but it was too late by the time I realized how bad things could get. If you hadn’t been there to rescue me tonight, I’m not sure how much longer I’d have made it.”
“I’m glad we got out without a fight.” Her stomach growled, and I tipped my head toward the small convenience store. “You can use the bathroom in there, and I’ll fill up the tank. Then we can look for a decent place to grab some food before we hit the road again.”
She followed me inside the store, the bell over the door jingling as we stepped onto the scuffed linoleum. I went to the back and waited for Lavinia to use the bathroom.
When she came out of the bathroom, looking a lot more relaxed, I knew I’d made the right decision. I might have done a lot of things wrong in my life, but Lavinia wouldn’t be one of them. She’d been given a shitty hand, but I could turn things around for her.
I made sure to fill the gas tank before we headed out.
A few minutes down the road, I spotted a sign for a diner. I pulled off, figuring it would give us a chance to stretch our legs, and get some good food. As much as I wanted to get Lavinia behind the gates at the Hades Abyss, I also wasn’t sure when she had last eaten. I didn’t need her getting lightheaded and possibly falling off.
I parked off to the side and helped Lavinia off the bike. The petite woman didn’t even come up to my shoulder. I liked the way she fit against me, but I didn’t let myself dwell on it.
She followed me inside and we found a booth in the back. I got the feeling she want to escape notice. When the waitress came over, we both ordered burgers and fries. I asked for an extra-large chocolate shake, unable to resist.
“You doing okay?” I asked, keeping my voice low.
“Yes. I’m just tired. Thank you for stopping.”
I nodded. “We can rest here, but I think it’s better to move around while it’s still dark. Less traffic, and we’ll be harder to spot. We’re about thirty minutes off the main highway. We can get back on it when we leave and make it home within the next hour.”
She fidgeted with her fingers. “I’ve been a burden. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you for what you’ve done.”
“You’ve been through hell, darlin’. You’re not a burden. Just let me take care of you.”
Our food arrived, and I watched the way she eyed the burger. Once I saw her dig in, I took a bite of my own. The fries were hot and crispy, just the way I liked them. The shake was nice and cold, the rich chocolate coating my tongue.
“God, this is good,” she said. “I don’t remember the last time I had a burger that tasted like this.”
“Nice to see you eatin’. You need to keep up your strength. Not just for you, but the baby.”
She nodded, then took another bite. I watched her as she ate. Something told me Tyler hadn’t given her regular meals, or anything nutritious. Wouldn’t do her any good to make herself sick. I could tell when she had her fill. She sat back against the booth and sighed.
“Thank you,” she said.
“For what?”
“Everything. I know we’ve only just met, and you don’t owe me anything. You could have left me there. I’m grateful you didn’t.”
“I’m glad I was able to help.”
I pushed my plate aside and leaned back. I studied her a moment. “What the hell happened? What did he do to you?”
“I met him about six months ago. I was down on my luck, with no money, no family, and no real job skills. He took me in, and for a while, I thought he was perfect. He made me fall in love with him. When I found out I was pregnant, I thought he’d be happy. Instead he was furious. I told him I wanted to keep the baby, and he said I’d regret it.”
“Looks like he made good on his promise.”
“Any time I did something he didn’t like, Tyler punished me. Sometimes with his fists. But other times he’d get creative.”
My hands clenched into fists, and I damn near snarled at her confession.
“The worst of it started after I told him I was pregnant. He acted like it was all my fault. After that, he wouldn’t just hit me. He’d withhold food and water. Would make me sleep on a blanket on the floor. Let his friends… touch me, or do whatever they wanted with me. He knew how to break someone without leaving marks.”
“Bastard.”
Her lips curved a little. “Yeah. Pretty much.”
“Darlin’, I’m sorry you had to endure that. I won’t say I understand, because I don’t. But I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure you and your baby have a good life. You’ll never want for anything. You have my word.”
“Thank you, Cotton. I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t been there.”
“Don’t you worry about a thing. You’ll be safe with me.” I pushed to my feet and went to the register to pay for our meal.
We made another bathroom stop before we left. I was glad Lavinia had started to relax around me. She’d had a rough life, but no one would ever hurt her or her baby again. I’d take good care of her, and she’d be happy.
We went back out to the bike, and I helped her get settled. I swung my leg over and started the engine. I glanced over my shoulder. “You ready?”
“Yes.”
I could tell the small diner and the meal had gone a long way to making her feel human again. I’d make sure she had a hot shower and a warm bed when we got home.
Once I got back on the highway, I picked up the speed a little. I felt her cheek press against my back. I could get used to having her with me. I hoped she’d agree to stay for a while. I knew I didn’t want to let her go, but I also didn’t want to cage her. She’d suffered enough at Tyler’s hands and might want her freedom. But if she stayed, she’d be my woman, and I’d be a father to her baby. And maybe… just maybe… we’d be a family.
We were strangers and I knew that was a crazy thought. She’d call me insane if I voiced it out loud. But I couldn’t shake the feeling I’d met her for a reason.