Chapter 5
Koby
Leilani trembles in the passenger seat, hands twisting in her lap, lips pressed tight like she’s holding everything in. She stares ahead, unblinking, but her breathing is hastened and shallow.
She looks like she’s fighting back tears.
I don’t think feeling like I took a bullet dead center in the sternum is a normal reaction, but that’s what’s happening.
“We’re not far now,” I say, hoping my words will breathe some lightness into her. “He’s not taking you back.”
She brushes her long brown hair behind her ears before turning my way. The ghastly bruise marring her cheek adds about nine hundred and fifty-three points to how fragile she looks.
“Why are you helping me?” She meets my gaze, fire dancing in her eyes.
It goes out quickly, so fast I’m not sure it was really there. It’s not the first time I noticed it. And not the first time I doubted its reality.
I stare at her far longer than safe while navigating the Columbus morning rush hour. I forget the road, forget the cars piling up in front of us. All I see are the silver flecks in her left iris, like glass shards catching the light.
I want to keep staring, keep memorizing every detail, but I force my attention back on the road before I get us killed.
It’s a stellar choice, considering we’re speeding straight into standstill traffic.
I slam the brake pedal. My arm shoots out before I even register what I’m doing, bracing across Leilani’s chest, pinning her against the seat as the car jerks.
Tires squeal, my pulse soars, and time slows until we stop, inches from the pickup’s bumper instead of halfway down its bed.
“Sorry,” I mutter, dragging my hand back and checking her over. “You good?”
“Nothing happened.” She tugs at her seat belt, lips twitching into the faintest smile. “This would’ve done the job.”
Yes, it would, but my reaction was involuntary.
I’ve seen Carter do that with Hailey a million times, but I never did it myself. Now, my hand shot out before my brain could issue the order. Instinct took over, and protecting the girl beside me was my entire focus.
“You asked why I’m helping you.” I scratch the back of my neck, then squeeze hard, easing the prickling sensation.
She nods, twisting the hem of her blouse between her fingers. “Did Carter tell you to come get me?”
I guess I understand why that’d be her first thought. She knows Carter. Even if she hadn’t seen him in years, she was his sister’s bestie.
“No, he has no idea where I am. I...” I bite my cheek, looking for the right words.
I can’t tell her that the moment I saw her, everything inside me shifted. That I haven’t got her off my mind for a second since. That the need to keep her safe has been clawing at my lungs, making holes until it felt like I’d never catch a full breath again.
I doubt such a confession would go down well after the handful of sentences we’ve exchanged thus far.
It’s too soon.
And the last thing I want is to scare her away.
Also, I have no idea what sort of hell Jax has put her through, so treading lightly is wise.
“I’ve seen a lot of women in bad situations. You looked like you needed someone to see what you were hiding.” I reach out, brushing my fingers down her bruised cheek, my heartrate picking up at the feel of her skin. She’s so warm... so fucking soft. “How often does this happen?”
She inches away, letting her hair cover her face. “Bruises? Often. Daily. It’s been a while since I haven’t sported any.”
The kind of anger that can’t be shaken off floods my system. It’ll stay there, buried beneath my skin, waiting for blood. My grip on the wheel tightens until it creaks.
You can’t kill him. Don’t even think about it.
Fuck my rational brain.
“It’s okay,” Leilani adds as if sensing that I’m spiraling.
“It’s not okay, but I’ll have to be patient and wait a while before I can kill the fucker.”
She inhales sharply, her head snapping back my way. “What? Why? You can’t do that.”
“Of course I can. And I will the moment he’s dispensable.” We crawl forward, the traffic jam clearing slowly. “Don’t worry your pretty head about it. The main thing now is getting you somewhere safe, somewhere he won’t find you, because believe me, he’ll be looking.”
“Oh, I know. He won’t let me go this easily. I’m surprised he didn’t shoot you the moment you grabbed his throat.”
I chuckle, turning left at the lights. “I’d like to see him try.” Shifting in my seat, I straighten my back. “Care to tell me how you ended up with him?”
She chews her lip, glancing out the window.
“You don’t have to,” I add after a long pause.
“No, it’s not that... but it’s hard to explain and I still haven’t processed it all. I can assure you it wasn’t by choice.”
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
Please, whoever the hell rules above, below, or anywhere in this twisted universe, please don’t let it be a repeat of what Violet went through.
The mere thought of this girl beside me being hurt and used the way Violet was drives me fucking insane.
Jesus... if this is how Broadway felt then I one hundred percent understand the elaborate kills he performed on those men who raped his girl for months.
I don’t know that Jax sexually abused Leilani. I don’t know if it ever went that far, but my brain doesn’t care. It serves up a carousel of images anyway. Him pushing her down. Forcing her to submit. Her tears, fear, bruises darker than the one covering her face.
My stomach rolls and my mind fills with ideas of topping Broadway’s best performances to bring the most horrific, painful death to Jax.
It would be beautiful. Carnage of the highest order. Blood everywhere and me... loving every second, a manic smile curling my lips the whole fucking time.
Whoever said Carter, Broadway, Ryder, and I aren’t entirely right in our heads was spot on. The pictures flashing before my eyes chill me to the bone, let alone anybody not used to our line of work.
Then again, I never pretend I’m not sick and twisted or that I shouldn’t be wearing a straitjacket in a psych ward by now.
There are at least a dozen more questions I want to ask Leilani. How far has Jax taken it? Is he the only one who’s hit her? Are there other men I should track down and eliminate?
But we only just fucking met, and I should muster some patience instead of overwhelming her from the start.
She looks like she scares easily. Like the wrong words at the wrong time might break her, so I zip my mouth and take us to Carter’s. I don’t speak again until we park outside his house.
“I’ll need your help in there or Carter will bite my head off for taking you. He doesn’t know about this.” I touch her cheek again, just to feel her skin beneath my fingers. “He won’t be pleased I went rogue, but once he sees why I took you, he’ll understand.”
She nods once, her face soft, open, so pretty my heart doubles in size. “Okay, I understand. I’m sorry for the trouble.”
“You’re no trouble.”
I unbuckle her seat belt, then hop out, round the hood, and take her warm hand in mine. Somehow, I don’t think I’ll ever get over how precious she is. How delicate.
The soldier stationed outside cocks an eyebrow but doesn’t comment. He bows low, letting us inside where our footsteps echo down the hallway.
We enter the huge living space where Carter, Broadway, and Ryder sit, the smell of freshly brewed coffee wafting through the air. The girls are nowhere in sight, but their voices drift down the stairs.
And I realize I was due for a meeting here an hour ago.
Oh well. There’s no fixing that now.
My boss spots us, his eyebrows bunching together. “What the fuck is happening?”
The girls spill down the stairs in a flurry of footsteps, their voices rising in alarmed chorus. Bianca elbows past everyone, fear marring her face.
“Ryder—”
He catches her wrist and drags her into him, both arms snapping around her frame. “It’s okay, baby.”
“Explain,” Carter seethes. “Why is she with you?”
“I took her.” I shift in front of Leilani. I don’t like how everyone’s staring at her. “I need a safe house.”
“You took her?” Carter’s eyes narrow, fury rolling off him. “You fucking kidnapped her? What the hell were you thinking? She’s Jax’s girl!”
“Stop it!” Hailey surges forward, eyes flashing with anger. “Watch your tone. You’re scaring her.”
He inhales and exhales, getting his bearings before he speaks again, with a touch less menace. “I want answers. Now.”
Leilani shrinks behind me, shifting her weight from one leg to the other. I catch her arm, gently pulling her forward.
“It’s okay,” I whisper. “Just... let them see.” I brush her hair aside, revealing the dark bruise on her swollen cheek.
Carter goes still, his fury redirected. The girls give a collective gasp, and Broadway drags a heavy hand down his face as he and Ryder spit out a chorused fuck.