Chapter 18
Eighteen
DARCIE
Over the next week, things fell into a natural routine. Maddox would join me wherever I worked for the day, getting to know the guys better in the process. He’d easily won over Brooks and Grayson. It was cute how close they’d gotten in the short time frame.
I hadn’t ever seen Maddox have a guy friend before, considering he’d always been one of the youngest Mavericks and spent most of his time with my father. Getting to see him bond with two of the guys I’d fallen in love with warmed my heart more than I realized it would.
Bubba hadn’t been as quick, and I wondered if it had more to do with protecting me or his stubbornness. He was folding in small ways, giving me hope that he’d come around eventually and accept Maddox as a brother.
Nothing physical had developed between Maddox and me yet. In some ways, I needed more from him before I gave him my body again. But mostly, I wanted the guys to accept him fully, honoring the bonds I’ve built with them.
As I watched Brooks and Maddox work on a car together, it felt like this was possible. That this could be my life.
Grayson peeked his head into the office, pulling me from my daydreaming. He smiled, setting off the butterflies that had taken up residence in my chest.
“Hey, Sunflower, can you pick up lunch? I thought I’d be able to get away, but the call with the tire representative is in ten minutes.”
“Yeah, no problem. Anything in particular?” I asked, standing from the desk.
“I called it into that Chinese place you like so much.” He winked, walking closer to pull me into his arms.
“This feels like a bribe,” I teased.
“Me? I’d never stoop to such measures to get you into my bed. I’m a man of honor.”
Giggling, my eyes felt like they were leaking emotion all over the man. “You keep telling yourself that, Pretty Boy. You’re all tease.”
He bent down, whispering low into my ear. “I thought you liked it when I made you come so hard your legs shook? Or was I mistaken?” Grayson lifted his eyes, daring me to say no.
“Yes, well, that has nothing to do with honor,” I said, trying to recover. My pussy throbbed from his words, the ache growing the longer he looked at me.
“I promise to honor you with several orgasms. How about that?”
I cleared my throat, nodding. “Yeah, that could work.”
He smiled, leaning down to kiss me. “Hurry back.”
Taking the keys from his outstretched hand, I waved to the others as I headed outside. Shielding my eyes, I hurried to the truck and lifted myself up into it. I’d gotten more comfortable driving the machine since I’d been with the guys. But I still preferred my bike. The thought of carrying containers of Chinese food while driving wasn’t a good one, though, so I’d suck it up and use the truck.
The garage wasn’t far from the strip mall I’d gone to the first day. I pulled in, avoiding the pawn shop. That place still gave me the creeps.
Parking a little closer, I hurried across the lot toward the restaurant. My stomach growled when I walked in, the smells sending me into a hunger frenzy.
“Hi,” I chirped when I spotted the kind woman from my first visit.
“It’s you!” She smiled, waving me forward. “How have you been?”
“I’ve been great. Thanks again for looking out for me that day. It was very kind.”
She waved me off, her cheeks heating. “Same order?” she asked.
“Actually, a call-in order for PB Mechanics.”
“Oh, he is a very nice man. Good tipper.” She winked before walking back to grab the bags of food. “Good choice.”
Laughing, I thanked her and took the food from her, promising to come back with Grayson someday. I wondered what she’d think if she knew I was with three guys.
Smiling, I waved as I headed out the door laden with two bags of food. Walking carefully, I focused on each step I took as I approached the truck. A chill ran down my back, and I looked up, searching it out. Nothing stood out, but I quickened my pace, wanting to get back to my guys.
Tossing the food into the backseat, I climbed in and pulled out, barely stopping to put my seatbelt on. Once I was out of the parking lot, my heart slowed, my chest easing the further I drove. I didn’t get far when the truck tilted, a grinding sound filling the space.
“Shit,” I cursed, pulling off to a side road. Climbing out, I grabbed my phone and called Bubba since Grayson had his work call. He answered in one ring, making me smile.
“My Queen,” he said, his voice soft and husky.
“I love when you call me that,” I said, smiling. “So listen, it’s probably nothing, but the truck made a weird sound when I left the Chinese restaurant. I pulled off onto that side road. Can you come and check it out? I don’t want to drive it more if something’s wrong.” I walked around the front, looking at the tires. When I got to the rear one, I saw what was wrong.
“Actually, I found out what’s wrong. Looks like I ran over some metal or something. Shit.”
“I’m on my way. Wait in the truck.”
“Yes, sir.”
“I mean it, Darcie.” His voice was serious, making me instantly go on alert.
“Okay, I’m heading there now.” I turned, freezing in my tracks. I sucked in a breath as I met the eyes of the man from the pawnshop.
“Give me that,” he ordered, taking my phone and crushing it beneath his foot. I’d heard Bubba shouting my name, so I prayed he heard the man as well.
My body shook as fear threatened to take over. The man from the pawnshop sneered, licking his lips.
“I knew you were trash when you walked into my store. I’ve been waiting for the perfect opportunity to show you what happens to sluts like you.” He grabbed me and pulled me under his arm. He bent down to sniff my neck. “When I saw the bounty on your head, I knew it was fate. I’ve been trying to find ways to grab you, but you’re always with those men, whoring yourself.”
“You were at the bar. Weren’t you? You’ve been following me,” I said, the sound weak even to my own ears.
“Do you really think I couldn’t track you through a device I sold you?”
It explained the weird sensation I had a few times when I’d been out with the guys. But until today, I hadn’t been alone.
“Finally, I got you alone and knew I had to act fast. Damaging your tire was easy, but hiding in the back was my favorite. You never knew I was there.” He laughed, the sound sending shivers through me. I did not want to be his captive. “You’re worth a lot of money, slut. Thankfully, it doesn’t say what condition you have to be in. Just alive. So, I’m going to have some fun with you first, then I’ll hand you over for my reward.”
The man groped my breast, squeezing it hard as he licked my neck. The fear fell away at his words, and my anger emerged. Blind rage filled my mind. I refused to let another man decide my fate. Nor would he take anything from me I wasn’t freely giving.
“Not today, asshole,” I screamed, rearing my head back at the same time I shoved my elbow into his gut. He bent over, dropping his hold on me. I didn’t hesitate as I took off running toward the cornfield. Bubba was on his way. I knew it. I just needed to hide long enough for him to arrive.
The cornstalks slapped my face as I ran, blinding me. My mind raced as I tried to pinpoint which direction the shop was in. If I had to, I’d run there and let Bubba deal with that piece of shit.
The engine of a bike roared close, and I stopped, bending at the waist as I caught my breath. A body tackled me, my face smacking into the dirt. Their weight pressed down on me, and I struggled to breathe. Whimpering, I hated how weak I sounded. This wasn’t who I was anymore.
The warrior I’d been groomed to be my whole life rose up in me, giving me the strength to keep fighting.
“I said no . Learn about consent, douchebag.”
“I’m going to teach you to shut up first,” he sneered, pressing his knees into my back. He pulled at my hair, yanking my head up. Spitting out dirt and blood, my body tingled from the hit, but I wouldn’t let it stop me.
Wetness hit me right before the weight was lifted. I coughed, rolling over to see what had happened. The creepy asshole held his neck where he was bleeding from a wound. He looked shocked, surprised to see his own blood.
Glancing past him, I expected to see Bubba, a smile already spreading across my face. Instead, a face I never expected to see again stared at me with wide eyes.
“Damon?” I asked, despite knowing it was him. My head hurt, and I wondered if I’d hit it hard enough to get a concussion.
His hands shook, a knife covered in blood in one of his palms. “I didn’t… I didn’t mean to,” he stuttered.
Pulling myself off the ground, I stood, my body aching. “It’s okay, Damon. You saved me.”
His eyes met mine, and he looked me over as he repeated what I said. “I saved you. Yes, you’re right. I didn’t have a choice. You needed me.”
I disagreed with him, but I nodded, wanting to get out of this cornfield.
“Not that I’m not thankful, Damon, but what are you doing here?”
His eyes met mine, something shifting as he stared. “I came to get you. You need my help, Darcie.”
I stepped back, not liking what he was saying. “Damon, I’m fine. While I appreciate you stepping in, I’m okay now.”
“No, you’re not.” His voice was hard now.
Quicker than I imagined possible, he grabbed me and dragged me out in the other direction. The knife pressed into my side, stopping all thoughts of running.
“Damon, this isn’t you. We can talk. What’s going on?”
“I can’t stop thinking about you, Darcie. All day. All night. I can’t work because all I do is think about you. I realized I’d made a mistake when I walked away. We do belong together. But then you were gone. I waited at your apartment for weeks. When they packed up your belongings, I knew you’d run, too sad to live without me. I thought I’d never find you again, destined to live alone and miserable. But then my brother told me he ran into you with that rodeo guy. I knew it was a message. You wanted me to come and rescue you. It’s a good thing I did too. Why was that guy chasing you?”
My head spun as he talked, trying to sort it out. His words were so fast, they didn’t make sense. None of this day was making sense.
“I’m sorry you can’t find a job, Damon, but I’m not yours. I belong only to myself. Besides, you made your feelings clear when you said I had to choose only you. Call me whatever you want, but my heart is big enough to love more than one person.”
“You’re just saying that. You love me. I know it. They’ve convinced you to be their club whore. But you’re better than that,” he cooed like he was talking to a baby.
I shook my head, tired of his nonsense. “It doesn’t matter. I don’t have feelings for you. Damon, I’ve moved on. I’m sorry if that’s not what you want to hear, but I don’t want to be with you.”
Damon growled, his grip tightening on me. “You just need to get away from them. Then you’ll be able to think clearly. I know this is what you want.”
“No,” I shouted, fed up with this argument.
Damon yanked me, my feet clearing the other side of the cornfield as I tilted toward the ground. The knife dug into me, pricking my skin as his grip slipped with my momentum. I spotted his old pickup truck parked on the dirt path, fear gnawing at me. I couldn’t get into his vehicle. There would be no way for the guys to find me if I did.
Deciding to take my chances with his knife, I used all my body weight to fall to the ground, pulling him with me. The blade pierced me; the pain of it burning as he fell on top of me. Okay, that might’ve been the worst idea I’d ever had.
Ignoring the pain, I scrambled back, pushing him away with my feet. “Stay the fuck away from me,” I screamed, praying that one of the guys was here by now and would hear. Pressing my hand down on the wound, I kept pressure as I continued to move back in a crab walk. I couldn’t stop. I wouldn’t.
Damon grunted, getting to his knees. His eyes lifted, spitting fire as he looked at me from head to toe. He prowled closer, a sneer covering his face, the knife still held in his hand. It was coated in blood now—mine and the creep’s. Shit, I hope he didn’t have any bloodborne diseases.
I kept moving, not willing to stop, even if it was only an inch at a time. I grabbed a handful of dirt and threw it in his face when he neared.
“Fucking hell, Darcie. Why are you fighting me so much?”
“Because I don’t want to go with you. How much clearer do I need to say it?”
My heart pounded in my ears, my blood pumping hard as adrenaline and fear coursed through my body. I just had to hang on a little longer. They’d come for me. I knew it.
Damon stood up again; dirt and blood smeared all over. His once handsome face distorted as he sneered at me, obsession and hatred flashing in his eyes. He didn’t love me. He just wanted to conquer me to say he had. I was nothing but a trophy for him to win.
The world spun as my vision grew blurry. Shit, I couldn’t lose consciousness.
“I bet your pussy isn’t even worth all this trouble,” he spat, looking down at me.
Despite my hope to keep moving, it seemed I’d reached my limit.
“You’re right. I’m not. Just leave, and I’ll forget all about this. I promise.”
He stalled, and I hoped he was thinking it over.
“I’d do what she said if I were you,” a menacing voice said, my heart lifting.
I knew that voice. It meant I could let go now. That I wasn’t alone anymore.
My eyes fluttered closed, the sound of a scuffle occurring in the distance. Hands gripped me, and I whimpered until soft lips brushed against my forehead.
“I got you, Princess. Just stay with me.”
It was the last thing I needed to hear before I fell into the black hole I’d been circling.