Chapter Nineteen
Hayes
I sit on the porch of the Hope House my mother created all those years ago.
She wanted a refuge for the women my father and his men rescued to be able to feel safe again. Her goal was to give them counseling until they were able to go out into the world again either on their own or to work at one of our Clubs.
She was an angel that way and it’s so unfair that someone who was doing so good in this life for other people was gone before seeing what it is today.
She loved these women in this home and was the brains behind the operation.
I, however, have my father’s temper and it absolutely aggravates me that they will not let me know when they need something.
I understand why they won’t, but I can’t fix a problem if I do not know about it.
Ruth has been here for a few years now and I knew she did not take to men well. But still, I got angry and let it show in front of her when I knew better.
Olivia reminded me so much of my mother when she told me to get outside because if she were here, she would have told me to do the same thing but in our Italian language with some cuss words involved.
I chuckle — Gosh, I miss her.
I look up when I hear commotion down by the iron gates and see an eighteen-wheeler pull up with a black van.
The Cavalry has arrived.
While they come up to the house to park, I walk to meet them.
“Where do you want these to go, Sir?” Alan asks, getting out of the Van that was with them.
I point to the back door. “Clothes and those type of things can go in the room right inside that door. The food needs to be in the kitchen.”
He nods, ordering the men where to take everything. I hear the front door of the house shut and turn to see Olivia walking out to meet us. “Where can I jump in and help?” she asks me, beaming with excitement to see the truck pull up.
“They will unload it,” I tell her, and she just stares at me. “And I would like to help.” she insists.
“Why? That’s what they are here for.”
“Because it’s not right to stand here and watch when I have hands and feet that can contribute,” she snarls. “You are a privileged asshole. Do you realize that?”
Alan and the men stop what they are doing and stare at us for a minute. I know they are shocked she said that to me.
I glare at her. “You know what? I’ll just jump in and figure it out myself.” she hisses, grabbing boxes of clothes off the truck and taking them inside the house.
Alan tries to hide his giggle, but I growl, “If you love your job, don’t you fucking dare.”
He turns around but I know that fucker is smirking still.
Olivia comes back to the truck, and I snarl, “What did I tell you about that mouth of yours?”
She leans into me and whispers, “You were enjoying it last night.”
She goes back picking up clothes and taking them inside the house.
My dick twitches — for fuck’s sake, her defiance is turning me on.
I huff, rolling up my sleeves and walking up to the truck grabbing an armful of stuff to bring inside. “Oh look. Mr. Ricci knows how to do the small things.” Olivia jokes as I walk past her.
This fucking woman is driving me insane.
***
W E HAVE SPENT ALL DAY distributing clothes and serving meals to the ladies in the house.
I am humbled, to say the least. Of course, I bought things for them before and made sure the house was stocked with food always — but I’ve never sat back and actually helped deliver the stuff I bought. I’ve never sat and listened to them talk, watched the kids run around, or heard about their day.
Olivia soaked it all up — I have watched her sit at the table with them and listen to their words. She has cried with them, hugged them, and even played with their kids.
She’s a natural nurturer. How she was ever picked up for Ashton’s auction beats me. If one of his men would have bought her, she would be dead by now. Her defiance would have assured that. They want their women following in line not straying their own way.
“Thank you again, Mr. Ricci and Miss Livy.” Ruth says hugging Olivia as we both get ready to leave.
“Hang in there Ruth. You are going to be okay. You and your daughter both.” Olivia says, hugging her bye.
“Please bring her back,” Ruth tells me, and I nod in agreement. It would be nice for them to see a woman like Olivia more often.
“I’ll do my best,” I grin at her while waving bye to all the ladies.
We both shut the door to my Audi and Olivia’s floodgates open. Tears start spilling out of her.
“Those women, Hayes. How could any man do that to them?” she tells me.
Without hesitation, I put my hand in hers and squeeze it. “I’ve always thought the same thing. It’s pure evil.”
Her tears eventually stop, and she takes a deep breath. “Can you bring me back here sometime?” she asks.
I nod. “Whenever you want to.”
“Okay. Thank you. Now, you can take me back to Jessica’s.” She releases my hand and reaches for her seatbelt, buckling up.
“Why would I take you back to Jessica’s?” I ask, confused.
“Because it’s the end of the date day. I won and the prize was a date day with you,” she says nonchalantly.
“Oh,” I mumble putting the car in reverse, my anger rising, “Yeah. I guess you are right.”
Driving toward the main gate, and onto the main road, feeling like my heart has been bruised.
I had planned on taking her back to my place tonight, fuck her, and wake up to her in the morning.
I thought she felt it, too. But I guess not. She is right, though; I told her I didn’t mix business with pleasure, and she is holding me to that.
But Fuck — my dick is throbbing.