Chapter 24
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Iris
“All the money is handled,” she says, voice echoing.
“Half of it is in Dee’s name?” I verify just for my peace of mind.
“Yep. I’ll mail her the new card once it comes to the PO box. I had someone set up a fake business… You know what, it doesn’t matter. You don’t need to worry about that. It’s hers to access. If she has any issues, just reach out.”
“Thank you.” Switching on my blinker, I turn onto another road in the middle of nowhere.
“It’s no problem. I am really sorry about what happened.”
Coming up to a stop sign, I wait for the cars to pass and ease forward just a bit more before I gun it across the road to continue my journey. “It’s not your fault,” I say and mean it. “Sunshine did what any good father would do.”
Clicking on what must be her computer keys, Cell hums noncommittally. “Maybe you’ll cross paths again someday, and you’ll get to see the side of him the rest of us do.”
No, I’m good.
Not wanting to offend her, I strangle the steering wheel as I fail to put together something to say. “Erm…” I clear my throat. “No thanks. I’m sure he’s great, but I’d much rather leave the past in the past.”
Reading my distress like any good friend would, Cell changes the subject. “Where are you?”
“Just about to King’s Cursed.”
“How’s the new ride?”
“It’s nice.” I smile and look around the front seat. Leather. Cup holders. A radio that works. Even one of those black tree air fresheners hanging from the rearview mirror.
“I bet. Well, if you’re ever in my neck of the woods, we should share a hot chocolate.”
“That sounds great.”
“Keep in touch, Iris. I mean it.”
“I will. Don’t worry about me.”
With a heavy goodbye, the call disconnects just as I’m passing the Welcome to Kings Cursed sign and its ominous threat to make me turn around.
I grin at the warning, excited to see my sister again. Nine days. I was gone for nine whole days. But for some reason, it feels much longer. A month, at least.
Once I pass the strip club and all the old shops, I take the road to my new temporary home.
Mia’s dog runs through front yards, playing fetch.
A colorful tennis ball flies into the afternoon sky, and when I focus on the person throwing it, I slam on my brakes.
My tires screech as my body slams forward.
For half a beat, I fear I broke my new truck.
Next, I throw it into park, in the middle of the road, as someone with dark hair, wearing a leather cut, and gray eyes, saunters with the brightest, heart-stopping smile I’ve ever seen.
My stomach somersaults half a billion times as he reaches me, knocks on the driver’s side window, and opens the door.
A rush of fresh air whooshes inside, catching strands of my wig.
Shocked to my core, my eyes widen and widen until they may very well pop out of their sockets, and what does this man do?
He continues to batter me with an insane smile and a two-day-old scruff that would make any woman drool.
Even one such as myself, who doesn’t even like men.
Though it doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate a fine specimen when I see one.
And this…
Oh. My. Gawd.
He is fine.
But he’s also…
Here.
Why in the hell is he here?
The man in question rests his tatted forearm on the edge of my doorjamb and leans in.
“Hi, Iris. It’s nice to see you again,” he purrs, and since I’m struck dumb, unable to form a single coherent reply, he chuckles. It’s as warm as melted chocolate and…
Really… Truly… What the fuck is he doing here?
Flashing me a devious wink, Dark reaches into my truck and across me to unlatch my seatbelt.
His body brushes mine, and every cell feels it.
Good lord, he smells of all things delicious—woods, fresh air, cedar, and a hint of citrus.
His scent invades my senses as he slides an arm under my legs and lifts me out of my 4Runner.
And for some stupid, insane reason, I let him, as I keep staring, on the verge of a panic attack.
“Breathe,” he whispers into my ear as he carries me from the safety of my vehicle to my house, where Dee looks only half murderous on the stoop, standing next to Sola and Rot.
There’s another man I don’t recognize in the grass—wide with short blond hair and no shirt, with a teeth-print tattoo on his chest. He resumes playing with Mia’s mutt as Dark carries me to the porch, where he deposits me in front of my sister.
But instead of stepping away and giving me space to handle what is sure to be a massive fight, he stands at my back.
Like, touching me. His hand lingers in the curve right above my ass.
It sears through the cotton of my T-shirt, and this weird, fluttery sensation goes berserk in my chest, robbing me of any thought.
So when Dee’s palm slices across my cheek and pain blooms in its wake, it takes half a second too long to register that my sister just slapped me.
The shock brings tears to my eyes as the person behind me growls.
“Was that fuckin’ necessary?” he snarls at my sister, and I wait for her to launch herself at him, but she doesn’t.
Dee flips him off, but keeps her gaze trained on me, like she doesn’t see him as a threat, and that shocks the shit out of me.
Touching my cheek, I sigh. “I know I deserved it.”
Dee’s curt nod agrees.
“Are we good?” I ask.
“Yes.”
“Do you forgive me for leaving without telling you?”
“Yes.”
“So can you stop barricading the front door and let me inside?” I nod to said doorway.
The slow shake of Dee’s head makes my stomach drop.
Sola steps forward. “Dee and I have been talking a lot since you left. We think it’s best if you…”
“Live your own life,” Dee fills in.
“What do you mean, live my own life? This is my life.” I gesture to this place.
Dee shakes her head, and her dark braid sways. “Not here.”
“What the fuck?”
“We need space.”
Says who?
“Is this because I left? So I could tie up the loose ends, and I didn’t tell you? Look, I understand you’re pissed.”
“It’s not that,” Dee says, looking to Sola for backup. The giant from the yard takes this as his cue to join us, and ain’t that just fan-fuckin-tastic? Now we have a crowd to witness… whatever this is… My sister disowning me? Kicking me out of her life? Replacing me with this new family?
Gritting my teeth, I inhale through my nose to keep from breaking down. I’m not gonna cry. I’m not. Nope. Fuck them. Fuck whatever this is.
Tucking a strand of red hair behind her ear, Sola looks to the blond man beside Dark.
It’s he who speaks. “This town ain’t for you.”
That’s just what one wants to hear after being away from her sister for nine days, who drove hours straight through to be here, only to be unwelcome.
“So you’re telling me to leave?”
“Yes,” the blond says without emotion.
Whirling around to face Dark, I clench both fists at my sides. “Did you know about this?” I growl, focusing my anger on him. Why? I don’t know. I just am.
“Yes,” he replies without hesitation.
“When did you get here?”
“Three days ago.”
“Did you hear about this before or after you arrived?”
“Before.”
“So you’re really here to do what?” I cock my head to the side and wait for the truth.
“To take you home.”
An angry growl wrenches from my throat as the urge to punch someone or something makes my skin itch. When I can’t take it anymore, I poke the big man in the chest. In a spot I can’t be certain he doesn’t have stitches, but it doesn’t matter. “Well. Newsflash. I don’t have a home.”
The asshole’s lip twitches as if he thinks me being pissed off is cute. “Yes. You do. It’s just not here.”
Ah yes. Elusive bullshit, again. Dog-tired from driving for hours on end, I don’t even try to stop the urge when I poke him again. This time, I know I hit a tender spot when he flinches. “Then where the fuck is it?”
Dark
The words with me tingle on the tip of my tongue as I stare into the most beautiful eyes I’ve ever seen.
They’re wet with unshed tears. Red around the edges.
This is hurting Iris. We knew it would, and my heart aches for her.
But this is necessary for her and her sister.
If Iris needs someone to take her frustration out on, that’s fine by me.
Poke me in the chest. Slap me. I can take it.
Cry. Don’t cry. It doesn’t change that I’m not leaving her.
When I talked to Cell about Iris, she told me she sent them to Kings Cursed. In less than an hour, I was on the phone with Rot and Sola, who’ve gotten to know Dee over the past week, but that’s not my story to tell.
I’m here for Iris.
To bring her home with me.
To give her a soft, safe place to land, close to Cell and other women like her. But away from Dee, who needs to figure out shit on her own. They need space and real time apart.
Wanting to shoulder this with her, I take a leap I know I shouldn’t, and cup Iris’s face in my hands. She startles but doesn’t yank away.
“I’ve got a place for you to stay. A new home for you. A place that’s just yours.”
A single tear breaks free and rolls down her cheek. I swipe it away with my thumb to hide the evidence. “Where?” Her bottom lip wobbles as she wraps her dainty little fingers around my wrists. Not to push me away, but as an anchor—or that’s how it feels to me—and damn if I don’t love it.
“Just a block or two from Cell,” I explain.
“By your family.”
“Yes.”
“Why are you here?”
“I don’t know, but I am, and I’m not leaving without you.” I couldn’t if I wanted to. I can’t get her out of my head. I have to do this.
“I don’t want to go.” Iris sniffs, breaking my damn heart.
I caress her cheeks with my thumbs. “I know, sweetheart, but you’ll be happy once you do.”
Looking past Iris, I focus on Dee. Her eyes well with tears, and I get it. This is hard for them, but it’s what she wants. For her sister to be set free. I’m just here to make it happen. To see that Iris is safe and cared for in any way she’ll allow.