Chapter 6
6
Nina woke up and looked around the room. A smile lifted her lips when she remembered she was safe. In Monty’s office with him and Zeke right next door.
She sat up and looked through the glass wall to where the two men she loved were huddled together and in deep discussion. Nina didn’t know how long she’d been asleep, but she felt like she couldn’t get enough rest. Between the emotional toll of detailing the last twelve years of her life and the lack of restful sleep for almost that long, Nina was exhausted.
But she was safe, and that was really what mattered.
Since Monty and Zeke were working, she decided to look around Monty’s office. He didn’t have pictures on his desk and had very few personal items throughout the office. There was an old picture of her, maybe a school picture, on the bookshelf behind his desk. She picked it up and tried to remember the innocent girl she once was.
Teenage Nina wanted to play soccer in college. She was an excellent defender, sweeper since her freshman year. She’d been scouted as a sophomore and knew she could have gotten a scholarship.
But she walked away from it all for her brother. And walked right into a hell she never expected.
Nina returned the picture to its spot and smiled when she caught sight of another photo. Monty and Zeke were standing on a beach, arms around each other, and smiling like they’d won the lottery. She hadn’t seen either of them smile since she’d been back. Not like that. They looked happy. Free. Relaxed.
“That was the day I became a SEAL,” Monty said from behind Nina.
She spun, embarrassed to be caught snooping. “Sorry.”
Monty shook his head and walked closer. He stood next to her and stared at the photo. “You can look at anything. I was so happy that day. It was hard to get through that training. I wanted to quit so many times, but I kept going.”
“Was Zeke a SEAL, too?”
Monty nodded. “He wasn’t sure what he wanted to do, but after you… He decided to join me. I knew I wanted to be a SEAL, so he signed up. Went through training after me, but he was there the day I got my trident.”
“You two look happy.”
Monty breathed a laugh. “We were. We felt like we were doing something. Making a difference.”
Nina looked up at her brother. A ghost of that smile was on his lips, but the shadows in his eyes were different. Darker. “But you came back.”
Monty looked at her. He held her gaze for a moment, then nodded. “I hated leaving when I did. It killed me to walk away knowing you were out there.”
“There was nothing you could have done,” Nina whispered.
“Maybe not, but it ate at me until I could come back here.”
“I thought it was the best thing for you.”
“I know. And maybe it was. I just wish we’d been able to talk. God, so many things… Fuck, Nina, you’re here. And all you’ve been through...”
Nina put her hand on her brother’s arm, letting his warmth and strength soak into her. “There were so many others worse off than me. I don’t know why she liked me, but I was lucky. It could have been so much worse.”
Monty swallowed thickly, his throat working with the effort. He drew a breath and shook his head, pinching his nose and squeezing his eyes shut. “I want to kill her for what she put you through.”
“Me, too,” Nina admitted.
Monty exhaled a laugh and pulled her into his arms. “At least we agree on that one.”
Nina chuckled. “She’s ruthless. I didn’t see it for a long time, but the last few years she’s gotten worse. If Zeke hadn’t gotten there when he did, she would have killed me for trying to leave.”
“Did you try to leave before?”
Nina shook her head and moved away from her brother. She returned to the couch and pulled the blanket over her lap. “Another girl tried once. She was nice. Didn’t have anyone, but she was really sweet. Happy and positive. They picked her up in a bar, drugged her, and no one knew she was gone. She was eighteen.”
“What happened to her?” Monty sat next to Nina.
Nina shrugged. “Gwendolyn. The girl’s name was Annie. She fought back on everything. Told them she was going to get out of there one day. She would talk whenever they brought men in to her. Talked so much the men didn’t want her. Gwendolyn told her she either had to shut up and take it or she’d be of no use. Annie snuck out that night. Tried to run away.”
“Did she make it?”
Nina swallowed. She could still see Annie’s face the next morning. “The guards caught her. Brought her to Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn beat her until she was barely recognizable. She lined all of us up in one room. Annie was there, her hands bound. She was bloody and bruised and naked. Gwendolyn told us that was what happened if we tried to run. If we thought we didn’t belong to her. She said we were her property to do whatever she wanted to do. She shot Annie. In the chest. Made us all stand there and watch her bleed out.”
“Fuck.”
Nina drew a breath, closing her eyes and remembering Annie. “She was just trying to live. She wanted to be a person.” Nina wiped the tears from her cheeks. “No one tried to run after that.”
“How long ago was that?”
Nina shrugged. “Five years, maybe? It all kind of blends together when there’s nothing to mark the passing of time, but I think it’s been about that long.”
“I’m so sorry, Nina. I can’t…”
“Don’t blame yourself. Or Zeke. The choice to leave was mine. I was so afraid of Dad, and I knew if I was gone, there would be no reason for him to come back.”
“He did come back. He lived in the house for six years before he died.”
“He’s dead?” Nina gasped.
Monty nodded. “Drank himself to death. Passed out one night and never woke up, according to the medical examiner.”
“Thank God,” Nina breathed.
“Yeah. But… This place exists because of him.”
“What do you mean?”
“He didn’t have a will, no surprise, but since I was his only living family, without you here, everything went to me. I guess, legally, that means you own half of this place.”
Nina shook her head. “This is yours. You’re doing good work here, Monty. I’m so proud of you.”
Monty hugged her again. “I’m so happy you’re back. And anything you need, let me know. Zeke is my emergency contact, and he has access to all my accounts, so he’ll get you whatever you need.”
“Are you mad I want to stay with him?”
Monty shook his head slowly. “Mad? No. Curious, but you need to feel safe. I don’t get to question what makes you feel safe right now.”
“You know he’d never hurt me, right?”
“Yes. I would never question that.”
“Except last night?” Nina asked.
Monty exhaled sharply. “Last night was… Walking in and seeing you. Seeing you in his clothes and your wet hair, those bruises. I lost my mind. I reacted.”
“Did you apologize to him for it?” Nina asked.
Monty twisted his lips at her and shook his head. “No.”
“Maybe you should. Make sure he knows you’re not mad.”
Monty rolled his eyes. “Fine.” He reached back and pounded on the glass wall that separated the offices.
“Yeah?” Zeke called.
“Sorry I punched you,” Monty shouted without taking his gaze from Nina.
Nina smiled, laughing at her brother.
“All good. If you put your hips into it, it might have actually hurt.”
Monty pressed the back of his hand to the glass, his middle finger the only one raised.
Zeke’s return laughter made Nina smile.
“It’s good to see you two are still close.”
“Couldn’t get closer,” Monty said. “He’s saved my life more times than I can count.” He looked out at the office, at the company he built and the people who helped him to run it. “Everyone here has. We’ve created a family. It’s dysfunctional, but we love it.”
“We wouldn’t know what to do with a functional family.”
Monty chuckled. “That’s too true.”
Nina leaned her head on his shoulder, enjoying the comfort. It was so different being back. So good.
A knock on the door lifted Nina’s head. A smile lifted her lips when she saw Zeke looking uncomfortable.
“Sorry to interrupt. I wasn’t sure how long you guys wanted to stay today.” Zeke glanced between the two of them, waiting for someone to tell him.
“What time is it?” Nina asked.
“After four,” Monty said.
“Seriously? I slept a lot longer than I realized.”
“We didn’t want to wake you,” Zeke said.
“You didn’t eat, though. You have to be starving,” Monty said.
Nina shrugged. “I don’t look like it, but we went without food a lot. I’m not used to eating regular meals.”
“One more reason to kill her,” Monty said.
“You’re perfect,” Zeke said at the same time.
Nina smiled at both of them. “Well, she will get what’s coming to her. And I’m ready to go whenever you guys are. I’m a high school dropout who’s been presumed dead for a decade, so I have nowhere I have to be.”
Zeke and Monty exchanged a pained look that made Nina regret her attempt at a joke.
“Sorry.”
“We’re happy you’re here.”
“Mont, come over for dinner. We can tell Nina more about what you’ve been up to without a wife and kids.” Zeke raised his brows at Monty.
Monty nodded. “Sounds good. Let’s head out.”
Nina smiled, following her favorite people and looking forward to the night for the first time in forever.
Zeke stood in his kitchen and watched Nina and Montgomery laugh. He was telling her stories about SEAL training, about life in the military, and about Rose Protection Agency.
It hit Zeke that it was all either of them had. No wives, girlfriends, kids, or anyone significant besides each other. They’d both had their share of flings and hookups over the years, but no one they wanted to keep around for longer than a few nights.
The woman Zeke was staring at was his reason. Hands down.
He could still remember the moment he fell in love with Nina. He was out of high school. Floundered for years without a path or a plan. He worked and built up some skills, but he didn’t know what he wanted to do with his life.
Monty was on a break from school and invited Zeke over. Even though Montgomery lived at home with his mom and Nina, between working full time and going to school full time, they didn’t see much of each other.
Zeke couldn’t remember the last time he’d been there, but the night he went was Nina’s birthday. She was sixteen.
Zeke was twenty-one, like Montgomery, but neither of them drank at his house after the violence Mont’s father inflicted on the family. Their mom bought sparkling grape juice for Nina’s birthday and baked her a cake and made mac-and-cheese for her birthday dinner.
She looked so happy. Her smile was magnetic, and the four of them laughed and talked all through dinner and cake and when they settled in the living room.
Nina sat next to Zeke on the couch, and her soft, sweet scent hit him. Her skin glowed, and he felt more than his usual stirring of desire.
Then she mentioned a boyfriend. A boy named Jeremy, who wanted to take her out on a date. She said he was nice and he was cute and she wanted to go. That weekend for her birthday.
Zeke couldn’t see straight. He was so angry and so jealous that he nearly threw up. But he couldn’t tell her no. He couldn’t say anything. He had to stuff down his desire and keep his distance from her. She was too young, and she was his best friend’s little sister.
She went on the date, and she was blissfully in love with Jeremy for a month.
Zeke went to their house every week for dinner after that. He punished himself with her presence, reminding himself she was untouchable and she deserved better than a man with no direction and no future.
Thirteen years later, Zeke couldn’t say he thought any differently. Nina still deserved better than him. She was still untouchable. But she was no longer too young for him.
“Can we do anything to help with dinner?” Nina asked from the couch, laughing when Gene bumped her hand to get her attention again.
“No. All good,” Zeke said, busying himself with checking on the steaks in the oven. Brussel sprouts were perfectly roasted, and the mashed potatoes were creamy and lump-free. Unlike his throat.
He wanted his best friend’s little sister. And that made him an asshole. Because she was not just off-limits, but she was fragile and wounded and she needed to heal.
Zeke fixed two plates and carried them to the living room.
Nina gushed over the scent of the food, closing her eyes and inhaling deep.
Zeke excused himself, needing the solitude of the kitchen before Nina and Mont both caught the raging hard-on he was sporting. Zeke fixed his own plate, taking his time and ignoring the voices in the living room while he controlled the desire he couldn’t control.
“Are you okay?” Nina asked when Zeke sat on the chair across from the couch.
“Yep. How’s the food?”
“Amazing,” Nina said with a groan.
Fucking hell, he was not going to survive dinner with her.
“Always good, man,” Mont said.
Zeke nodded and focused on his plate. He barely tasted the food with Nina in the room. She still smelled like him, her skin soaked in his body wash. After a full day, it should have worn off, but somehow it hadn’t.
Every damn thing about her was making him crazy. He thought he only had to keep it together for one night, but she wanted to stay with him. She would be in his bed again. In his shower. On his couch and in his kitchen and in his SUV. She was invading his space, and he loved it.
And hated it.
He’d always dreamed of a life with Nina. When he dreamed of his future, it was her by his side. He’d never met another woman who made him feel the way she did.
But she wasn’t there because she wanted the same thing. She was there because she needed protection.
And rule number one was don’t fuck the client.
Even if Nina wasn’t technically a client, the same rule applied.
“You good?” Montgomery was in the kitchen, in Zeke’s space, his voice quiet.
“Yeah. What’s up?”
Montgomery waved his phone. “I need to take care of something.”
“You going alone?”
Montgomery shook his head. “Walker’s going to meet me.”
Zeke nodded. Walker St. Brown was quiet and menacing and not someone anyone wanted to fuck with. If Montgomery was going somewhere that required backup like Walker, Zeke was worried. “Everything okay?”
Montgomery nodded. “Yeah. No big deal, really. I knew Walker would be available.”
Zeke returned Montgomery’s smile. Walker had zero social life. Even more of a loner than Zeke was, Walker didn’t pick up women or date or even talk about women. Or anyone. Walker was a mystery, but he was a reliable teammate and someone Zeke wouldn’t hesitate to have at his six.
“Are you coming back tonight?”
Montgomery held Zeke’s gaze for a long minute and shook his head. “Not unless you need me to. She wants to be here with you. I’m not going to push to be a third wheel.”
“Come on. It’s not like that.”
“I’m good. I promise.” Montgomery went back to the living room and said goodbye to his sister. Nina hugged him tightly and told him to be safe. Montgomery promised he would, then waved to Zeke and let himself out the front door, locking it with his key after he left.
“Just you and me,” Nina said. She patted the couch next to her, the side that wasn’t occupied by cats. “Come sit.”
Zeke did not want to sit next to her. He did not want to have her in his space. He did not want to be close to her and not be able to touch her.
But he couldn’t say no to her.
He sat down, determined to keep a space between them, but Nina didn’t get the same message. She leaned over, resting her head on his shoulder and her hand on his leg.
Zeke kept himself rigid next to her, his back straight and his body tight. He barely breathed.
Nina shifted next to him and laughed. “Relax. You’re acting like I’m going to bite you.”
“Just don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”
“You could never, Zeke. I promise. I’m good with you.”
“Okay,” Zeke said, but he didn’t feel it.
But Nina showed him he was wrong. Her laughter eased and her body sagged and before he knew it, she was snoring softly against his side.
Zeke finally relaxed. She wouldn’t be scared off by his reaction to her if she was asleep.
He kissed the side of her head and inhaled her hair. She twitched but settled again quickly.
He didn’t move. He told himself he should wake her and let her go to bed, but he missed her so damn much he couldn’t bring himself to do it. He sat there, watching one show roll to another and another, listening to her breathing and feeling her warmth beside him and thanking God for bringing her back to them.
When the evening news came on, Zeke knew they both needed to get to bed. He moved to turn off the TV, and she didn’t wake up. The glow from the stairway lights cast a soft glow on her face. He wanted to hold her, even if it was only for a minute.
He scratched Gene and Franklin’s heads, both cats waking up with a yawn, then settling down again, ignoring Zeke as they promptly fell back to sleep.
Zeke slid his arms beneath Nina’s knees and neck and stood. She stirred and turned toward him, sighing as her body relaxed in his arms.
He moved around the couch, then turned sideways to carry her up the stairs. He turned off the light so it didn’t wake her, then climbed one step at a time. At the top, he turned to his room and moved to the bed. He kicked the blankets back and leaned forward to set her on the mattress.
Her eyes opened when she touched the mattress. She grabbed his arm, a sharp inhale belaying her fear.
“You’re safe, Nina. It’s Zeke. You’re in my bed.”
“Don’t leave me,” she whispered.
Zeke warred with himself. He knew the right thing to do. He knew the smart thing to do.
“Please.”
He wasn’t going to do the right thing or the smart thing. He was going to do whatever Nina asked him to do. “Yes.”