“How did you get away?”
“Mr. Brant kept a car for me at the salvage lot in town. He’d placed a bag of clothes, my IDs and some cash in a bag in the trunk. There was also a note. He told me to come here and ask for help.”
“Why didn’t you just tell me that from the start?”
“I was scared. I thought you’d blame me for what happened to Peter and Sally and send me away. I thought it would just be easier to make some money and go.” The tears started to fall once again as I said, “I live with the guilt of what happened to them every day of my life. I have even more guilt for being alive. I should’ve been home with my mother and sister. I should’ve died right there along with them.”
“You can’t think that way, Parker. None of this was your fault.”
“You can say that as many times as you want, but I don’t think I’ll ever believe it. I brought death to those people’s door, and if I don’t leave, I’ll do the same to you.”
“You’re not leaving.” He slipped his arm around me and pulled me closer. “We’ll figure a way out of this.”
“But how? It’s only a matter of time before they find me again.”
“You don’t live in a world like mine without learning how to deal with men like Rossi.”
“But what happens when someone recognizes me from the news...”
“You’ve made it this far without being recognized.” He sounded so sure, so calm when he said, “Stop trying to buy trouble with all this and just give my brothers and me some time to come up with a plan.”
“The brothers?” I gasped. “You’re going to get them involved in all this?”
“They’ve been involved from the start, babe,” he scoffed. “They knew just as well as I did that something was going on with you, and if there’s a way they can help, they will.”
“But they barely know me.”
“They won’t be doing it for you. They’ll be doing it for me.”
“They would help even if they knew their lives were in danger?”
“Absolutely,” he answered with confidence. “We’re brothers, and that’s what brothers do.”
“I’m starting to understand the draw to the club. Sounds like you have a pretty great thing with them.”
“I do.” He eased up on his elbow so he was facing me as he said, “Since we’re on the subject, I think you should move into my room at the clubhouse.”
“What? Are you crazy?” I shrieked as I sat up on the bed and yanked the sheet over my bare chest. “I’m not moving in with you, Menace.”
“As tempting as that might be, you wouldn’t be moving in with me, Parker. You’d just be staying in my room.”
“At the Ruthless Sinners’ clubhouse?”
“You’ll be safe there.”
“Okay, but if I’m going to stay, and that’s still an if, I like it here. I’m not sure I want to move, so I’m going to need a little time to think about it.” His brows furrowed, making it clear he wasn’t happy about my response. Hoping to set his mind at ease, I placed the palm of my hand against his cheek and said, “I’m not saying no. I’m just asking for a little time to think about it.”
“I get it.”
Menace eased the covers back, got out of the bed, and picked up his clothes from the floor. When he started getting dressed, I began to worry that he wasn’t telling me the truth when he said he understood. “Wait, are you really leaving?”
“I’m going to survey the perimeter and run a check on the security system.”
“Now?”
“Yeah, now.” He pulled on his boots, then walked over and gave me a kiss on the forehead. “It’s late. Get some sleep, and I’ll be back in a few.”
With that, he walked out of my bedroom, leaving me alone to swim in an ocean of thoughts churning around in my head. Talking about what had happened in Colorado had dredged up all those feelings of guilt and regret I’d spent months trying to overcome. I hated that those dreadful emotions had put a damper on my night with Menace. I’d fantasized time and time again about how it would feel to be in his arms, but never had I imagined it would be so wonderful. Not only had the sex been incredibly hot and all my wildest desires fulfilled, but I’d also felt safe and protected in his arms. For that brief moment in time, I hadn’t worried about Rossi or the horrible things he’d done to the people I cared about, nor had I thought about what he might do if he found me. I got to live purely in the moment, which I never thought would be possible again.
I found it very endearing that Menace had gone out to check the perimeter of my building. The man was not only unbelievably hot, he was thoughtful and attentive—something I hadn’t actually expected from him. I’d felt the attraction that radiated from us both. It was undeniable and intoxicating, but I thought that was all there was. I was beginning to wonder if I was wrong. There was a definite shift after our conversation about my past—a change in his tone and the way he looked at me—but I wasn’t sure what it meant. I was hoping to feel him out when he came back to bed, so I tried to stay awake until he returned. Unfortunately, I was too exhausted to wait him out and ended up falling asleep. A few hours later, I rolled over, expecting to find Menace lying next to me, but instead, I was alone. When I sat up, I noticed a light flickering in the living room, so I eased the covers back and got out of bed.