by Bale, Sarah
Kat took Grey’s lead and said, “Rose, we can help you.”
“Please, stop. If she hears she’ll only hurt him worse than she has.”
Daisy pulled out of my arms and faced her mom.
“Lilly did this? To Daddy?”
I wished there was some way to comfort Daisy. But there wasn’t.
Rose’s head dipped once in response.
“Why? Why would she do this?”
“Because your father was weak-”
“No! Don’t say that. Dad wasn’t weak and you know it!”
Rose wiped a tear from her cheek. “Daisy, you don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Daisy turned to me, eyes wild.
“Rose, you’ve been through a lot. Why don’t you put Brad down and come sit.”
Rose stared at me. She asked, “You promise you won’t hurt him?”
“We won’t touch him,” I replied.
She lifted the box and kissed the decaying forehead of her husband. If it had a body attached to it, it would be holding onto her shoulder, biting her on the neck right now. But all the head could do was open and close its mouth, silently searching for a meal.
It was the most disgusting thing I’d ever seen in my life. And exactly what Lilly wanted us to see.
Rose crossed the room and sat on the couch covered in a lovely floral print. In another life, I would’ve made a comment about how clever the couch was, with the print being daisies, lilies, and roses. Now, it just felt sick.
Daisy joined her mom on the couch.
“Mom, why didn’t you tell me right away that Dad was gone?”
“He’s not gone, Daisy. Your father is clearly over there.”
We all looked at the box. Daisy shuddered.
“Mom, you know what I mean.”
“No, I don’t.”
Daisy gave me a worried glance. It was hard to tell if her mom really thought Brad was still alive or if she just meant he was there in the general sense.
I asked, “Rose, can you tell us what happened to Brad? What did he do that made Lilly cut his head from his body?”
She flinched. “She didn’t cut his head from his body – not at first at least.”
Grey muttered something under his breath that sounded a lot like Jesus fucking Christ.
“What did she do at first?”
Rose traced a pattern on the couch, reminding me of a child who was in trouble. Daisy was right – something was off with Rose’s mental state.
“You have to understand, Lilly only did what she thought was best for everyone. When she got here, things weren’t good. Brad had a hard time telling people no. But Lilly, she came in with guns blazing and saved us.”
Daisy asked, “Who did he have to tell no?”
“A lot of people. Mostly it was those who knew him and worked for him. Tim was the worst.”
Daisy huffed. “How was Theo’s dad the worst?” Her face paled. “Oh my god. She killed him, didn’t she? That’s what Theo meant when he said his dad didn’t make it!”
Rose nodded. “He broke the rules and so he had to go. He just didn’t handle it very well when Tommy left. Went after him.”
“Did he find him?”
“Yes. It didn’t matter, though. Lilly killed Tommy for running and Tim for going after him.”
Daisy glanced at me and then asked. “And Ted?”
“He took his own life. Some people just can’t handle the way things are now.” She shrugged. “After Theo gave him the rope, he figured out the rest.”
Daisy exclaimed, “Gave him the rope? Oh my god! Do you hear yourself right now?”
“Don’t talk to me like that. You weren’t here. You have no idea what things were like. Whether you believe it or not, we would have died without Lilly protecting us.”
Daisy’s face was flushed. She stood and walked away from her mother.
I asked, “What did Brad do that caused Lilly to punish him?”
I chose my words carefully. It worked.
“There were little things. We all make mistakes, of course, but it was when he wanted to let a group of men in that sealed his fate. Lilly told him no and he went to the gate and started to open it.”
“Who were they?”
“I never saw them. Theo said they looked rough. When Lilly realized what Brad was doing, she followed him and cut off his hand.”
Daisy gasped.
“Some of the men who worked for him said Lilly crossed a line.”
No shit.
“So she cut his other hand off to make a point and had him cauterize his own wounds so he wouldn’t bleed out. He was forced to carry them around in a bag hanging around his neck until the smell became too much.”
Fuck. Lilly was more twisted than I thought. But how was Rose being so calm about this?
Rose went on, “Things settled down for a week or so. But then Brad wouldn’t let Lilly sit at the head of the table and she… overreacted. It was a pride thing, really, on both their ends.”
“Mom, I don’t want to hear this,” Daisy moaned.
“She cut him with a rusty knife and he got an infection. After he got sick and… came back… she showed him mercy by cutting his head from his body. She said I should keep him with me, in my room, so I wouldn’t be lonely.”
Grey caught my gaze and I knew we were both thinking the same thing. No, it was so everyone else would see what she could and would do.
“Mom, how can you stay here? After all of that!”
“It’s not all bad. Lilly still lets me plant flowers even though we could use the flowerbeds for growing vegetables.”
Grey said, “No offense, ma’am, but it seems like you’re holding onto the shit-covered end of the stick.”
That was putting it mildly. Daisy shook her head.
“Mom.”
Rose stood. “I’m tired.”
She went to the door and tried the knob. It opened this time. She went to get her box just as Lilly came into the room with her guards right behind her.
“Oh, no. No. No. No, Aunt Rose. Did I say you could take him with you when you left?”
“Lilly-”
Lilly gave Rose a look. Rose put the box down and walked away, head hanging low. When she was gone, Lilly turned to Daisy, smiling.
“Well, did you catch up with your dad, Daisy?”
6
Daisy
“You’re sick, Lilly. What is wrong with you?”
Lilly’s eyebrow lifted. “Careful. I don’t think your mother would ever forgive you if you were the reason a knife went through Uncle Brad’s temple.”
One of the men behind Lilly grinned and I wanted to punch him.
Elijah snapped, “You’ve made your point, Lilly.”
Her eyes flashed and she made sure the guns at her waist were visible. “Have I? For some reason it still feels like y’all aren’t sure who’s in charge around here. Let me make it clear. It’s me. No one else. Not Aunt Rose. Not Theo. And certainly not any of you.”
I asked, “Why would you even feel like you have to say that? Have we threatened you?”
“No one threatens me, Daisy. Got it? I just want to make it very clear who is running things.”
Grey said, “We get the picture, lady.”
“That right there is what I’m talking about. Would you talk to your ‘Boss’ over there like that?”
Tension rolled off Elijah in waves. “Where did you hear that term? You’ve made a point to use it around me a few times today.”
“Yes. I have. But, like I said before, it’s none of your business where I heard the term. Just know that I’m aware of a lot of things.”
Grey huffed. “You are out of your ever-loving mind. We’re leaving.”
“I wouldn’t, if I were you. I already told you I’ve decided you can stay. But if you do leave, just know you’ll die. Because I will personally track you down and kill you.”
Holy crap. My cousin was insane! I expected Grey to reply, but he glanc
ed at Kat, who shook her head.
Lilly smiled. “Good. Y’all should head to your bunks. Tomorrow is going to be a busy day.”
She walked out of the study talking to her men, leaving us alone. I turned to Elijah.
“We need to get the fuck out of here before my mom ends up carrying our heads in a box.”
Elijah stared at me, but didn’t say anything. I wanted to know what was on his mind. Probably the same thing we were all thinking – how were we going to get out of this?
Thankfully, I didn’t see Lilly for the rest of the day. Grey and Kat went off on their own, walking to the bunks. Elijah said he was going to try to get some more information about Lilly. What he really wanted to know was what she knew about him and what had happened in Oklahoma.
Theo found me washing dishes at the kitchen sink. Might as well keep up on my chores until we had a plan.
“Are you okay after seeing – you know?”
“After seeing my dad’s head in a fucking box? No, I’m not okay. And I can’t believe you are, either. My mom told me what happened to your dad and brothers.”
He frowned. “She shouldn’t have told you that. It wasn’t your business to know.”
“Bullshit, Theo. I grew up with them.” Shaking my head, I said, “How could you stand by and let it happen?”
“Has she taken you to the south pasture yet?”
I asked, “What are you talking about?”
“Has Lilly given you the grand tour? I can already tell she hasn’t.”
“No, she hasn’t. Why?”
He sighed. “When she shows you, you’ll understand why I didn’t try to save them.”
He gave me another sad look and went outside. I was flabbergasted. What in the heck was in that pasture?
Grumbling, I picked up another dish and wiped it clean. When Elijah had found me and took me back to the hospital I had ended up on kitchen duty. So it was funny that that’s where I’d ended up here, too.
I loathed washing dishes, especially for a bunch of lazy men who didn’t know how to rinse off a plate. But, I wasn’t about to give Lilly a reason to be angry with me, so I washed every last dish on the counter.
When I left, Cooper was waiting to walk me to the bunks.
“Long day?”
I snorted. “That’s putting it mildly.”
“I used to be on dish duty before they found out that I could cook. I hated it.”
“Well, I’m glad they’re putting your skills to good use. Everything I’ve had so far has been awesome.”
“Thank you.”
We fell into a comfortable silence. At the bunks we ran into Kat and Grey talking in hushed tones. I heard one thing crystal clear, though.
“We’re leaving in two days.”
Grey saw us coming and ushered Kat inside. Cooper didn’t act like he’d heard anything. Maybe he hadn’t. Or maybe he was trained well enough to play it off. My chest felt heavy. This was too much to handle in one day.
“Have a good night,” he said before going back toward the house.
I slipped inside. Grey’s snores already filled the room. If Kat was awake I couldn’t tell. Well shit. I’d wanted to tell them that I thought Cooper might have heard them.
Sighing, I kicked off my boots. My bed was empty, but there was a light coming from under the bathroom door. I climbed under the blanket, not even bothering to undress. The bathroom door opened and Elijah came out.
He settled next to me, pulling me close against his body. When we were on the road I used to take moments like this, where I felt semi-safe, and would allow myself to mourn everything we’d lost at the hospital.
The sense of safety.
All the supplies.
The barn and animals that fed us.
Bertha.
Juan.
A tear slid down my cheek.
“Are you awake?” Elijah whispered into my ear where no one would hear.
I nodded and turned so I was facing him. His eyebrows knitted together and he wiped the tears from my face.
“Don’t cry.”
I sniffed. “We made a mistake by coming here.” I amended. “I made a mistake. I should have never suggested it.”
“You had no idea what would be waiting here. Don’t blame yourself.”
“Elijah, we have to get out of here. If she can do that to my dad – a man who practically raised her – there is no telling what she’ll do to us.”
He didn’t try to comfort me this time. We both knew it was true.
“Grey and Kat told me they’re leaving in a few days. After they get out of here I say we give it a week and then follow them. Give them enough time to get somewhere safe.”
I met his gaze and nodded. “I hate to wait that long.”
But it had to be done. Lilly had already made it clear that us leaving alive was out of the question.
Elijah said, “I hate waiting that long, too, but Grey and Kat can take care of themselves.”
“What about the others that came here with us.”
The handful of men who’d left everything in Oklahoma to follow us. We couldn’t just leave them behind.
“Grey’s been talking to them. Told them to run if they got a chance. Or stay if they felt like this could be home.” At my look he said, “This might be the best option for some of them. Your cousin doesn’t watch them like she watches us, so they might have a chance.”
That was true. She’d even let some of them go just outside of the gates to help repair the barbed wire fences used to tangle up the dead. More freedom than we’d ever dream of getting here.
“We should come up with a meeting point,” I said.
He smiled. “I thought the same thing. I was thinking the place where we hid the guns.”
I’d been thinking the same thing.
“Let’s try to get some sleep.”
I settled into his embrace, making myself comfortable.
“Careful.” At my look he grinned. “If you wiggle around much more you’ll have to finish what you start.”
A wave of desire rushed through my body. I rubbed against him again. “Promise?”
He kissed me and pulled me flush against him. “Minx.”
I slid my hand under his shirt, exploring his warm skin. When I flicked his nipple, air hissed through his lips.
“I’m going to fuck you right now.”
I giggled and nipped his earlobe. “Let’s take a walk. There’s something you should see.”
He stood and waited for me to get up. I grabbed a blanket from the cot and led him outside. The grounds were guarded at night, but I was taking him a short distance to an old barn where, according to Theo, no one would be. He went in first and I followed.
“How did you know it would be empty?”
I replied, “Theo told me.”
He grunted and I wrapped my arms around his neck. “I like this jealous side, Sir.”
Desire made his eyes dark. “What’s mine is mine.”
“Ditto.” I nipped his lip. “Know why I picked this barn?”
He shook his head. I led him further into the barn, to a ladder. I climbed it up to the loft and waited for him to follow. He grinned.
“I think I’m starting to understand.”
The barn was much like the one his men had found me in back in Oklahoma. I spread the blanket out and he watched, lips twitching.
“When you came into that barn, all sexy and bossy, I knew I was in trouble.”
“Did you now?”
“When you told me to come down I almost didn’t. But I knew you’d come for me.”
“Smart girl.”
I grinned and tugged my shirt off.
“When you said you weren’t a whore I knew I was the one in trouble.” At my look he went on, “No one had ever been that blunt to me. It was refreshing.”
I laughed. “Just remember that in the future.”
He grinned and pulled his shirt over his head, tossing it next to mine. His body was beautif
ul Tanned skin, muscular, and all mine.
“I’d like you to fuck me now, Sir.”
His eyebrows raised. “No can do. I can, however, make love to you.”
My heart melted as he took his pants off. When he was undressed he pulled my jeans down my legs, leaving a trail of kisses on my skin.
“I think about that day a lot – how we were meant to meet.”
I blinked, surprised. “Me, too.”
He lips brushed against mine before kissing the pulsing hollow at the base of my neck. And then he bit, causing me to moan. At the same time his hand went between my legs.
“My dirty girl is always so wet for me.”
My hips bucked as he stroked and toyed with me. But I wanted more. I pushed his head and he met my gaze before moving lower. He latched onto my nipple, sucking until it was a swollen bud. And then he flicked it. Hard. I cried out, my body shaking with pleasure.
“Did I say you could come?”
My eyes opened and I found him smiling down at me.
“I guess I need to be spanked to learn a lesson.”
He laughed loudly. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
He lowered his head and showered my other breast with the same attention. And then he moved lower. I threw my leg over his shoulder, giving him better access to my most private spot.
His beard rubbed against my sensitive flesh creating a delicious sensation. Hot breath hit my opening before he began licking and lapping. I thrust against him, chanting his name. Sweat dripped down my body and I was so dang close to coming. And then he pulled away.
His eyes were wicked. “Not yet.”
I groaned as he settled over me, letting me feel his weight. His cock brushed against me and he grinned.
“Cock tease.”
He kissed me and then slid into my aching pussy. We both sighed at the connection. And then he thrust, slow and deep. I bucked beneath him, but he kept his torturous pace.
“Elijah,” I moaned.
“Come for me, love.”
My body shook at his command and I came hard. He grunted and began pumping faster. Sweat beaded on his forehead and his eyes were so dark as he looked down at me. I met his thrusts and soon we were both panting. He came first and I was right behind him. Our pleasure was pure and explosive.
