by Mara McBain
“I’m going to check on the food. Here’s shampoo and conditioner. There are warm pajamas and fuzzy socks in the bag there for you to change into when you’re done. Take your time.”
Eva nodded. She hoped the small smile she mustered expressed even an iota of the gratitude she was feeling. Doubt gnawed at her.
“Can this stay between us?” she asked softly.
Ginny paused with her hand on the doorknob. “All they need to know is the obvious. You left an abusive relationship. Other than that, they aren’t interested in the details. They’re men.”
“Thank you.”
The rich smell of beef filtered through the door. Eva’s stomach growled. Trying to finger-comb her wild mane into some semblance of control, she grimaced in the mirror. Without the camouflage of makeup, dark smudges cupped her blue eyes, and bruises stood out with sickening clarity.
She was thankful for the covering offered by the long-sleeved t-shirt. Her stomach growled again. Rolling the waistband on the soft pajama bottoms to account for her shorter stature, she hesitated at the door. She took a deep breath.
Four pair of eyes turned on her. Jesus! There was another one. She squirmed. Ginny took pity on her.
“Do you like beef and noodles?”
Eva nodded mutely, drawn to the mouthwatering aroma.
“How did you…”
“I can extra stew beef and dry batches of noodles. It makes for quick and easy meals when I’m in a hurry.”
“You make your own noodles?”
“It’s Zeke’s mother’s recipe. He’s spoiled,” Ginny said, stroking her husband’s nape.
Shaking her head in wonder, Eva wrapped her hands around the warm bowl and allowed Ginny to direct her to a seat on the sectional couch. She didn’t envy the women that married these boys. Their mother was going to be a tough act to follow.
“What were you doing out in the snow without a coat on?”
A warmth flooded Eva’s cheeks as she avoided the teenager’s inquisitive gaze. He had his father’s intense stare. What, indeed. How did she explain being afraid enough to run without a penny to her name, or even a coat?
“She was hiding, dolt. Leave her alone,” Rhys said, cuffing his younger brother in the back of the head.
Eva smiled in thanks, and the handsome blond gave her a wink. Dipping her head, she hid behind the veil of her hair.
“Does he know you’re in Trinity Falls?”
Her heart pounded at the simple question. Her eyes darted up to meet the family Patriarch’s. The big man met her gaze squarely.
“Zeke…” Ginny said softly, but her husband shook her off.
“We need to know what we’re dealing with, as much for her sake as ours.”
Eva couldn’t argue that. This family was putting themselves in danger by harboring her. “No,” she whispered, struggling with what and how much to tell him. “I lost them in Cleveland.”
“Did you take a straight shot here?”
Eva looked down at her lap, twirling the fork in her beef and noodles, and shook her head. He was too smart. “I was on the turnpike for a few exits. Then the trucker I hitched a ride with got off the turnpike and ended up here. I don’t even know where here is.”
“What was the trucker’s name?”
“I don’t know. I was scared. I didn’t ask his name, or even exactly where he was going. I just wanted away from Cleveland. Maybe I should go,” she said uncertainly.
“You’re not going anywhere,” Ginny said, shooting her husband a pointed look.
“Did the driver say he was from Trinity? Was it a red and silver truck?” Mox asked softly.
Eva nodded, unsure if that was good or bad. “Like I said, I never asked him where we were going. I told him anywhere was good. We got here and he just said that this was the end of the line, that he lived outside of town. He offered to take me to his place, but…”
Mox smiled, giving her hand a squeeze before looking to his father. “Sounds like Randal.”
The older man nodded and seemed to relax. Eva’s shoulders slumped. Ginny chose that moment to dish up seconds of the savory beef and noodles, and, thankfully, the discussion turned to the storm still raging outside. By the time Eva finished eating, the warmth and full belly were making her eyelids droop again. She stifled a yawn.
“Let’s get you settled,” Ginny said, slipping the bowl from Eva’s fingers. “Since the beds aren’t here yet, that leaves the couch. The sectional has a queen fold-out two of you can share and the third can sleep on the other leg. Garrett brought sleeping bags and pillows over from the clubhouse.”
Eva made note of the new name, tentatively assigning it to the large teenager, but her sleepy brain refused to follow the rest of the conversation. Ginny had missed her calling. She would’ve made a fine field general, as organized as she was. The next thing Eva knew, she was tucked into a sleeping bag with the throw blanket she’d been cuddling in wadded up next to her cheek. She tried to smile up at Ginny, her lashes falling shut against her will. Ginny stroked her hair and whispered,
“You’re safe here. Sleep well.”
Eva woke with a scream. Struggling against the dead weight pinning her to the bed, she panicked. Her feet bound, she kicked franticly. Someone leaned over her and she lashed out blindly. There was a muffled curse as her fist connected.
“What the fuck!”
The words came out more an exclamation than a question. Strong hands seized her wrists, effectively subduing her. A worried face appeared in her field of vision. Her terrified mind latched onto the presence of the gentle giant like a life preserver.
“Shhh. It’s okay. Everything’s okay. No one’s going to hurt you,” Mox whispered. His low baritone was soothing.
Slowly she floated back to reality.
“Please,” she whispered.
Mox released her. Concern and confusion lined his broad face. A movement to her right drew a flinch. The handsome blond was gently probing around his eye and blinking at the pain. Horror flooded her.
“I’m s-so sorry,” she stuttered.
Rhys waved her apologies off, still assessing the damage to his classic features.
“It was my fault. I should’ve had Mox share the hide-a-bed with me, but he reacts just as violently to my cuddling.”
“It’s the prodding that got you punched,” Mox reminded him dryly.
Eva barely smothered a surprised giggle at that mental image.
A dark blush colored Rhys’ face. “I was dreaming.”
“Yeah, well, you’re not my type, pretty boy.”
“Don’t hate me because I’m beautiful.”
“No worry of that. I have plenty of other reasons.”
“I’m wounded.”
“You’ll survive.”
“Seriously, I am sorry,” Rhys said, standing to straighten the wadded sleeping bag.
Eva shrugged, shyly tucking her hair behind her ears. “I’m sorry. I was having a nightmare and I just panicked.”
“Why don’t we trade places,” Mox offered, picking up his blanket and pillow.
“You sure you want to risk that?” she asked, a smile playing around the corner of her lips.
“Unless he wants it chopped off, he’ll keep his morning wood to himself,” Mox said with a grin.
Untangling her legs, Eva scrambled to the couch. It took a couple minutes for everyone to get settled. She lay in the dark, listening to the squeak of springs and hiss of breath. It took effort to force her muscles to relax. Exhausted, she focused in on the soft hum from the space heater until it blocked out everything else. She drifted off to sleep, wondering what the morning would bring.
Morning brought more brotherly bickering, this time over who was going in search of food and coffee. Eva lay still, loath to crawl out of her warm cocoon. Her eyes must have drifted closed because a touch to her hair startled her. Mox smiled down at her.
“Did you sleep okay?”
She nodded, burrowing her nose in the soft blank
et she’d been cuddling.
“I’m going to go get sandwiches and coffee. Do you drink coffee?”
“If it’s doctored up with enough cream and sugar,” Eva whispered.
“Would cappuccino or hot chocolate be better?”
Eva blinked at him. Why would he care what she wanted? “I don’t want to be any trouble…”
“It’s no trouble.”
“I can’t wait for The Lantern to reopen,” Rhys grumbled, standing up to stretch.
Mox must’ve seen her confusion.
“The Lantern is Ginny’s pub downstairs. This building was torched this summer. The restaurant is almost ready. When it opens, it will almost be like living at home. We can just go down for breakfast.”
“Shit. Grab me some cigarettes while you’re out, would you?”
Mox caught the empty cigarette pack his brother threw at him, unfazed.
“Okay, do you want cappuccino or hot chocolate and bacon or sausage on your croissants?”
It took a moment for Eva to realize he was talking to her again. “Oh! Either is fine.”
“You’re too easy.”
“That’s yet to be determined.”
Mox rolled his eyes at Rhys’ flirtatious remark and pulled his coat on. “I’ll be back.”
Eva listened to Mox’s thundering foot-falls as he descended the stairs. Apprehension settled in her chest like a lead weight. She breathed a little easier when Rhys disappeared into the bathroom. Had his comment been a simple jest? The expectation of sex for food and shelter certainly wasn’t a new concept. If that was what Rhys had been insinuating, who was owed? The question made her stomach churn.
Biting her lip, she slipped out of her sleeping bag. Rolling it up neatly, she turned to do the same with the others. She was folding the hide-a-bed away when the bathroom door opened. Picking up the rich leather cushions, she hastily set the couch to rights, eager to stay busy.
Her ears strained, trying to track his movements behind her. She stroked a suede throw pillow. Her heart leapt as he flopped down on the couch. Stumbling back a step, she tried to nonchalantly put the furniture between them. It was a flimsy deterrent.
“So where’re you from?”
The question startled her. Her mind raced. Why did he want to know that? She felt her cheeks color, mentally kicking herself. It was a common enough question among strangers. Maybe she was over thinking things. “Sandusky.”
He nodded, and she let her breath out. It wasn’t exactly a lie.
“We’ve been there for bike week several times. Mox and Garrett love Cedar Point.”
“But not you?”
“That’s not really my thing,” he said, shrugging. “But they’re both roller coaster freaks.”
Eva couldn’t help smiling at the tiny insight into her giant. “I worked there for a couple seasons.”
“That’s what Mox wanted to do when he grew up.”
“Did he decide it was too long of a commute?”
“Nah, we’re still waiting on him to grow up.”
Eva giggled. “He looks like a big boy to me.”
“Looks can be deceiving. He’s a big kid.”
“There can’t be that many years between you two.”
“Just five and a half months,” Rhys said and then chuckled watching her forehead furrow in confusion. “It’s a long story.”
Eva wisely shut her mouth. Hugging herself, she moved to peek out the window at the nearly blinding winter wonderland. She searched the street. The sun had come out and its rays danced over the ice-covered town. It was beautiful, and yet she found herself missing the obscurity the storm had offered. A chill crept down her spine and she tilted the wood slats closed.
The storm would have slowed them, but Rocco would have his thugs out in full force now. Contacting her grandparents in Atlanta would just paint a target on them. Even if she had money, Rocco’s men would be watching the airports, bus terminals, and motels. She bit her thumbnail, doubt worming in with the fear. If she crawled back now… She shook her head. Her stomach twisted. There had to be another way. If there was one thing she was certain of, it was that Rocco would kill her this time.
Chapter ~ 4
The Weather Channel droned in the background as Ginny finished loading the dishwasher and closed the door with a bump of her hip. Hitting the button, she looked expectantly at her husband, or at least the newspaper that hid his face.
“So?”
“Breakfast was great.”
Rolling her eyes heavenward, Ginny reached across the breakfast bar to bat the paper down. “Seriously? You think I’m fishing for compliments on my French toast after twenty years?”
Hazel and blue locked over the crumpled paper until a slight twitch of Zeke’s lips gave his deadpan stare away. Ginny smirked in triumph and he gave her a sexy wink before sobering.
“I think you need to remember that, regardless of some similarities, this girl is not you.” Zeke held up a hand to stall her protests. “I’d known you your entire life, before that night behind The Lantern. You knew me enough to trust that I would deal with your father. We had history. Mox doesn’t know anything about this girl. We don’t even know who or what she’s running from.”
“So, Mox should’ve just left her to freeze to death next to the dumpsters?”
“I didn’t say that. I’m just cautioning you that this isn’t a stray puppy. Don’t get your hopes up on keeping her.”
“We can’t just throw her out in the snow or call the pound.”
“I’m looking into it.”
“What does that mean?” Ginny asked in exasperation.
“It means that, she came out of Cleveland, running from someone that not only scares the shit out of her but also can afford cashmere. I think it would be wise to talk to a few people and see what I can find out about who we’re dealing with.”
“Nice catch on the cashmere, Detective.”
“My wife has expensive tastes,” Zeke said, acknowledging her teasing with another wink.
“Do you think Eva being there is putting the boys in danger?” Ginny asked. She bit her bottom lip as her husband’s head tilted to the side in thought. It belied his casual answer.
“They’re big boys.”
“Which means yes.”
“It means that I won’t know what we’re dealing with until I look into it.”
Tamping a cigarette on the counter, Ginny mulled over the previous night’s events, wondering if she’d made a mistake. She shook her head. There had been something in the girl’s eyes, something that had dredged up old memories and formed a tenuous bond between them. Like her, Eva had found the strength to run. She deserved a chance at a new life.
Zeke caught her hand and pulled her around the end of the counter and into his lap. “I know you want the fairytale for this girl, but I can’t promise that.”
A smart-ass comment died on her lips at the understanding in Zeke’s stare. “You’re right. Not everyone can be as lucky as me,” she said, wrapping her arm around his neck to play with the short hair on his nape.
He smiled, his eyes drooping closed in pleasure as he muttered, “We’re going to have to watch Mox. He has your need to fix things.”
“Maybe he has your need to play knight in shining armor.”
Zeke cocked an amused brow.
Lifting her shoulder with a little smirk Ginny wiggled in his lap. “You got the lance for it.”
His eye roll didn’t mask the swell of male pride, or anatomy.
Catching her toes on the barstool rung, she shifted to straddle him. Color darkened her features as he stiffened underneath her, and not in the way she’d been hoping. Tension hummed between them. She rolled her hips, taking a perverse delight in the catch of his breath. His hands landed on her hips almost apologetically, and her heart sunk. She longed to feel the familiar clamp of his big paws on her ass, grinding her down against him.
Humiliation warred with a deep seated fear. What if he never got over his guil
t and revulsion at what Kramer had done? Years of law enforcement seminars assured that all the correct words and reassurances passed his lips, but their love life told a different story. Two weeks had passed since the doctor had pronounced her fully healed. Fourteen days in which Zeke had shied away from resuming the sexual part of their marriage.
Pushing his hands off her hips, she slid from his lap and snatched the paper up from the floor. Crumpling it against his chest, she stalked out of the dining room. The slam of their bedroom door echoed through the house. Pacing the room, she raked a hand through her hair. He was winning. That little rat bastard Kramer was reaching out from the grave to drive a wedge between them.
She caught her reflection as she paced. She looked like a mad woman. She stared. Her chestnut locks fell in tumultuous waves with no rhyme or reason. Rage twisted her features until she was a caricature of herself. The light glinted off shiny, new scar tissue marring her cheekbone. A scream tore from her throat as she cleared her dressing table with a swipe of her arm. Jewelry, cosmetics, and perfumes scattered with the tinkle of broken glass.
Swallowing a sob, she stumbled blindly for the closet. She had to get out. She shoved bare feet into boots, unwilling to take the time to find socks. Zeke stood in the doorway when she exited the closet, but he gave way to her shoulder, allowing her to storm down the hall while he trailed behind.
Savagely wrapping a scarf around her neck, Ginny shoved her arms into a black biker’s jacket.
“The roads are still shit out there.”
Grabbing her keys from the hook, she ducked under his arm and headed for the garage. She heard Zeke give a low growl behind her and didn’t give a shit.
“Where are you going?”
“You’re the detective. Figure it out,” she snapped, sliding behind the Charger’s wheel. He stepped behind the car as she turned over the ignition and hit the garage door opener. She met his gaze in the rearview mirror, and the powerful engine roared in the close confines. The glow of reverse lights bathed him for a moment, and with a curse she couldn’t hear, he stepped aside.
The tires barked on the garage floor as she smashed the gas pedal to the floor. The brakes didn’t respond as well when she hit the icy road, and the Charger’s rear end jumped the curb across the street. Glancing up at her husband, now walking down the drive, Ginny didn’t give him another chance. Wrenching the stick down, she hit the gas with a little more finesse and, steering through the fishtail, swung around the corner and down the block.
