by Mara McBain
Digging through the console, Ginny produced an extra pair of sunglasses for her.
“Thank you,” she murmured, still looking around for any sign of Rocco or his men. Maybe she was just being paranoid.
Eva forced her attention to Ginny as she showed her around Trinity Falls. The downtown area’s old brick buildings were well maintained. The storefronts were decorated for the upcoming holidays with pine garland and beautiful wreaths. With the gleaming white snow and the charming canal that ran parallel with the main street before turning and gliding under a pretty little bridge, Trinity Falls seemed like a whole different world.
The library was a three-story brick building surrounded by trees and reading benches. Nearby, a sign identified Trinity Falls Elementary, Middle School, and High School situated in a cluster of sprawling buildings and snow covered sports fields. They drove by a small park full of playground equipment and kids’ footprints. As crazy as it sounded after such a short time, she could see herself settling down here and having a family.
“It’s lovely. Did you grow up here?”
Ginny smiled, pride shining in her eyes. “I did. My parents’ house was about four miles outside of town.”
“I’m used to city life. It’s so clean and quiet here.”
“Trinity has a few disadvantages, like the distance to the larger stores and Zeke’s commute, but in the long run, this was where we wanted to raise a family.”
“A drive is a small tradeoff for not having to worry about the violence and drugs,” Eva said, thinking about the area she’d grown up in.
“No town’s perfect. If the kids want drugs, they’re going to get them, but in a small town like this, everyone knows everyone. It helped that Zeke is in law enforcement and head of the Lords. No one wanted to be the one caught giving his kids drugs,” Ginny said with a laugh.
“So none of the club members…”
“When they were younger, they partied a lot and experimented. These days, you just can’t afford to. Besides the price of the stuff, the consequences are too stiff. Zeke has a job that can pull a random drug test on him at any time. A lot of the others have families or are business owners now. It’s just not worth it.”
“Sorry. I guess I was stereotyping because they’re a motorcycle gang.”
“The Lords are a motorcycle club. MC, not gang,” Ginny said firmly. “Most of them won’t take kindly to the term gang.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to insult anyone.”
“I’m not pissed at you, honey. Better you learn from me than one of them. A couple of the guys tend to teach with the back of their hand. They’re no angels, but treat them with respect and you should be fine.”
Eva stared out the window, remembering the hard men that had helped with the move. She wet her lips. She had no desire to feel a backhand from any of them. It was good that Ginny didn’t mince words. It would’ve been nice to have someone like Ginny around before she’d gotten herself mixed up with Rocco’s lifestyle.
Eva watched forkfuls of meatloaf and mashed potatoes disappear into Mox’s mouth. She wasn’t even sure if he tasted them. He’d been quiet since he got home. His only smile had been when she’d hurried to greet him at the door. Her stomach churned. Pushing her food around her plate, she searched for what she’d done wrong.
“Did you talk to Ginny?” she asked softly.
He looked up in surprise.
“She stopped by the shop. Why?”
Her heart sank.
“She stopped by today and ended up giving me a tour of Trinity.”
He smiled a little. “I’m sorry. I should’ve thought of that.”
“It’s not a big deal.”
“There’s some other stuff we need to talk about too,” he said and took another bite of his meatloaf.
Eva almost lost hers. She swallowed hard, trying to format a response to that. A loud buzz interrupted her thoughts. Rhys jumped up and crossed to the door, hitting an intercom speaker she hadn’t even noticed.
“Yeah?”
“Nice greeting. Open the door. It’s freezing.”
Mox groaned. Rhys shot him a withering look and hit a button to release the downstairs door.
“I need a beer,” Mox muttered and started to stand.
Eva jumped up and took his empty plate.
‘I’ll get it. Would you like more?”
He smiled and sank back down in the couch. “That’d be great. It’s really good, baby.”
She blushed. “Thank you. I made peanut butter swirl brownies for dessert.”
“You might as well bring one of those with you,” he said, licking his chops.
The sound of heels echoed loudly on the stairs as Eva hurried for the kitchen. Behind her, Rhys’ greeting wasn’t particularly warm.
“What’re you doing here?”
“I’ve missed you. You haven’t returned my calls in a week.”
Eva cringed and couldn’t help stealing a peek over her shoulder to put a face with the whine.
“Some women would take the hint.”
Eva’s hand flew to her mouth at Mox’s snide comment. The anorexic blonde spun on Mox, hatred twisting her painted features into a gruesome snarl.
“Shut up, retard. No one asked you!”
The plate in Eva’s hand clattered loudly on the counter and everyone spun to stare. The blonde’s eyes flared in disbelief before narrowing in suspicion. She rounded on Rhys, her taloned finger jabbing into his chest.
“You shacked up with some bitch?”
Rhys opened his mouth to explain, but she didn’t give him a chance. She spun away, storming towards the kitchen.
“I will kill the slut!” she shrieked.
Mox’s hand around her throat brought Becca up short. The pointed toes of her stiletto boots hammered, ignored against his shin, as he lifted her clear off the ground. His voice was so soft Eva barely heard the words.
“You touch her, and I’ll kill you.”
Chapter ~ 11
Her garish fake nails clawed ineffectively at Mox’s hand. Face purpling, Becca struggled against the bruising grip. His gaze didn’t waver.
“Do you understand me?”
She nodded weakly. He released his hold. Hitting her knees, Becca gasped for breath. Fat tears rolled down her cheeks as she massaged her battered throat.
Biting her lip to still the tremble there, Eva tore her eyes from the sobbing girl and hastened to refill Mox’s plate. On impulse, she added a second brownie. Grabbing a beer from the refrigerator, she carried it all back to the living room. Becca’s whine was like fingernails on a chalkboard.
“Rhysssssssss, are you going to let the retard treat me like this?”
Eva stepped on the girl’s long hair as she started to get up from the floor.
“Ow! What the fuck?”
“I don’t know what you’ve been allowed to get away with in the past, but don’t disrespect Mox like that again,” Eva said, her tone brooking no argument.
The blonde gaped up at her from the floor, teary eyes darting to Rhys. He didn’t say a word, his handsome face impassive. Shifting her foot, Eva yanked her hair. Becca cried out, attention flying back to Eva.
“I’m the one talking to you.”
“Okay! I’m sorry.”
Mox held his arm out in what Eva was beginning to recognize as part invitation, part order to come hither. She stepped over to him. Both arms went around her and he nuzzled her ear with a playful growl.
“You’re sexy when you’re protective.”
“So are you,” she said, stroking his bicep with a little giggle.
Careful of the full plate, he sat back down, drawing Eva into his lap.
“Who the hell is that?” Becca whined, brushing at the seat of her mini-skirt and trying to press into Rhys’ arms.
“That is Mox’s new old lady, Eva, and as you just found out, he’s a little protective of her and apparently vice-versa,” Rhys said, chuckling.
“It’s not funny,
Rhys! Look at my neck,” Becca said, stomping her boot.
Eva shook her head, watching the other woman arch her scrawny neck, her long fingers plucking at the cropped fur coat she wore. The poof of fur around her sharp features made her look like a white Pomeranian.
“How many times has my ma asked you to be nice to my brothers?”
“Your mother has never asked me a thing in her life. The queen demands.”
“Guess you should’ve listened then. I don’t blame Mox for getting tired of your shit.”
“Why does she get to move in, and I don’t?”
“Because she has the queen’s blessing, and you don’t.”
“You need to grow a set.”
“If you aren’t happy with the set I have, then you can go suck someone else’s dick,” Rhys said, shouldering past the pouting twit and stomping into the kitchen.
Eva stole a peek at Mox. He shrugged and kept eating.
“Rhyssssss. Baby, don’t be like that,” Becca said, trailing in his wake.
“If you whined like that, I’d have your vocal cords removed.”
Eva forced a swallow, but couldn’t argue with the statement. The girl’s voice set her nerves on edge. Paired with Mox’s declaration that they needed to talk, the tiny bit of meatloaf she’d managed to eat was threatening to come back up. What had Ginny said to him? She startled at Mox’s voice in her ear.
“You okay?”
“Yeah, fine,” she said, forcing a smile.
“Do you want to try again?”
“Ex-excuse me?”
“That didn’t sound real convincing, and you’re shaking.”
“Just chilled I guess,” she mumbled, snuggling into his shoulder.
“I think it’s time for that talk,” he said, setting the plate aside and lifting her to stand.
Grabbing up the plate, Eva turned for the kitchen. Mox took the plate from her hands and sat it on the island as they passed. When she looked up at him, he just nodded, and a hand in the small of her back nudged her toward the bedroom.
The spacious bedroom seemed to close in on her when Mox shut the door behind them. Wringing her hands, she moved to stand near the foot of the bed, waiting for his next move. She was surprised when he stretched out across the bed and patted the mattress next to him. Biting her lip, she crawled up beside him.
Laying her head on the pillow, she faced him. Inches apart, his pale eyes studied her until she started to squirm.
“You need to be honest with me.”
“I haven’t li—” Mox’s finger over her lips made the words die on the tip of her tongue.
“I know you’re afraid, both of me and this asshole you’re running from. Not only am I not him, but I can’t protect you if you’re not honest.”
“I don’t know what you want me to say,” Eva whispered, picking at the edge of the pillow case.
“It’s obvious something’s worrying you tonight. You didn’t eat. You’re shaking. Talk to me.”
“I don’t know what Ginny said to you.”
“Why does it matter what Ginny said to me? We’re talking about what you’re thinking and feeling.”
“You said that we need to talk. That’s not usually a good thing.”
Mox chuckled.
“No it’s not, but we need to communicate, and in this case, it was me that screwed up.”
“Communicate, huh?”
“That’s what the cover of Cosmopolitan said anyway.”
“Are you a big fan of Cosmo?” Eva asked, hiding a smile in the pillow.
“Just the Cliffs Notes version.”
Eva shook her head. He was adorable. “Does Ginny highlight the important parts?”
“To be fair, she also points out the parts that are complete bullshit,” he said with a nod and the grin she loved already.
“How did you screw up?” she asked softly.
“Actually, I was on a roll of screw ups,” he admitted, reaching out to stroke hair from her face. “I’m new to this relationship stuff and even newer to living together. I’m sorry I left you here without a car, money, or even a phone in case something happened.”
“I had money, and we’re right in town,” she said in his defense.
Mox shook his head at her. “Still not cool, and you had some change. We’ll get you a phone Friday after I get paid. I’ll make sure you have money from now on, and when I can’t ride my bike to work, I’ll ride with Rhys, and you can have the truck.”
“I don’t need your truck, and I talked to Ginny today, and I’m going to work at The Lantern when it opens back up.”
“You don’t have to work. I can take care of you.”
“I know that is supposed to be every girl’s dream, but I hated not working when I was with Rocco. Sitting in that damn cage all day long was enough to drive me stir crazy.”
“Cage? Literally or figuratively?”
The low growl of his voice and the dangerous glint in his eyes sent a little shiver down Eva’s back. She laced her fingers through his.
“As long as I was a good girl, my gilded cage was a condo he kept for private use at the office, or his home on Lake Erie.”
“And when you weren’t?”
“Let’s just say that accommodations could get cramped.”
“What does that mean?”
“Why would you want to know about that? I made a huge mistake with him, but by the time I realized, it was too late to get out.”
“Because I want to know what I’m up against, and I’m falling for you. I want to know everything there is to know about you.”
The earnestness in his voice brought tears to her eyes. She blinked them away, shaking her head. As stupid as it seemed, she was past falling for him. She was head over heels. Why couldn’t she enjoy the fantasy for a bit longer? Her voice was soft when she spoke,
“You want the truth? He’s a monster. He won’t stop until I’m dead or back under his Italian loafer.”
“Neither is going to happen,” Mox said firmly.
“You don’t know Rocco.”
“Look at me.”
Eva fought the cold dread that threatened to crush her. Feeling his hand tighten on hers, she forced her gaze up.
“I won’t let him hurt you. Do you trust me?”
“I believe you mean that,” she whispered, emotion choking her words. “But he will kill you if you get in his way.”
“That’s the only way he’s going to hurt you.”
“I won’t let that happen.”
Mox’s smile was a little sad. “Baby, the choice isn’t yours to make. I’m your man, and I will protect you with my life if it comes down to it.”
Shaking her head, Eva tried to smile. She had envied this same devotion to Ginny, but it was so much more real when she pictured him taking Rocco and his men on. “You don’t believe in half measures, do you?”
“If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right.”
“I’m not worth your life or that of your family,” she said, remembering Zeke’s questions the night she’d arrived. The Brawers were a very tight knit family, and just the little she’d gotten to know Mox’s club members told her that they would come to his defense as well. That made Mox vulnerable. Rocco was a master at exploiting people’s weaknesses and loved ones were a luxury he had never allowed himself.
Mox caught her chin and gently tilted her face back to his.
“You’re worth it to me. You’re the one I don’t want to live without. That’s good enough for me.”
Chapter ~ 12
Angry waves pounded the boathouse as the wind whipped in off Lake Erie. Rocco’s eyes narrowed as he watched the white caps break over the rocky shore. Like the lake itself, his gaze was cold, turbulent, and full of danger. Both man and nature had taken many lives over the years, and neither felt remorse. Taking a long drag off his cigarette, he pulled the smoke deep into his lungs and turned to the men behind him.
“Over a week and you’ve got nothing.”
> It wasn’t a question. The silence was heavy. No one met his gaze. The plastic under their feet crinkled, and he caught Chelios eyeing it in knowing apprehension. Shaking his head in disgust, Rocco dropped his cigarette, grinding it slowly under his heel. A scream of anguish nearly drowned out the 9 millimeter’s retort as a bullet tore through the chauffeur’s knee.
The other three jumped back as the big man hit the floor, distancing themselves from the man responsible for losing the boss’s woman. The corner of Rocco’s lips twitched. He had their attention now.
“I want the bitch back,” he said softly.
The hasty chorus of yes sirs would’ve been gratifying under most circumstances.
“Eva’s disappearance is bad for business. If the girls get wind of this, it could give them ideas. It would be unfortunate to have to break in a whole new crew.”
“If the burn on Coco’s cheek didn’t get the word out that you’re pissed, the tune-up I gave Angel last night will,” Chelios said coolly. “No worry about the girls.”
Rocco lit up another cigarette as he mulled over the stolid enforcer’s words. Caught between Chelios and the writhing chauffeur, the other two shifted uncertainly. The tension ratcheted higher at the silence. The enforcer’s expressionless mug didn’t falter. Rocco couldn’t help pondering what the exotic Angel had done to piss off Chelios. Business or pleasure? The thought intrigued and aroused him.
“Whatever it takes, I want the bitch found. No more excuses,” he said, heading for the door. Pausing with a gloved hand on the knob, he glanced back at the moaning chauffeur. Blood trickled over sausage size fingers as the big man attempted to keep pressure on the bullet wound. His dark eyes pleaded silently from the pale, sweaty folds of his face. Flicking ashes aside, Rocco met Chelios’ gaze. “Clean up the mess before you go.”
His arm ached and his breath came in ragged pants and still he swung the whip. The tiny blonde swayed with the force of each blow, the chandelier she dangled from tinkling in acknowledgement. She had long ago stopped struggling. Her lack of fight only fueled his fury.
