by F. G. Adams
The nearest airport was ten klicks south of his current position.
Caden had commissioned a private jet to take him to Toronto, Canada, and from there he planned to drive a rental car he had used to enter the country back to Atlanta. Only to stop a few times over the duration, because after all this came a planned vacation. He snorted. Some fucking vacation.
Caden had been backpacking all over the country for the last eighteen months. Exactly what the shrink suggested—time away from the military to ‘find himself’—what a bunch of bullshit jargon. As soon as he got back, Caden planned on finding a quiet place to retire.
He glanced around the area. There was nothing out of the ordinary. Nothing to draw attention. Weaving in and out of the crowd, he avoided the street posts and red lights where the city’s cameras would detect him using facial recognition.
It didn’t take him long until he was sitting on the runway, a glass of Tennessee’s finest whiskey in hand, ready for takeoff. His duty completed. His mission finished. Time to move on.
Chapter 2
Nightmares are real.
The back door slammed, and Elise struggled to sit up from the vulnerable position she was in. She panted hard from the unrelenting pain ripping through her body. You’ll never learn. She should have kept her mouth closed, but of course she hadn’t. Something deep inside Elise couldn’t hold back anymore when the prick had pushed her. She just had to open her mouth when he’d come home earlier than expected, demanding dinner. This is all your fault. Yeah, right. He blamed her for his sorry-ass temper. She should have known better than to mention the red fucking lipstick on his neck. He’d exploded at her outburst. She could still feel his fists connecting with her gut. She would be wearing the marks from his beating for several weeks.
When she’d found herself lying in the fucked-up mess on the floor, she had bounded to her feet and ran from him. His beady little black eyes had changed, flickered with darkness. If she didn’t get away, she was in for a world of hurt when he caught her. The mangled heap of wood that at one time had been a coffee table probably looked better than she did. Elise was pretty sure she’d landed on top of it and rolled right before his big-ass boot-covered foot caved the center in two.
The pain in Elise’s ribs hurt like a bitch, but she couldn’t let him get the upper hand. Sprawled out on the floor, she was in a vulnerable position. She pushed up and made it to her knees, and pitifully inched herself toward the ratty leather couch. She had found it by the side of the road a while back, and had cleaned it up to have somewhere to sit in this trashy trailer. The alarming sounds of footsteps on the wood floor grew closer, and she glanced in the direction to see her brother, Arrow, walk into the small living room. Briefly closing her eyes, she tried to calm her racing heart. Adrenaline was such a bitch. She pushes her victims to their limit to survive and then lets them crash. Elise’s body folded in half with relief at the sight of her brother.
It was not Bowie. Thank fuck.
Without saying a single word, he bent down, softly grabbing her elbow, and maneuvered them both into the kitchen, so they could have a seat at the table. Silently, he turned, walked to the refrigerator, opened the freezer, and pulled out our go-to ice pack.
Trying to connect the dots in her scrambled brain, Elise could not remember a time when her big brother hadn’t taken care of her. He was a constant safety net growing up. There was a ten-year difference in their age, and they were closer than most siblings. Arrow had told her their mom had left after she was born. The saddest part was, she wouldn’t recognize her mom if she were standing behind her in line at the grocery store. He’d been her champion so many times Elise had lost count.
Their dead-beat dad believed in equal rights, right. His fist didn’t care if you were a male or female. Arrow had protected her from him growing up, but there were times he had not been around because he’d had to work. Elise still struggled, trying hard to forget those unwanted memories.
“Here. Use this.” Arrow handed Elise a small bag of frozen peas and motioned for her to put hold it to the side of her face. “It’ll help with the swelling.”
Elise grabbed her side as she slowly lifted her arm and tried to hide the excruciating pain from Arrow’s intense stare.
Bowie had been interrupted before it got out of hand. This time. A prospect had showed up only moments before, or she sure as shit would have been sent to the emergency room. Cannon had a job for him and wanted him at the compound ASAP. Sooner or later, though, Bowie would put her in the ground, and nothing would stop him.
Elise looked into her brother’s worried eyes and took a deep breath. Fuck, it hurt. The throbbing pain eased a little, until she took another breath. Then it was back, a motherfucker filled with vengeance. Just like the son of a bitch who’d caused it.
She’d come to accept the inevitable. This wasn’t the first time she had ended up beaten, battered, and covered with bruises from Bowie. She felt positive it sure as hell wouldn’t be the last if she didn’t get the hell out soon. Their old man was a member of the Brothers of Cain MC. Two years ago, he was convicted of murder on a run gone bad down in Mexico. He should rot in jail before they would ever see his face again. Thank God for small favors.
But that started the domino effect. Bowie had wanted Elise for himself. Up until then, she had been protected somewhat from his unwanted advances. Shortly after her dad’s incarceration, while Arrow was on a run, the jerk had decided Elise would be his, and that was that. Nothing could stop him from claiming her. There was no protection. No one to shield her.
“You don’t have a choice.”
“Not this again. I always have a choice, shithead.” Not really, but saying she did gave Elise a sense of power over her fucked-up out-of-control life.
“Don’t be so damn bossy, Lucky. We’ve talked about it. This ain’t up for debate. You’ve gotta get the hell outta here before he returns from his errand Cannon has him on, or your luck just might run the fuck out.”
“Like I give a shit. I’m not running. Can’t, because if I do, I will be running for the rest of my life. He won’t leave me alone. You know that, Arrow. Bowie won’t stop. It doesn’t matter how far away I go. He’ll find me.”
“And if you stay, you’ll be dead. I’m not willing to risk it anymore. Besides, I’ll cover ya. I’ve got something in the works. A buddy of mine I served with owes me a favor. He’ll keep you covered long enough for Bowie to find another bitch to salivate over.”
“No fucking way.”
“Doesn’t matter. You’ll be safe. And I don’t give a fuck. You’re leaving here today. Get your shit together.”
“Arrow, please, I can’t leave.” This was the only home she had ever known.
“I’m not gonna fucking watch him hurt you anymore. I’ll kill him the next time he touches you. Bad things could happen. It wouldn’t end right.”
Arrow crossed his arms and jutted out his chin to look down at his little sister and the fucked-up mess of a woman she’d become. His stubborn stance told her there wasn’t a choice. His mind was made up. Elise was leaving whether she wanted to or not.
Why prolong the inevitable?
“How long?” Might as well find out where she was headed.
“You won’t be coming back for a while, sis.” She started to interrupt him, but he lifted his palm for her silence. “Quit your poutin’. You know as well as I do this is your chance to start fresh. New. Somewhere other than this shit hole place. Maybe even open that little coffee shop you have always dreamed about. I’ll float ya. Got some cash stashed away.”
“Your rainy-day fund, huh?” Elise made an effort to smile for his sake. The hurt wasn’t only on the outside.
Arrow sat down beside her on the shabby old chair, and tucked a stray lock of her unruly hair behind one ear. There were mounds of worry and concern in his eyes.
“Yeah, something like that. C’mon, Lucky, quit your stalling. You’ve got a long bus ride ahead of ya. Let’s wrap those ribs up and
pack your bags.”
Elise looked away. The tears forming in her eyes wouldn’t help the shit storm called her life, and it would just hurt Arrow more. She had to be strong for him. It’d always been the two of them against the world. The lot they were given hadn’t been easy, but they'd had each other. Who was gonna be there to watch his back? Who was gonna keep him out of trouble?
“Can you at least tell me where I’m going?”
“I have a brother from the Marines. I served with him overseas. He’s got a nice setup in Lakeview, Florida. Plenty of extra space for you, pipsqueak. He’s gonna let you stay with him until you can get on your feet. Find a job.”
“Why would he do something like that? Gah. I’m a fucking stranger. He doesn’t know me from Joe Blow. For all I know, he could be even worse than Bowie. I could be jumping outta the fire right into the frying pan.”
“Don’t get yourself riled up. He owes me one. I helped him get out of an impossible situation. He told me to call him if I ever needed help.” He absently shrugged and looked away. “So I did. I promise ya, Elise, there’s nobody in this world better to protect you than Caden Weldon. He’s been trained by the best, and failure isn’t an option for him. He’s a man of his word, and he told me you would be safe with him. He won’t let anything happen to ya. Okay?”
Slowly nodding, she allowed Arrow to help her make her way to her bedroom to pack. Elise would toss out the old garbage in her life; frankly Bowie, if it made Arrow happy. Anything was better than being Bowie’s bitch slash punching bag.
About the Author
F.G. Adams writes contemporary and paranormal romance about sexy alpha heroes and feisty-mouthed heroines. The wonder twins forming F.G. enjoy a healthy obsession of reading that started at a young age. Their books reflect an avid imagination that was cultivated by their grandmother who taught them the mind has no limits and to use both hands when reaching for the stars. Partners in writing, they both thrive on creating unique storylines for you, the reader to enjoy.
When not writing, you can find them on a beach with their significant other enjoying the waves or riding a Harley on a country road somewhere in the USA.
Also by FG Adams
Grayson
Keagan
Oliver
Lukas
Micheal: A Scrooged Christmas
The Lustology
Aldin’s Wish
Fox’s Awakening
