Independence: #2 Angel

by Karen Nichols

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Angelica

  Independence

  Book Two

  Karen Nichols

  Copyright 2013 by Karen Nichols

  Published by Karen Nichols. Copyright, Karen Nichols. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author except for brief quotes used for review purposes.

  This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents and dialogues in this book are of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is completely coincidental.

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Allromanceebooks.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Chapter One

  A long four day weekend was in swing at the club, Independence. People had recovered enough from their Thanksgiving Thursday and had launched themselves full length into unwinding on a Friday evening. Music bounced off the walls around the large dancing floor, the majority of people between the ages of twenty and thirty and dressed for pending fun later in the extensive bondage club.

  Shiny, bright latex in every color of the rainbow as well as simple black, rubber, leather and see-through skirts barely above street legal gyrated and flexed to the music. Not to mention lace, things that resembled cob webs and that were definitely sheer as well as denim in all shapes and sizes.

  Colin Whetstone leaned both elbows against the well-polished bar, a brown bottle of an international dark ale sat waiting for him at room temperature. The bartender knew his tastes well.

  But his gaze was on the approaching redhead, the long, intricate braid went several inches past her shoulders. She wore simple little black flats and a scoop neckline tunic that stopped just where her thighs met her curvy body. Nice long legs were bare and she was walking just a little stiffly.

  “A problem, little sub?” Colin frowned slightly. “I thought you were all healed up?” He asked carefully, referring to the slight altercation with a bullet from a crazed police detective who was more than a little angry that Bailey had accidentally bumped into her lover who was also crazed domme. Said domme went head over feet down the winding staircase in the club and broke her neck. Not that anyone was sorry; aside from Bailey.

  “I’m fine, thank you, Master Colin,” Bailey answered with quiet politeness, her eyes down and hands clasped before her.

  Colin’s frown deepened. He glanced over at the bartender with one brow arched.

  “Something to drink, Bailey?” Reed Carrington shrugged at the silent inquiry from Colin, the rag in his hand absently polishing the bar top.

  “Ice water, please, Master Reed.”

  Reed closed one eye and looked behind Bailey at the man who’d come in a few minutes after her. He brought both brows up and relaxed when the dark eyes of one of the owners crinkled slightly.

  “Has my little sub been polite, gentlemen?” Gabriel Garrett ran one finger lightly over the shining silver and emerald collar Bailey wore. Intense satisfaction raced through him when she shivered slightly and automatically leaned toward him. The sounds of her pleasure were something that would always arouse him.

  “Very polite, Gabe,” Colin lifted the bottle of ale and took a long drink. “I thought she was recuperating?”

  “She’s healed well and was in severe need of a refresher course on the path between her mouth and her brain as far as her manners in the club were concerned.” Gabriel stepped back, his mind filled with suitable plans for his delightful little sub now that their relationship was back on track. He pulled the barstool out and stepped to the side. “Across the stool, Bailey. Show them.”

  For a second, a very brief second, he watched those expressive green eyes flare with the strong urge to refuse. Then her feet moved and she faced him, bending at the waist and lying across the padded stool. He reached behind her and lifted the edge of the tunic, allowing it to fall to her back and baring one of the finest heart shapes he’d seen in his life.

  “Now that’s an impressive shade of pink,” Reed complimented with a little chuckle, setting the tall glass of iced water on the bar.

  Colin leaned a little closer. “Get close enough and I swear you can see his finger prints,” he murmured with a trace of approval in his tone. Hints of his outside career betraying itself in his words.

  “She was a little new to the whole thing when she was shot,” Reed commented idly. “Your sub needs a book,” he teased with a wink at Gabriel. “She’s got that brain that goes faster than should be allowed.”

  “The brain isn’t the problem. It’s the connection between the brain and the mouth we’re having issues with. She’s learning to rein it in,” Gabriel assured him flatly. He let one finger tap the collar lightly. “Up, pet, and drink your water,” he waited while she straightened slowly. He was still very cautious, wanting to help her but stopping himself until she was upright. He turned her and pulled her back between his knees as he perched on another stool.

  “Oh!” Bailey’s behind bumped against the leather pants and jolted, until the coolness registered in her mind. A little frown creased her lips as she backed up a little and a little more with a long sigh. “Oh, my…that feels nice, Sir,” she admitted and reached for her water.

  “I thought you might appreciate it,” Gabriel chuckled, wrapping one arm possessively around her middle. The bandages had been gone over a week and he knew things were healed, but couldn’t seem to rid his mind of the sight of her lying so pale and helpless, blood pooling out over the thick carpeting on the second level of the club.

  Bailey relaxed against him, the gentle touch of his fingers stroking over her breasts and ribs making her sigh contentedly.

  “You’ve been staring off at the woman all night, Colin,” Reed commented, his own eyes following the gaze to the far corner of the dance wall.

  “An hour doesn’t constitute a night,” Colin corrected with a glance at the closed eyes of the sub nestled between Gabriel’s thighs. “I was waiting for Bailey to show up and enlighten me.”

  The sound of her name broke through and had her head up instantly.

 
“I…me…Sir?”

  “Your friend, Bailey. I met her at your welcome home party,” he waited for her to turn slowly in the direction he was staring. There was a frown on his face when she instantly jerked back, her head shaking adamantly. “That is your friend. That is the woman you introduced me to a little over six weeks ago when you came home from the hospital?” He sounded like the prosecutor he was and knew he was using just the right voice to break through her walls.

  “Yes, Sir.” But her lips sealed tightly, her palms holding the glass of water she was now staring into.

  Colin raised his eyes to Gabriel’s. It was his sub, after all, and what he could demand of her was limited.

  “Colin wants information, Bailey,” Gabriel said quietly.

  “No. I…no, sir, I can’t,” she shook her head.

  “Breathe, Bailey,” Gabriel stroked his palm over her head. “You can’t because she’s your friend?” He waited for the little nod. “Verbal answers, pet.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “How about if I ask questions and you answer, Bailey?” Colin continued looking across the room at the dark haired woman. Her hair was a short, chocolate shag pixie cut that seemed to make her eyes all the bigger and the oval face all the more chiseled and detailed. She was about five foot ten and tonight wore square toed boots that went to her knees. She had the pant legs of her jeans folded neatly to the tops of the boots and a simple, plain white tee shirt that showed off the tan that seemed very natural.

  “She definitely doesn’t dress like a sub,” Reed said with a thoughtful, long appraisal of the woman. “I haven’t seen her show interest in more than watching.”

  “Oh, the interest is there,” Colin said enigmatically. “I watched her at Gabe’s place when she was talking to Bailey and Emma. Questions, Bailey?”

  “I…alright. I can try that, Sir,” she answered, reluctance evident in her tone and body language.

  “Bailey, has she asked you not to share information about her?” Gabriel asked carefully, aware of how fierce his little sub could become where her friends were concerned.

  “Not specifically, no,” she admitted slowly. “It’s more of a girl thing not to…well, people don’t want to think they’re being set up…” She was familiar with the questions a dom needed answered before proceeding but with Angel…trepidation tore through her on one path while rabid protection flourished along another.

  “But you feel you have to protect her. Why?” Gabriel continued.

  “She’s been hurt, Sir.”

  Colin turned back to Bailey. “Hurt how, Bailey?”

  “She…her life…her past,” she corrected thoughtfully. “Hasn’t been smooth like mine. I’ve been lucky. I have good parents and…and my mother…”

  “Hurt how, pet?” Gabriel sighed at the firm set of her lips. “Emotionally?” Bailey nodded once. “Physically?” He watched not only Bailey tense and hesitate, but Colin when she nodded twice. “How else, pet?”

  “Her self-esteem. Her belief in herself…her ability to trust,” she whispered. “The…the mechanisms she uses to keep people away. For their benefit, as well as her own.”

  “What’s her name, Bailey?” Colin asked.

  “Angelica Morehouse.” Bailey continued to stare into the glass of floating ice.

  The men exchanged glances. All three of them scowled but not at either of the women.

  “Her father’s name?” Colin ordered with a little more force than he intended.

  “Reverend Joseph Peter Morehouse,” she whispered, almost fearfully.

  “The same reverend who has declared to the press that his daughter is possessed by demons and other creatures from beyond the hell gates,” Colin knew his jaw was tense, his voice hard and cold. “Misogynistic excuse for a man who blames all the world problems on women? Moronic.”

  “Is Angelica the daughter, pet?”

  “Angel is the eldest of seven, the others are all brothers,” Bailey answered with a deep, shaky breath. “Please, sir…I…”

  “I’ve never known you to be unable to express yourself, pet.” Gabriel brought one palm beneath her chin, his thumb stroking over the lip she was biting anxiously. “Do you think she needs protected?”

  “Yes,” breathed the immediate response, anxious eyes pleading with him to understand. “But she won’t allow it.”

  “From us?” Colin asked.

  “I…I don’t know…no…” She closed her eyes.

  “Do you believe she’d be hurt by one of us?” Gabriel pressed, one shoulder up and down when Colin looked to him for answers.

  “I don’t know that she’s ready for…for being here. I think I know, but I’m just not positive.”

  “Why is she here?” Gabriel asked, pressing her against his shoulder and stroking his palm over her head.

  “Patsy and I were in her bakery when…the day after Halloween. When I came here and met you,” she began slowly. “Angel asked questions. I gave them my impressions, my…how I thought it felt…the serenity. The sexual tension that just seemed to build and build and how amazing it was. Angel said it would be a wonderful place to be. Someplace where all the bad things people have ever said to you simply vanish and stop hurting, even if it was just for a little while. I gave her one of the free passes.”

  “She’s never been to a club like this before?” Colin took another long swallow of the flavorful ale.

  “I don’t think so,” Bailey bit her lip and looked over where her friend sat watching people.

  “Then she intended to explore,” Colin continued.

  “I don’t think she’s…”

  “You don’t think she’s a sub?” Gabriel asked.

  “I…I don’t know how to tell that,” Bailey answered honestly. “I know that she has a very thick wall around her,” she sighed, knowing she was well past friendship boundaries. “She loves to sing and she loves dancing and music. But watch how she dances.”

  Both men looked where she had been sitting, their eyes shifting to the dance floor. She knew the song; she knew the words and they could see her singing as she danced. But every move her partner made to touch her was met with a single raised and wagging finger and a very stern expression.

  “No one’s allowed to touch,” Bailey said softly. “It took Patsy and me several months before we could get her to accept hugs without fear in her face. Her family isn’t like any I’ve ever been around. They don’t touch and she grew up that way because the only time she was touched was verbally or…or in anger. Those hurts don’t go away,” she said softly, her palm touching the small scar on her upper ribcage.

  “You know what a Dom’s task is, Bailey,” Gabriel began tenderly, his lips brushing the top of her head. “Colin would never do anything to hurt her.” He stopped, something registering in his mind. “You and Patsy helped her move into your apartment last week. But you wanted it kept in your name. Why, pet?”

  “She’s never going to trust me again,” Bailey shook her head, angry at herself. But…if…just maybe…Colin could help her, give her that peaceful place for just a few minutes…

  “What happened, Bailey?” Gabriel hardened his voice intentionally, the velvet iron tone holding her focus. That odd tingling swept along his spine. The one that said his sub was keeping something to herself that would anger him.

  “Her father summoned her about six months ago. He does that every couple months just to…I think, just to assert the control he has over her. She never wants to go and even tells them no. Angel stays away from them. All of them. But he sends one of her brothers. They’re big. And not very nice. I went with her…actually, I followed in my car. I was there when Andrew came for her and forced her into his car to take to the family gathering,” she said the last word with every ounce of venom in her. “She was so bruised…”

  “You followed her?” Gabriel felt the anger rising in him at the scenario she was creating.

  “I was going to rescue her,” she said without regret, the strength in her voice mak
ing him wince. “Andrew dragged her from the car and I came up behind them. Believe me, when they have witnesses, all of a sudden people turn nice. For a little while,” she added hastily, rushing on before Gabriel could ask questions. “Anyway, her father wanted her there to meet a man. A friend he said, from some other church in the Midwest,” she shrugged. “That’s what he told us, but I’m not sure I believed him. He felt Angel should be settled and that he wanted her to accept this man.”

  “Does he have a name, pet?” Gabriel asked the question he saw on Colin’s lips.

  “Earl Leonard,” Bailey answered quickly. “He…he’s big and mean. Very cruel. You can see it in the way he looks at you. She told her father she wasn’t interested in marrying again and tried to walk away with me,” she shuddered at the memory. “I should have…I saw her father nod at Earl and he grabbed her by the…he grabbed her arms and forced them behind her.”

  “What happened, Bailey?” Gabriel felt a cold chill sweep through him.

  “I heard Angel scream in pain and…and reacted,” she said with a slight wince. Thick lashes closed over her eyes when Gabriel’s palm forced her chin up. She sighed. “There were big, heavy empty trays on the picnic table where we were standing. I picked one up and hit him in the back of the head as hard as I could. He released her and fell to the ground. I threw the rest of them at people like Frisbees, grabbed Angel and we ran for the car. We got out of there but…” her head shook, her eyes filling with tears. “He knows where her shop is and he knew where she lived.”

  “Has he hurt her?” Gabriel asked firmly and still saw the avoidance in her eyes.

  “I don’t know why her father wants her to marry him, it’s probably something stupid like it will save her soul or something,” Bailey rambled, her head shaking at the memories. “He’s hurt her,” she whispered, fear racing through her as the memory replayed itself. “Leonard is vicious…cruel…”

  “Has he found her again, Bailey?” Colin pressed with all the firmness in his naturally dominant self. “How did he hurt her?”

  “Twice,” her voice shook. “He found her twice. I barely…she was hurt so bad…I got her to the hospital and we filed a police report. They found him, but her father claimed she lied,” Bailey shook with anger. “They lied to cover for him and the police believed them instead of her. The second time…he only hit us a couple times before Patsy showed up with a friend of hers and…”