“You don’t have to fish, prissy girl,” Lang said. “None of us do. We can swim, play more volleyball, or pack it up and take Lily home with us.”
“Miniature golf,” Leigh suggested.
“Yeah!” Trisha added her support. “Right, Lily?”
“Absolutely.” She grinned.
“Let me think about that one,” Lang said, pretending to struggle with his decision. He checked his watch. “We’ve been here for two hours. Let me take a walk and swim with Lily, then we’ll go to Treasure Island Golf and Games.”
“I can take the girls now and you can meet us there when you’re done,” Rosa offered.
“Sure.” Lang pulled his wallet out, then handed her a hundred-dollar bill. “Be a good girl, Trisha.”
She scooted off the bench and jumped up and down. “I love golf.”
Lang rolled his eyes. “Watch out, Tiger Woods.”
“Is she good?” Lily asked.
“Don’t ask,” he said. “Bowls a perfect game too.”
Lang and Lily helped pack up the minivan and waved as Rosa drove away.
“Incredible girls,” Lily said. “What a blessing to have someone like Rosa living with you.”
“I thank God every day for all of them. And for you.” He grazed her cheek with the back of his hand.
“Lang…”
“Last night,” he said. “We didn’t have the time to discuss anything.”
“It’s okay, I don’t want to relive it.”
Anger flared inside him; he’d failed at keeping her safe. “Moco should never have been there—I’m so fucking sorry.”
“Nothing happened.” She responded to his obvious pain by cupping his face. “Sampson showed up before he did any damage. I promise.”
“You fucked up his eye with my key. Who taught you how to defend yourself like that?”
“My father.”
“I like him already.”
“I used to,” she said, frown lines forming between her eyebrows.
“Give it time,” he encouraged with a kiss to her forehead. “He’ll come to his senses.”
“Maybe. But until then, I’m prepared for the worst outcome. Mom’s continued progress is all I care about right now where my family is concerned.”
“Don’t be so quick to dismiss your father, Lily. Benefit from my experience—you never know what will happen—here one day, gone tomorrow.”
Her eyes glistened with tears. “Things weren’t perfect between you and your dad when he died?”
“Never were. He was a stubborn man, hell-bent on doing things his own way. At home and with the club. Old school. Once he realized the next generation didn’t necessarily agree, he isolated himself even more. But we spoke every day.”
“I’m glad you told me.”
“Time doesn’t heal wounds,” he added. “But it provides some clarity.”
She rewarded him with a brilliant smile. “How about that walk?”
“Anything you want, Counselor.”
The short stroll turned into a swim, the heat and humidity too much to handle. He chased her and she crashed against the waves, laughing and kicking her feet as he dunked her head under the water. She came up looking like a squirrel with its cheeks filled with nuts. She sprayed water all over his chest.
“Animals piss in there,” he said.
“A risk I’m willing to take.” She paddled away.
Lang caught her ankle and yanked her back. She yelped, struggling to break free of his grasp. “Sorry, baby,” he told her, “you’re not going anywhere.” He scanned the nearby shoreline—no one within seeing distance, so he pulled on the end of the bow at the back of her neck and her top dropped.
“Lang!” She immediately covered her beautiful breasts with her hands.
But he couldn’t handle not being able to see them. Not with her wet hair slicked back and her sun-kissed skin glistening in the sunlight. Instant erection—lust ricocheted through his body like a bullet. He snaked his arm around her waist, tugging her closer so their foreheads touched.
She stared up at him, those fathomless dark pools as tempting as her body. Fuck. He loved her. No doubt about it anymore. Even his perceptive six-year-old little sister had called him on it. Stupid asshole, get your head on straight. Lang coaxed her arms to her sides, then anchored her to his body, his tongue seeking shelter in the depths of her hot mouth.
The harder he kissed her, the more noises she made that turned him on. She writhed against him.
Fuck it. Lang swept her off her feet, then carried her to his truck. He deposited her wet body on his seat, then slid into the vehicle and started his truck. With plenty of private places to park behind the sand dunes, he refused to lose the moment. He screeched to a stop after finding a secluded spot, cranked the air conditioner, and twisted around. The windows were tinted, no one could see inside, so she didn’t have anything to worry about. But she still looked nervous.
“Come here, baby.”
She edged closer. “What happened? I thought we were—”
“You happened.” He slanted his mouth over hers, claiming her again. Emotions rolled off him like sweat, and it took every ounce of control he had not to rip her bottoms off and fuck her into oblivion. The intensity of his feelings was so great, so new to him, the only way he knew how to deal with it was to fuck her hard and fast.
Grateful he owned a classic truck with a generous bench seat, he pushed it back as far as it would go, then spread her horizontally, like a Sunday buffet.
He tracked soft wet kisses down her center, squeezing her glorious tits together, burying his face between them. She smelled too damn good, like sunshine and salt water. Fresh and clean—his own little sea goddess.
“Lily Gallo.” He said her name with reverence, because no other woman had inspired him to love before. “Spread your legs for me.” He backed off to give her ample room.
She did as he asked, and he removed her wet bikini bottoms. His hungry gaze swept over her and she squirmed in response, lifting her ass off the seat.
“Do you want me inside you?” he asked.
“Bury that crazy-ass tongue inside me first.”
Positioning himself with his right knee on the seat, the other planted on the floorboard, he immediately found her swollen clitoris and sucked it so hard she screamed. He thrust two fingers inside her, then circled her clit with his thumb. “Come for me, baby.”
The second her legs began to quiver, he covered her pussy with his mouth, unwilling to waste the taste of her excitement. Lily flipped him on and off like a light switch. He’d spent more time with a hard-on over the last month than he had at any other time in his life, even in high school.
His turn now.
Lang crept up her luscious body, kissing her again, robbing her of breath and coherent thought. She hooked her arms around his center, hugging him so tight he didn’t ever want her to let go. After he broke the kiss, he helped her to her knees, the top of her body draped over the seat, giving him enough room to slip behind her. He ripped open the Velcro fly on his board shorts and his cock sprang free.
He fondled the space between her ass cheeks, loving how wet and soft she felt. He braced himself with one hand and guided his shaft with the other. “This is what love feels like to me, Lily.” He buried himself to the hilt in one desperate thrust.
“Oh God, Lang—it feels so good.”
Her shoulders dropped in submission. Lang gripped her hips, sliding in and out. Over and over again. Deep thrusts first, then torturous shallow ones. Harder, then softer. Brutal and possessive. Love pulsed through him.
“I’m done, Lily—can’t hold back anymore.” His body jerked, and he exploded so hard he felt light-headed.
“You belong to me. Say it,” he demanded.
“Yes. I belong to you, Lang.”
He’d finally tamed his little Italian mare from Philly, he thought, and he hugged her tight from behind. Mine, always.
Chapter 27
Lily w
atched the sunset from her patio. The week had flown by, and she felt like she couldn’t catch her breath. After they’d spent the weekend together with Lang’s family, he left for Austin on club business, giving her the time she needed to contemplate her future with him. His sisters were amazing—friendly, mischievous, and crazy about their brother. She didn’t blame them, feeling much the same way.
After their interlude in his truck on the beach, he’d left no room for doubt. They were no longer in a casual relationship.
The L word had rolled around on her tongue that day like it did now. Thinking it and saying it had different consequences, though. Commitment scared Lily. But she wanted him, missed him desperately, and knew she couldn’t keep her true feelings bottled up much longer. He’d come at her with guns blazing that day, the intensity of his emotions overwhelming.
Her cell vibrated and she grabbed it off the table.
A text from Lang: I want to see you, baby.
She smiled and punched in an answer. Are you coming home tonight?
Halfway there already. Stopped for coffee.
The sunset is beautiful. Reminds me of our trip to the beach.
Trying to drive me crazy? he asked.
Never.
Be there soon.
Lily couldn’t wait to hug him again. She planned on confessing her love tonight. The only way to purge all the self-doubt and bitterness from her heart was to face fear head on. The note she’d received from her mother a couple of days ago inspired her to take that step. Lily walked inside in search of the letter. She found it in her bedroom.
Dearest Lilliana,
First know how proud I am of you for moving to Texas and risking everything to start a new life. Your bravery is an inspiration, sweet daughter. Never forget how much I love you. If I possessed half your strength, I wouldn’t be in the hospital. Forgive me for not confiding in you more. I didn’t know what to do. Facing life without your father became too much for me to handle. In a moment of weakness, I lost sight of how precious life really is.
By the grace of God I received a second chance. And with the careful guidance of the staff and doctors at this wonderful facility, I’m learning to believe in myself again.
Please forgive your father, Lily, he loves you so much.
With love,
Mother
Tears burned Lily’s eyes. Those few words of love and encouragement went straight to her heart. Depression took many forms, sometimes with fatal results. Her mother had indeed received a second chance, and Lily prayed she’d hold on to life with all her strength. The whisper of hope her mother so eloquently described compelled Lily to honor her words with decisive action of her own.
To make life-altering changes.
Not only for her own benefit, but for the profession she’d dedicated her life to. Allowing herself to heal emotionally would make her a better counselor for the kids she loved to help. She placed the letter back on the nightstand and headed to the kitchen to get a glass of wine. If Lang was halfway home, he’d be here in a couple of hours.
She returned to the patio, admiring the evening sky streaked with fiery colors. Texans claimed everything in their home state was bigger and better. The sunset definitely confirmed it. So did Lang. She laughed out loud. Then her phone chimed and she picked it up, hoping Lang had stopped to call her. Unknown number? It rang again. She answered.
“Hello?”
Silence.
“Hello?” she said again.
“Lilliana Gallo?”
“Yes.”
“Listen very carefully to my instructions.”
“Who is this?” she demanded.
“I’m your only chance to help Maya Anderson, do you understand?”
Lily’s body went rigid. Oh. My. God. Whoever was on the phone was using an electronic device to distort their voice. “Yes.” Fear shot through her.
“You’ll find her at Grant’s Motel on Leopard Street, room 645.”
Before Lily could respond, she heard a click.
She rushed to the kitchen and wrote the name of the motel and room number down, then grabbed her keys, purse, and cell phone. Out the door in seconds, she climbed into her car and started the engine, hands trembling. She punched the address into her GPS system. What the hell was going on? Why would Maya be in a motel room by herself? She imagined the worst as she cut off a pickup truck merging with traffic on South Padre Island Drive.
Time seemed to stand still as she kept her gas pedal to the floor all the way to Leopard Street. She finally found the place and pulled into the parking lot. Room numbers were clearly marked on each door. She drove around the corner of the building—605, 612…645! She pulled into the empty parking space in front of the room and killed the engine.
“Please let her be okay,” she whispered as she got out.
Lily tried the doorknob and found the room unlocked. She stepped inside and gasped. Dressed in nothing but her bra and panties, Maya was curled up on the king-sized bed. The room was freezing, the window air-conditioning unit pumping cold air into the dismal space. Dropping her purse on the floor, she threw herself at Maya’s motionless form.
She turned her over and her head flopped sideways. No. Lily checked for a pulse, finding a steady heartbeat on her neck. The room reeked of sweet-smelling smoke and urine. What she found on the nightstand almost made her heart stop—a glass pipe and an empty plastic baggie. Drugs.
Lily had dealt with this kind of situation before in Philadelphia. She needed to get Maya on her feet and awake. “Maya!” she called, tapping her cheeks. “Wake up, sweetie.”
No response. For a moment Lily dreaded what might come next. But she gave it another try. “Maya Anderson,” she said more firmly. “If Lang finds you like this…”
Maya groaned.
That’s it, baby girl…Signs of life. “Talk to me, Maya. How do you feel?” She moved her to the edge of the bed. “Let’s get up now.”
Maya’s right hand flopped over the mattress. “Leave me alone.”
“That’s it, Maya—show me some sass.”
The more Maya responded, the greater her chances of leaving here on her feet instead of being transported to the hospital in the back of an ambulance. If she ended up in the hospital, it also meant the police and Child Protective Services would get involved—a serious danger to Lang’s custody of his sisters and to the Sons of Odin in general. Something Lily couldn’t let happen.
“Your brother is going to get pissed off when he finds out you’ve been partying again.”
Maya raised her head, pupils dilated. “Don’t tell him.”
Lily offered her hand. “Get up.”
The threat helped get Maya off the bed. She staggered toward the bathroom. “Water…”
Lily followed her to the sink and turned on the faucet. Then she unwrapped one of the plastic cups sitting on the vanity and filled it with water. “Drink.” She shoved it under Maya’s nose.
Maya gulped it down. “Where are my clothes?”
Lily turned on the nearby light and examined Maya head to toe. She appeared unharmed. “Who brought you here, Maya?”
“I-I don’t know.”
“Drink more water. I’ll find your clothes.”
As she searched the dresser, she found a folded piece of paper in the top drawer with Lang’s name written on it. Unable to resist, Lily opened it.
Remember how vulnerable your family is.
Disgusted, Lily crumpled it in anger. What kind of sick bastard used a child as leverage against his enemies? A number of answers came to mind, but nobody would hurt Lang’s sister again. Not on her watch. She found Maya’s jeans and T-shirt under the bed.
A few minutes later, dressed and ready to go, Lily ushered Maya to her car. She helped Maya with her seatbelt, then drove home, wondering how she was going to explain everything to Lang.
Chapter 28
Armed with a dozen red roses and his saddlebags draped over his shoulder, Lang trudged to Lily’s front door, relieve
d to be back in Corpus. He’d spent a lot of time on the road and wanted a shower, a hot meal, and quality time with the woman he loved. He knocked and Lily answered right away—looking pale and nervous.
What the fuck? Lang stepped inside. “What’s wrong, Lily? Is your mother okay?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
He kissed her forehead and handed her the flowers. “I missed you.”
She hugged the bouquet to her chest. “Thank you. I’m glad you’re here.”
Still not liking how frail she appeared, he clutched her hand and guided her into the living room. “Sit down, baby.”
He waited for her to sit, then said, “I’m not good at the guessing game, so will you tell me what’s troubling you before I go crazy?” He knelt in front of her. “Please.”
“I received an anonymous phone call over three hours ago regarding Maya—”
Lang sighed with relief. He could handle a disciplinary issue with his sister. “Another fight?”
“No.” Lily’s hands trembled as she struggled to continue. “She’s safe and asleep in my guest room.”
Lang rose to his feet, a frown on his face. “Tell me.”
“The caller gave me the address of the motel room she was in—”
“Fuck!” Lang screamed, raking his fingers over his skull. “Did you catch her with a guy?”
“God, no,” Lily answered with conviction. “She’s not guilty of anything. Someone drugged her and left her alone in a seedy motel room as a warning to you.” She handed him a wrinkled sheet of paper.
He read it, then gazed up at Lily. “Why didn’t you call me?” he snapped, rage consuming him.
Lily opened her mouth but didn’t say anything.
Frustrated and ready to destroy something, he stormed out and headed down the hallway, Lily following close behind. He paused in the open doorway, listening to Maya’s steady breathing, then flipped the light switch. A lamp on the nightstand came on.
“Let her sleep.” Lily grabbed his arm. “She needs rest.”
He swung around. “You expect me to wait after what you just told me? She’s experimented with pot, but never hard drugs. And from what you just described, she didn’t smoke a joint, Counselor, she tried something better.”
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