by Harley Wylde
“Do it. Call me or text me with a time and location.” He turned, then stopped. “Why exactly hasn’t Hillview already sent someone to retrieve Kalani? They know I have Janessa, so they have to assume that Kalani is here too.”
Wire shrugged. “Sadly, all the video footage from the night of her escape seems to have been magically erased, the orderly who helped you has gone missing, and everyone at the compound has played stupid when it comes to Kalani. Since she hasn’t left your house, there’s been no way for Hillview to see her roaming the compound. They can speculate that she’s here, but there’s no way for them to know for sure. Maybe she just ran off all on her own.”
I stared at Wire. “And they actually believed that?”
Wire chuckled. “Probably not. Which is why I released a few viruses into their systems to keep them busy. One of them is really awesome. Every time they get close to figuring it out, the virus evolves, and they have to start over. Right now, they don’t have access to at least half their records, including your files, which means they can’t get their hands on anything that says you belong there.”
“Then why do we have to get married?” I asked.
“Because the virus is temporary. Eventually, they’ll hire someone who will fix their system, and then they’ll come looking for you. I know what you’ve been through, I’ve seen what they did to you, and I won’t let you go back,” Wire said. “You protected Janessa, and it’s obvious that she didn’t want to leave you there. That makes you one of us.”
My throat grew tight. I’d never belonged anywhere before.
“I’ll see myself out,” Wire said. “Be listening for that call.”
Wire stepped past us, and Tex carried me down the hall. I’d thought he was taking me to the room I shared with Janessa, but he went right past it and continued into his bedroom. He kicked the door shut with his booted foot, then eased me down onto the bed. Tex paced for a moment, then stopped in front of me. Men towering over me still made me nervous and I tried not to fidget. My hands gripped the bedding tight, and I couldn’t help but stare straight ahead, right at his zipper. Was this the moment that he made me…
He tipped my chin up with his hand, then he knelt to get closer to eye-level with me. “Whatever you’re thinking, you can stop. I’m not going to hurt you, Kalani. I would never do anything to bring you harm.”
“Then why are we in your room?” I asked, trying to hold his gaze.
“If we get married, this is going to be your room too. What part of getting married scares you the most?” he asked.
I glanced behind me at the expanse of the large bed.
“Darlin’,” he said, turning my face back toward him. “I won’t force myself on you. If all you want to do is sleep, then I’ll lie next to you and let you sleep. I’m not going into this expecting us to have a normal marriage. I doubt that you’re anywhere near ready for that, and that’s okay. I haven’t been with a woman in a while, truth be told. If I’ve lasted this long, I can wait longer.”
“What if I’m never ready?” I asked, my gaze dropping from his. “What if I can’t ever give you what you want, what you need? It’s not fair for you to be stuck with a woman who may never want to be intimate with you.”
“Seeing as how we’re getting married, mind if I try something?” he asked. “I’ll stop anytime you want me to.”
“Try what?” I asked, looking at him again.
“I want to kiss you,” he said, his gaze dropping to my lips. “And if you don’t like it, or it scares you, then you push me away and I’ll back off. I will never ask more of you than you’re willing to give, Kalani. But I think, given time, that you could have a normal life. I know you’ve been through some dark shit, and no, I don’t know all the details, but I know enough. Don’t let them win. If you give up on life, if you never give living a chance, then they win.”
I licked my lips and he groaned a little. “And kissing you will mean they aren’t winning?”
“Yeah, darlin’. But if you don’t want that, then I’ll back off right now.”
My heart was pounding, but I wasn’t sure if it was because I was scared or because of something else. I might not be a virgin, but when it came to this, to kissing and someone asking if they could touch me, I was completely clueless. No one had ever kissed me. Not really. They’d ground their lips against mine as they fumbled with their pants, but I didn’t think that was an actual kiss. Part of me was curious, even if I was little frightened of what might come after that.
“All right,” I agreed. “You… you may kiss me.”
Tex moved in closer, his hand sliding into my hair. His gaze met mine before he lowered his head and his lips lightly brushed across mine. He was so tender, his kiss so soft, that the tension and fear began to melt away. He kissed me slowly, his lips caressing mine, and when his tongue flicked out, I gasped. I didn’t know what to think when his tongue slid into my mouth, but I tried to mimic what he was doing. When Tex pulled away, he rested his forehead against mine.
“Did I… did I do that right?” I asked.
He gave a gruff laugh and looked at me. “Yeah, darlin’. That was perfect.”
I nibbled my lip, which tingled a little from his kiss. “Tex? Is… is all parts of being married like that kiss?”
“You mean the bedroom parts?” he asked.
My cheeks flushed and I nodded.
He cupped my cheek, his thumb rubbing lightly against my skin. “With us, yeah. All parts will be like that. I’ll go as slow as you want, sweetheart. And I wasn’t lying. If you decide you don’t want that part of marriage at all, then it doesn’t have to happen. Ever.”
“You’re giving up children,” I reminded him.
“As many kids as we have running around this compound, I’m sure a few brothers won’t mind loaning their kids out here and there. We’ll just volunteer to babysit sometimes so they can go on date nights, and we can get our baby fix.”
“You make it sound so easy, but I know it’s not.”
“Kalani,” he said softly. “Torch referred to you and Janessa as my girls, and he was right. The moment I carried you out of that place, you became mine. We’ll make this work, whatever it takes. All I want is for you to be happy and safe, and I will stop at nothing to make that happen.”
“All right,” I said, my voice so quiet I wasn’t sure he heard me.
Slowly, he moved toward me again, and he kissed me once more. This time, I was able to kiss him back better than the first time. I had to admit that kissing Tex was nice, and I wouldn’t mind doing that for the rest of my life. Maybe he was right. If kissing felt this nice, maybe other things between us would be good too. And hopefully, if things did get that far, I wouldn’t freak out at the last minute.
His phone chimed with an incoming message and he drew back. He pulled the phone from his pocket and smiled. “It’s Wire. Our flight will be ready within two hours. It seems we’re taking a private jet to Las Vegas.”
I rubbed my hands up and down my thighs. “I’ve never been on a plane before. I’d never been in a car until the night you rescued me.”
“Everything’s going to be fine.”
“What about Janessa?” I asked. “Is she going too?”
He cursed under his breath. “Hang on. I don’t think anyone thought that far ahead.”
He tapped on his phone and smiled a moment later.
“Torch said Janessa can stay with them. He’s ordered me to keep you in Vegas for a few days to give us some alone time.”
“A few days?” I asked. “Where will we stay?”
“Wire said he was making arrangements for us. He’ll text the information to me once everything is finalized.”
“Tex, can you afford all this? Isn’t something like traveling expensive?”
“I’m not a rich man,” he said. “But I can take care of you. Want to see my account balance? Would that make you feel better?”
I shook my head. “It wouldn’t mean anything to me. I’ve nev
er dealt with money before.”
“When we get back, I’ll have you added to my account and get a debit card for you. I can teach you how it all works, and if you’re ever worried that something costs too much, just ask. It’s time for you to experience freedom, Kalani. I don’t want to keep you behind these gates forever. Once Hillview is taken care of, you’ll be able to come and go as you please, without fear of someone coming after you.”
“How are you going to take care of Hillview?” I asked.
“Let me worry about that.” His jaw tightened. “Those assholes are in for a reckoning. Dixie Reapers take care of our own, and you’re one of us now, sweetheart. We won’t stop until that place is shut down and the men who hurt you are either dead or in jail.”
His words should have scared me, but they didn’t. Maybe it was wrong, but I wanted those people to suffer. They were horrible, evil men and women, and every last one deserved whatever Tex did to them. I only hoped he didn’t get in trouble. I’d come to rely on him, and I wasn’t sure if I’d ever be ready to be out in the big wide world without him by my side.
He looked at me, a little pensive. “We didn’t buy you anything appropriate for a wedding.”
I glanced down at the T-shirt and leggings I had on. I’d found them comfortable, so when Tex had bought clothes for me online, I’d just ordered more of them. Getting a bra had been a little trickier, and my cheeks had never been so red as when he helped me measure. I’d tried to do it on my own, but hadn’t know what the hell I was doing. Tex had fumbled a bit, but he’d remained a gentleman the entire time.
“We’ll go order our license and then go shopping,” he said. “I’m sure it will take a few hours to get the license so that will give us some time. You can get a wedding dress, and I’ll get a suit. Even if we’re doing this in Vegas, doesn’t mean we can’t do it in style.”
I had no clue what that meant, but if he wanted to buy me a dress, I’d go along with it. I’d done what he called binge-watching with every show I could find since he’d brought me home, and Ridley had given me a few sacks of books. I’d watched TV a few times in the asylum, but it hadn’t been often. We quickly packed our clothes, dropped some things off for Janessa, and then we headed to the airstrip. Wire drove us in a large truck, claiming it made more sense than having to leave a vehicle at the airstrip. As we boarded the jet, my stomach twisted and churned. I only hoped that Tex didn’t wake up tomorrow and regret all this.
Chapter Five
Tex
I had to admit, I never thought I’d get married. Not after what happened with Janessa’s mom. Trusting women after that had never been easy, and was probably why I’d never had a relationship after I’d left the Dixie Reapers and joined the Army. But as I watched Kalani walk down the short aisle of one of the Vegas chapels, I wasn’t nervous, I wasn’t scared… I just felt content. I knew that we might not ever have a normal marriage, but I hadn’t lied to her. I was okay with that. She was an incredible woman, and I wanted to give her the world, wanted to keep her safe, and I wanted to prove to her that not all men were assholes. I didn’t know what our wedding night would consist of, but as long as I got to spend time with her, then that’s all that mattered.
“You’re beautiful,” I said as she stopped next to me.
Her cheeks flushed and there was a hesitant smile on her face. I knew she still thought I was making a mistake, that I would regret marrying her. But she couldn’t have been more wrong. I’d thought she was pretty even from the beginning, but seeing her like this? She was stunning. And after this ceremony, she’d be mine.
She reached up and smoothed her hand down the lapel of the navy suit I’d purchased. Kalani had said I could get married wearing whatever I wanted, and maybe some other guy would have done just that. No way was I showing up to my wedding in my cut, jeans, and biker boots. Kalani deserved better than that, so if that meant I had to wear a suit and dress shoes, then that’s what I’d do. I’d thought about taking my Army dress uniform, but the only uniforms she’d ever seen were in Hillview. I hadn’t been sure how she’d react, and I wanted this day to be a good memory for her. So I’d left the uniform hanging in my closet at home. Not that an Army uniform was remotely close to what the staff and doctors wore at Hillview, but I hadn’t been willing to take the chance.
I barely heard the words of the minister. Somehow, I’d managed to find one who didn’t dress like Elvis. And I’d even arranged for Kalani to have a bouquet and for pictures to be taken before, during, and after the ceremony. I might not have ever been married before, but I remember how much my mom had loved her wedding pictures. Kalani had lived such a hard life, I wanted her to have a way to remember a happy day. Or what I hoped would be a happy day. So far, she’d been smiling through most of it, and hadn’t seemed quite as scared as she normally was. I didn’t know if that’s because Hillview was so far away, or if she just trusted me to keep her safe.
The minister cleared his throat and I realized they were waiting on me.
“I do,” I said, hoping that was the right thing to say. I hadn’t been listening at all, too busy staring at the gorgeous woman in front of me.
“And do you Kalani Whitby take Houston Rodriguez to be your lawfully wedded husband? In sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, ‘til death do you part?” the minister asked.
“I do,” she said, without hesitation. My heart warmed as she smiled up at me.
“You may kiss the bride. Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Rodriguez.”
I leaned down and softly brushed my lips against hers but pulled away quickly. The only kisses we’d shared had been at home in my bedroom, and that had only been about nine or ten hours ago. I didn’t think she was ready for PDA at this stage, and might not ever like it. That and I really didn’t want to get a hard-on while we were out in public. No, I hadn’t reached my age and never sported wood out in public, but this wasn’t just any woman. She was my wife, and I didn’t want to embarrass her.
We posed for a few pictures, then waited while they were printed off. I even purchased a small wedding album they offered, and hoped I was doing the right thing. Wire had found us a hotel off the strip, agreeing with me that the lights and crowds might be too much for Kalani. But it was a nice hotel, and he’d booked the honeymoon suite, letting me know that the club was taking care of the cost as a wedding gift to us. I hadn’t lied to Kalani about my finances. I was well enough off that she didn’t need to worry about anything, but it was nice of the guys to do something like this for us. It would allow me to spend more money on my new wife.
We walked down the strip, with her hand clutched tightly in mine. Anytime someone brushed against us, she pressed even closer. While I hated that she was likely nervous around so many people, I had to admit that I didn’t mind her getting as close as she wanted. My heart was pounding as I thought about the night ahead. I’d let the concierge know we were off to get married and that I’d like room service waiting when we returned, complete with champagne. I’d handed him a slip of paper with my order. The man had winked and said everything would be taken care of.
We turned off the strip and walked to our hotel, the crowd having thinned quite a bit. My new wife didn’t clutch my hand quite as tightly, but she still held on. I scanned the area, making sure trouble wasn’t lurking. In a place like this, it was probably a mugger’s paradise. Despite the fact I was dressed up for the wedding, I had my Glock concealed under my suitcoat. I didn’t care if Nevada was a reciprocity state for conceal and carry or not. When it came to Kalani’s safety, I wasn’t taking any chances.
The concierge gave me a thumbs-up as we walked past, which Kalani thankfully didn’t notice. I wanted to surprise her. I only hoped she liked surprises. The elevator was empty as we stepped inside, and I pushed the button for our floor. Kalani had yet to release my hand, and I was fighting the urge to lean down and kiss her again. I had to remind myself to move slowly. Yes, we’d kissed three times now, but that didn’t mean she’d be open to more
of them right now.
The elevator stopped at our floor, and we stepped off and walked down to the honeymoon suite. Kalani’s eyes had gone wide the first time she’d seen it, and I had to admit I was pretty impressed too. There was a living area with a black leather couch and two matching chairs. A large TV was mounted on the wall, and there was a roomy bedroom with a bathroom that had a large, jetted tub and a separate shower.
I pushed open the door to our suite, and Kalani gasped as she walked into the living area. The concierge had gone above and beyond. Candles were lit around the room, the champagne was chilling in a silver bucket on the glass-top coffee table, and he’d included strawberries with chocolate sauce. A wheeled cart held our meals, covered with silver domes, and I noticed a trail of red rose petals leading into the bedroom. I’d have to remember to give the man a good tip.
“This is…” Kalani spun around, taking everything in. “You did all this for me?”
“I wanted tonight to be special,” I said.
“Tex, it’s… it’s beautiful.”
I noticed the shine of tears in her eyes, but she wrapped her arms around me and hugged me tight. I just stood there, holding her, and hoping that tonight would be filled with happy memories, something to wash away all the evil she’d experienced. Not that I thought a wedding and a possibly G-rated honeymoon were going to make it all go away, but it was a step in the right direction.
“Come on, sweetheart. Let’s get a glass of champagne and have some dinner. Then we can check out those strawberries for dessert.”
She nodded and let go. There was a small table near the large floor-to-ceiling window. I carried our dinners to the table and poured each of us a glass of champagne. I was more a beer type of guy, but women liked this kind of shit, right? Kalani sat and took a tentative sip of her champagne. A drop clung to her lip, and before she could lick it away, I leaned over and kissed her, lapping up the droplet with my tongue. She inhaled sharply and I backed off, wondering if I’d pushed things too far already.
