“So, you’re not still ignoring me?” he asks, sitting down in one of the chairs.
“Hard to do that when you show up at my work.”
He grunts. “Thought I should check on you since I haven’t heard a word after Quinn ambushed me into setting up a whole kid’s bedroom set in your house. Ready to tell me what that’s about?”
“Quinn didn’t tell you?”
“Wouldn’t tell me anything, just made me promise to leave you alone for a few days. Which I did. Now I’m here, and I want to know what the hell is going on.”
“Lorelei’s back.”
“Bence Farkas’ daughter?” His brows shoot up. “She’s alive?”
“Stepdaughter,” I correct.
“Shit. I heard about the shootout in Harristown. Was she involved. God, the girl was always trouble–”
“Farkas was trouble. She was just another one of his victims.”
Kade frowns at me. “You messed up with her somehow?”
“Not messed up, I’m in love with her.”
“I thought Abbott was one with the missing IQ points.”
“Careful,” I growl out.
“So that’s what the furniture was for? She’s staying with you?”
“She’s living with me.”
“Damon, seriously, I know you felt like shit after she disappeared–”
“You have no idea what I felt.”
“I can guess.” I know he can relate. His own wife left him, lost to drugs and alcohol, leaving him with a baby to raise on his own. “Just don’t want to see you get hurt.”
“She has a kid.” I swallow over the truth, pride dripping from my words when I say, “My kid. That’s why I needed the furniture.”
Kade stands and looks at me like I just sprouted horns.
“Nolan. He’s ten,” I add before my brother can say anything else. “Cute as hell. Plays hockey, and–”
“You’re sure the kid is yours?”
“Yes,” I bite out.
“You’re sure? The girl had a reputation–”
“Watch it.”
“Okay. So, the kid is yours.” He shakes his head. “Do Mom and Dad know?”
“Not yet, and I don’t plan on telling them until Lorelei’s ready.”
“She’s had ten years to be ready. She really kept this from you all this time?”
I feel Kade’s frustration, and I know with his past where his first thoughts go...deception, mistrust.
“She had her reasons,” I say, more warning in my voice. I’ll protect her from anyone, including my own brother, even if he is only trying to protect me. “When you see her, I don’t want you giving her any shit. Lor’s been through hell and she’s finally back. I won’t let anything or anyone–” I point my finger at his chest. “–Run her off again.”
Kade sighs. “I’ve been where you are. It’s no way to live, always wondering when the person you love is about to run off with your heart.”
“She won’t run again,” I say with more certainty than I feel. “Promise me you won’t be an ass to her.”
After a slight hesitation, Kade nods. “Yeah, I promise. Not sure I can say the same for Abbott, though. Have you talked to him this week?”
“No, why?”
“Got a weird call from him a few days ago, then he went off the grid.”
“I don’t have time to babysit him right now, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“I wasn’t. But I’ve got my own stuff to worry about right now, too.”
“What’s going on?”
“Sophie’s pregnant.”
“Shit, that’s amazing.”
“Yeah.” I see the joy mixed with concern in his eyes. “Going to tell everyone at dad’s party. We just wanted to wait until she was past three months.”
I get it. With my sister-in-law’s past, I understand my brother’s worry.
“Anyways.” Kade starts towards the door. “I just wanted to come by and see how you were. I understand now why you’ve been AWOL, but don’t push us away too much longer. Mom won’t forgive you if you keep this from her.”
I hear the undercurrent of his message, wondering how the hell I’m able to forgive Lorelei for keeping it from me.
“Forgiveness is easy when you love someone,” I say, knowing my brother had enough experience with the emotion to understand, even if he did want to try and protect me from it.
“When did you become the bleeding heart of the family?” he mutters, before leaving my office.
The truth is, I always was when it came to Lorelei.
Chapter 16
Lorelei
“Can we go for a boat ride now?” Nolan asks for the tenth time in the past hour.
“Not until Damon gets home.” I feel like a broken record, but we’re both a little stir crazy.
I didn’t think there was a limit to how many video games a ten-year-old boy could play, but apparently there is. Especially for a boy like Nolan who prefers to be moving, not locked up in a house under police watch.
And I’m also running out of things to do, or rather bake. Two pies, three dozen cupcakes, as well as two lasagnas and three chicken pot pies line the counter and fill the fridge and freezer.
It’s what I do when I’m nervous, or bored, or can’t figure out what else to do with myself. When Damon is home, things are different, but he needs to work, and so do I.
Or else I’m going to go out of my mind.
“Tell you what,” I say to Nolan, who sits at the kitchen table. “How about we go for a quick ride? Just you and me.”
“Really?” His head perks up.
“Sure. Go get a hoodie on. It’s a little cool today.”
He races to his bedroom and I finish tidying up the kitchen. Outside, Toby, one of the officers Damon has watching the place, gets out of his cruiser when he sees Nolan and I exit the house.
“Do you need something?” he asks.
“Just a little bit of fresh air.” I nod at Nolan, who skips ahead of me. “Going to take the boat out for a short ride. We won’t be long.”
Toby’s brows furrow. “Not sure that’s a good idea. I should check with the boss first.” He reaches for his phone.
“I’ll be back in twenty minutes.” I give him a small smile before walking past him towards the dock. “We’ll be back before Damon comes home.”
I’m aware of the muttered curses floating behind me, but I need this–-Nolan needs it.
Once we’re out on the lake, I know it was a good idea. Sun beats down on our cheeks, gulls cry above us, and Nolan laughs as a wave splashes us.
“Mom, look.” He points at a spot far out on the lake. “What is that?”
“Gull’s Island,” I say over the sound of the engine and the wind whipping at my face.
“Can we go there?”
I hesitate before turning the boat in the direction of the small island. Usually, there are at least a dozen or so boats surrounding it, teenagers anchored on one of the sandbars, drinking the day away. But there isn’t anyone else out on the lake right now.
“Do people live there?” Nolan asks as we get closer.
“No. But sometimes people camp on the island.”
“Can we?” His face brightens.
“Yeah. Maybe one day.”
It’s funny, as I circle the little island, I expect to feel the darkness creep into my chest, but I don’t. The memories come. The storm. The waves. The small metal boat capsizing. The fear. But the good memories; the ones with Damon, days and nights spent out here, wrapped in each other’s arms–those dominate now.
Until I hear the chug, feel the rattle under my hands, and look down at the gauges in front of me and see the red arrow pointing at a giant E.
Shit.
The boat is out of gas. It chugs a few more meters before the engine cuts out.
Nolan looks over at me and frowns. “What’s wrong?”
“The gas tank is empty.”
“We’re stuck out here?”
Oh God, Damon is going to kill me.
“Can you do me a favor?” I ask him. “Go beneath the deck and see if there’s a gas tank. It’ll be red with a yellow nozzle.”
He darts below.
“Now would be a good time to have a cellphone,” I mutter, pacing the deck. Already, we’re drifting farther away from the island and further out into the middle of the lake.
If we get too far away from land, it’ll be harder for anyone to find us.
I pull up the anchor, tossing it overboard, hoping the lake is shallow enough here for it to catch, because when Nolan comes up with an empty gas tank, I know we could be out here for a while.
“What do we do?”
“Wait.”
“For what?” I glance around, then up at the sky. It’s probably close to four now, which means we still have hours of sunlight.
“When Damon notices we’re gone, he’ll send someone out looking for us.” I just have a feeling he’s going to be pretty pissed when he does.
Chapter 17
Damon
“You let them go out alone?” I grip Toby by the collar, and the man looks ready to piss himself. “When did they leave?”
“Two hours ago. I tried to call you, but you didn’t answer.”
Because I was at my parents’, explaining the situation to them. But now, both Lorelei and Nolan are gone.
“Tell me exactly what she said.”
“Just that she and the kid were going for a ride, and that they wouldn’t be long. I thought they’d be back by now.”
Panic throttles me, shakes me to the core.
She wouldn’t leave.
She wouldn’t take Nolan from me.
But Kade’s words from earlier today have already cut open old, deep insecurities, and as I trudge through the house looking for any sign of where she might have gone, I can’t help thinking the worst.
Jumping in my truck, I call my brother-in-law, Zee St. James, but it’s Quinn who answers, with a screaming baby in the background.
“I need to speak to your husband.”
“Damon, what’s wrong?”
“Just put him on the phone, Quinn.”
A second later, Zee answers. “What’s going on?”
“I need your boat.”
“Everything okay?”
“I’ll be there in five minutes.” I hang up, stepping on the gas.
She promised she wouldn’t run.
But if she didn’t, then it’s possible that Farkas has her.
I slam my fist into the steering wheel, and the horn blares.
Zee’s waiting for me at his dock, the forty-foot Sea Ray already humming. He jumps on with me and starts untying the massive boat. “I’m coming with you.”
“You don’t even know where I’m going.”
“Do you?” He raises a brow at me. “Want to tell me what’s happening? I’m assuming this is about your girl and kid.”
“Quinn told you.” I step up to the steering wheel and back the boat away from the dock.
“She tells me everything.”
Figures. Not that I’m mad. Out of anyone, Zee knows how to keep a secret.
“Lorelei took the boat out earlier. They should have been back by now.” It’s all he needs to know.
We spend the next three hours trolling the beaches, Zee with a pair of binoculars scanning the horizon. I’ve called Kade, and he’s been on the phone for the last hour with the marinas a hundred miles east and west of Port Clover asking if a boat with the same description has docked.
Nothing.
Storm clouds are coming in from the north, the waves are picking up, and I can’t help but feel like this is deja-vu from eleven years ago.
“There.” Zee motions to the left of us, and I have to squint to see where he’s pointing. “A boat is anchored just off Gull’s Island.”
“Is it mine?” I steer towards the speck.
“Can’t tell. But...there’s someone on board trying to flag us down. I think it’s a woman.”
Lorelei.
My heart drums, beating hard against my chest, and when we get closer and I see her standing at the back of the boat, I wish it was just relief filling me.
But I’m not just angry. I’m furious. So fucking mad, I have to take a few breaths to cool down while Zee tosses a rope to her.
“Thank God,” she says. “We ran out of gas–” She freezes when she sees me, then swallows, and I can see the awareness in her eyes, the knowing.
Yeah, sweetheart, I’m pissed.
“We...” She stumbles over her words. “We ran out of gas.”
The only thing saving her from me is Nolan, who jumps onto Zee’s boat, looking like he just had the adventure of his life.
“Damon. You saved us. Mom said you would. Said you’d come and find us.”
I look down at the kid, and even though I know he’s probably too old for me to do it, I pick him up and wrap my arms around him. Funny thing is, he returns the hug.
“You can call me Dad, now,” I say, before putting him back down.
He grins up at me. “Okay.” He looks around the boat, which is more of a yacht, his eyes widening. “So freaking cool.”
“Nolan,” I spin him towards Zee, who grins down at him. “This is your Uncle Zee. He’s married to my sister, Quinn.”
“Hey, sport.” Zee holds out a hand and Nolan shakes it. “You hungry?”
“Starving.” Nolan says. “Damon only has pop on his boat. I found a bag of M&Ms, but Mom wouldn’t let me eat them ‘cause she said she didn’t know how long they’d been there for.”
“There’s a fully stocked fridge below,” Zee tells him. “Go down and help yourself.”
Lorelei still hasn’t gotten off my boat, and I see her apprehension.
Smart girl.
Rage still rumbles in me, as daunting as the thunder in the distance.
“You have any gas?” I ask Zee.
“Should be some below.” He gives me a warning glance, one that clearly says, Behave, before he disappears below deck.
Lorelei fidgets with the rope that holds the two boats together. “Damon–”
Swinging my legs over the side, I hop into the boat beside her. “What the hell were you thinking?”
She opens her mouth to give me an excuse.
“Do you have any idea how fucking scared I was? I thought...” I drag my hand through my hair.
“I’m sorry,” she says softly.
It’s not enough, not when I thought she’d stole off again, taking my son with her. My teeth grind so damn hard, I swear I can hear them cracking in my ears.
“This should be enough.” Zee is at the edge of his boat holding a red plastic gas tank.
“Thanks.” I take it from him, still stalking too close to the edge of anger, and start filling the tank.
Nolan runs up beside him with a chocolate Drumstick in his hand. “Zee’s boat wins hands down. Can I go back with him?”
Zee chuckles. “I have no problem with it.”
My truck is still at his place. I’ll need it to get to work tomorrow, so I’ll have to go back to his place anyways. And I need to talk to Lorelei. Alone.
“Yeah, sure,” I say, then glance up at Zee. “Feed him something without sugar when you get back.”
“I’ll call Quinn and have her make something up.”
I start untying the rope.
“Are you sure he’s safe with–”
Over my shoulder, I give her a hard stare. “Zee will take care of him. Plus, his place has the most up-to-date security system available. There’s nowhere safer.”
“Except with you,” she half whispers, making my anger budge an inch. But only an inch.
Nolan waves at us as Zee pulls the boat away, and when I know they’re out of earshot, I finally turn my full attention on her.
“I know you’re upset.”
“Upset?” I take a step towards her and she takes one back. “No, sweetheart. I’m not upset. I’
m furious.”
Something feral twists in me.
The thought of losing her does that.
Lust twists with my anger. Over the past week that she and Nolan have been with me, I’ve taken her over and over. Taken her every chance I could, and I still haven’t had enough of her. I know I never will. But what I need now is different. A need to devour. To consume. To fuck away the fears that had my heart ready to explode in my chest minutes before.
And I can see Lorelei knows it. There’s a slight tremble to her lips, and her eyes widen.
“Come here.”
“Damon–”
“Come here, Lorelei.”
She takes a tentative step forward, gasping when I grasp her, pulling her against me, my mouth crashing down on hers.
My cock is so damn hard, the need to fuck her, claim her, claws at me.
I kiss her hard, my tongue swiping into her mouth, and I push my fingers into her silky hair, holding her in place as I pull back and pin her with a hard gaze.
“I can’t protect you if I don’t know where you are.” That’s my biggest fear. That trouble will come and I won’t be there to save her.
“I know.”
“I thought you ran from me. That you took Nolan...”
Her hand flutters to my cheek. “I won’t. Ever again. I promise.”
The pressure building in my cock is becoming agonizing, tearing away at my self-control. But of all the times I’ve taken her, I’ve never fucked her, not like I want to right now.
She brushes her lips against mine, her fingers curling in my shirt, her sweet little body flush against mine.
The boat is still anchored and there’s no one for miles. No one to see me strip her out of her shirt, to tug at her jeans, dragging my hands over her perfect ass as I push them down. No one to see me lose all control and undo my belt as her soft hands loop under the material of my pants, pushing them over my hips, my cock ready and straining.
Lorelei’s head tilts back and she moans as I rake my teeth down her neck, lost in her own need. Lost in a place where danger doesn’t exist.
This was always our place.
Out here in the middle of the lake, where walls couldn’t be built and the open expanse of sky spoke of never-ending possibilities.
I know I should take her below deck, but there’s no chance in hell I’m making it to the bed.
Salvage (Savages and Saints Book 3) Page 14
