by Donn, KL
Putting my fork on my plate, I push the dish away and take a quick drink of water from my glass before wiping my mouth with the napkin on the table. “I have to tell you something.”
In so few words, he’s on high alert, knowing what I have to say isn’t going to be good. Sitting down, he pulls his chair closer to mine, spins me around so I face him, and pulls me into his open legs as far as he can. “Whatever it is, sparrow”—he grips my hands tenderly in his— “I’ll help you through it. I’ll be here.”
“You’re a good man, Cross Malcolm,” I whisper as I gather my thoughts. He remains silent until I’m ready. “My parents died when I was thirteen and Cami was fourteen. Foster care wasn’t the nicest situation, but we were lucky to be kept together. I think it’s because they thought we would be easier to deal with after such a loss. I’m not sure.”
“I’m sorry, Bella.” I can only nod because talking about my parents is always hard.
“The first family was alright. They didn’t really care about us too much, just made sure we went to school, had the basics. We cooked and cleaned, thinking they’d want to keep us longer. Six months later, we were given to this woman and her husband.” I gulp remembering the day it began.
“You have to understand that even though Cami was the older one, she was like a mouse. Quiet, shy, reserved. When yelled at, she would jump a foot in the air. She had always been that way. For as long as I can remember, I was the protector. I was the one who made sure no harm came to her even when our parents were alive. She was always small for her age until she turned fourteen, then suddenly, she became a woman.”
I smile thinking of the morning she woke me up in a panic because her chest sprouted overnight. Cami was horrified. While I was taller and kind of lanky, my sister was petite. “When the husband saw her, he got this look in his eye. It was like he knew she wasn’t a young girl anymore. She was growing up into someone he desired as a man.”
“Jesus Christ, sparrow.” Cross’ hands cup my knees, and his thumbs rub soothing circles on the insides.
“I knew, Cross, I just knew he was going to touch her. Take something that never belonged to him. So, I made her sleep in my bed that night.” His midnight gaze turns into a storm as he sees where I’m going with the story. “I was ready for him.”
Rubbing a rough hand across his jaw, he asks me, “What did you do, Isabella?”
“I made him regret messing with the Sharp girls.” I shrug. I don’t regret my decision. He deserved what I had to do. What he forced me to do. “My dad gave me this Swiss Army knife when I turned ten. I still had it then. When this man crawled on top of me, I warned him to get off, or I would cut him. He laughed so hard, as if I could ever do anything to hurt him.”
“Bella,” Cross groans.
“He had it coming.”
“Oh, I’m sure he did.” His laugh is addictive.
“When he wouldn’t move, I nicked one of his testicles, and the bleeding wouldn’t stop. He screamed so loud, my ears rang.” I still have incredible hatred for that family. “I was committed to the hospital for psychological evaluation, Cross.” I finally get the words out.
“Are you fucking kidding me? What happened to him? Where did Cami go?” The muscles in his arms flex and the veins bulge, drawing my attention.
“He got stitched up. Cami went into protective custody before she was placed with another family, and for three months, I was in the juvenile psych ward at the hospital.”
“This won’t stop the sheriff from helping you, you know that, right?” I love his optimism.
“I do.” Swallowing, I fill him in on the rest. “But it wasn’t the first, or even second, time it happened. I was only released into Curtis’ custody because he agreed to keep me until I was twenty-one and could be re-evaluated.” The words rush out with so much force they sound like one run-on sentence.
Cross blinks rapidly as he processes what I’ve said, and I just know that I’m not a burden he’s prepared to deal with. Not anymore. And I don’t blame him one bit.
Chapter Four
Cross
To say I’m stunned after everything Isabella has just told me is an understatement. But behind that shock is rage so volatile that I’m not sure what the fuck to do with it.
“So, you’re trapped under his fucking thumb for three more years?” She nods her head, the first tear dropping from her eye. “Where’s Cami?” Surely, she wouldn’t have left her sister behind, not after everything she just told me.
The teardrops flow like a fountain, and I forget about everything else as I pull her willowy frame onto my lap and hold her through the storm. “I tried to protect her. For so long, I was her shield. But Sully, he’s so big. He’s strong, and he knocked me out so I couldn’t stop them.”
Her sobs shake us both. “Stop them from what, Isabella?”
“Hurting her. Cami was so tiny. Like a doll and Sully is a giant. He took everything he could from her until she was left a shell. She died in my arms, three weeks ago, begging me to run.” My arms tighten around her fragile body as I wrap my head around what they did.
I need to figure out how the fuck to get her out of this. It’ll be over my dead body that she goes back to that man. He was supposed to be her family. I bet they both held hope for a brighter future after everything that happened, and instead, they went straight into the darkest pits of hell.
“I’ll figure this out, Bella. I won’t let him hurt you ever again.” I hope to hell I can keep that promise.
The sound of gravel crunching pulls my attention away from the woman in my arms as I see Sherri’s truck pull up in the driveway and not seconds later, Colter shows up as well.
“I want you to go on up to my room, Isabella. I would like to set some ground rules with the sheriff before he begins questioning you.” Lifting her chin with my hand, I try to give her an encouraging look, but she appears doubtful.
“I can’t go back, Cross. He’ll kill me.” She’s terrified. Worse than any skittish calf I’ve come across in my line of work.
Leaning forward, I kiss her forehead as we stand. “You won’t. I won’t let you.” She nods and shuffles quickly upstairs as Sherri knocks on the back door, chatting with Colter as they kick the dust off their boots.
“Afternoon, Sherri, thanks for bringing this all out for Isabella.” I grin at the woman. She’s a firecracker and enjoys busting the boys’ balls about everything she can.
“Anything to get a peek at this woman Paul says you’re so protective about.” She looks around the room as I help her load the groceries onto the counter. “Where is she?”
“Upstairs. Resting.” My tone is a little harder than need be as I look at Colter. “We need to have a word before you speak to her.”
Sighing, Colter takes his hat off and pats his thigh with it. “Sherri, it’d be mighty nice if you wouldn’t mind making us a pot of coffee?” It’s phrased as a question, but with the sheriff, it never is. He’s a hard man but fair. I’m hoping to be on his rational side today; otherwise, I might just wind up in my baby brother’s footsteps and behind bars for a crime well-deserved.
“Sure thing, Sheriff. I’ll make some lunch, too. I’m sure our young lady could use something hearty when she gets up.” As Sherri busies herself in the kitchen, I lead Colter into my office and shut the door behind us.
“Before you start, Cross, I already did a check on Miss Sharp. I know she’s eighteen and should be allowed to make her own decisions, but she was found unfit to do so.”
“I know that. She told me this morning. However, before you think of handing her back over to that monster, you need to look into him. You need to investigate what happened to her sister.”
Sitting in one of the leather chairs in front of my desk, Colter looks beat. Like he was up all night investigating. “I’ve already been in contact with Curtis. He knows we’ve found his niece, and is demanding her back at once.”
“I won’t let you do that.” My blunt words take him by surpris
e.
“Won’t?” Shaking his head, he knows he can do what he damn well pleases. “That’s not how this works, Cross, and I get the feeling you know that already.”
I refuse to budge on this. He agrees, or he doesn’t talk to her. “It does, this time, Colt.”
Brows raised with frustration, he shakes his head. “You realize I’m the law in this county, right, Malcolm?”
“I do.” I cross my arms and match his glare.
“You know what she did?”
“I know she protected her older sister because nobody else was willing to do their damn jobs.” It’s a subtle jab.
“Christ.” Colter scrubs a hand across the back of his neck. “Fine. She stays put, but only until I can validate these claims and find out what’s going on.” He eyes me up suspiciously. “Why are you so invested in this girl?”
“Why not? It doesn’t seem like anyone else is.” I won’t justify myself or my feelings to him. No matter how long we’ve been friends.
“You Malcolm boys are quite the trio.” He laughs as we both turn when Sherri wanders in.
“Here you are, boys, coffee and sandwiches. Tea for Isa; she’s waiting in the hallway.” Sherri gives me a pointed look that tells me to take care of her. I plan on it.
* * *
Isabella
I was never a sit and wait kind of person. As much pain as I’m in, my curiosity got the better of me, and I had to know what they were talking about. It’s my life on the line here, and if they plan to send me back, I’ll run.
Hearing Cross defending me without hesitation or even really being acquainted with me, made my chest tighten. I couldn’t describe the feelings blossoming in me, but I do know, I can trust him. I can be sure that just because other men have betrayed me in the past, he’ll never be one of them.
Sherri caught sight of me from the kitchen and watched me eavesdrop before she shook a tea can at me. I can’t even say I like the stuff, but it was something my mother used to make when Cami or I were upset. It was soothing. Now, it’s all I have left.
“You should come in with me,” the older woman suggests as she appears, carrying a tray.
“I’m not supposed to be down here. What if the sheriff wants to send me back?” I trust Dr. Banner and, by proxy, her as well.
“Colter is a pain in the ass, but he’s good people. You can trust he’ll do right by you.” Walking away, I can hear her talking to the men before she gives up my spying position. With a wink, she’s back the way she came, and I have a choice to make…
Enter or run.
My instincts say run. Nothing good has ever come from staying. But my heart, the foolish organ, begs me to stay. To allow Cross to make good on his promise by protecting me. Something I haven’t had since my parents passed away.
Before I can make my decision, Cross is standing in the doorway. He’s on edge and tense, but he says nothing. It’s as if he recognizes the choice I’m trying to make.
Slowly striding over to me as I lean against the wall, I gaze up at him as he boxes me in. Essentially trapping me and, yet, all I feel is protected. “Whatever you want, I’ll make it happen, sparrow.” I don’t know a lot about Cross other than he’s popular in the ranching and cattle industry, but how can one man make his promises and keep them?
“How?” I whisper. “If Curtis wants me back, I have three choices: go, run, or die. I can’t stay here. He won’t allow it, and he’s too powerful for me to fight.” I know that because of the brothels he runs. Curtis has money. I have nothing. I’ll never be able to fight for my freedom.
“Trust me, Bella, please.” Cupping my cheeks, Cross lifts my head up and lowers his mouth to cover mine. I sigh at the contact because if there’s one thing I do know, it’s that I want to kiss him forever.
He leaves me breathless and feeling like I’ve run a marathon all at once. My heart races rapidly in my chest, begging for more of what he offers. My body leans forward, brushing against him, and I light up at the contact. Even in just his overly long shirt, I’m covered from neck to knee, but I feel his heat.
“Delicious,” he whispers as he pulls back. “This is not going away, Isabella, and we have to fight head on. Please believe I can, and will, handle everything.”
“Mmmkay,” I murmur. I’m completely placid in his arms and will agree to almost anything if he’ll just kiss me again.
His cocky grin pulls a dimple forward, and I have the desire to lick it. “Let’s deal with this and get Colter out of here so I can go build that damn barn, and Sherri will help you do some online shopping.”
The mention of the barn is like a bucket of cold water thrown on me as I sober up. “I can help with the barn,” I tell him. I feel horrible about what was done because of me.
His head is shaking before I finish speaking. “Nope. I have people for that. No need for you to get your hands dirty.” I can only nod because what kind of help would I be, anyway. I’m not strong enough to raise a barn.
“Miss Sharp.” The sheriff stands as Cross guides me into the room.
Taking a deep breath, I garner every ounce of strength I possess as I address him. “Sheriff Wade.” We’ve met a small handful of times in the past, and it was always a friendly nod or smile. I’m not sure we’ve ever spoken before or not.
“Cross has filled me in on a number of things, and I’ve researched a few others. What I’d like to know is why I shouldn’t charge you with arson and lock you up?” I stare blankly at him as my eyes blink rapidly. His tone vacillates from friendly to cold in less than ten seconds.
“Watch it, Wade,” Cross barks.
“I told you, I need her side of things. You have no proof she didn’t light that barn up, and we have no other leads.” He shrugs as I frown, and while I understand what’s happening here, I’m frustrated because he’s deliberately being an asshole.
“It’s okay, Cross. I’ll answer him.” I can feel his glare as he watches me, and the sheriff raises a challenging brow. “From the first time I met Curtis Lindsay, I knew he was an evil man. I knew nothing good was going to come out of being placed in his custody.”
“How?” The sheriff asks.
“When you’re around corrupt people for as long as Cami and I were, you quickly learn to tell the good from the bad.” I nod at Cross. “Cross has an easy smile, a light in his eyes, a confident swagger. When I first saw him, I knew that he was the kind of man a girl could trust.”
“That so?” Sheriff Wade laughs while Cross brings me down to sit in his lap behind his desk. A protective hand across my waist.
“It is. The first time you came across Cami and me, you had a suspicious look about you. You saw the way Curtis and Sully dragged us around when we were in town, but because you had no evidence of foul play and neither my sister nor myself could come forward, you chose to observe. Each time we returned, your gaze never strayed to anyone else but us. Sully would watch you, too, and when he thought you were getting too meddlesome, I would run.”
“What do you mean?” He frowns.
“Sheriff Wade, my uncle and his lackey have plotted out your death no less than four times. Each time, they would bring us into town. And each time, I would run.” They didn’t think we could hear them through the floors.
Sitting up taller, he asks, “Why would you do that?”
“Because I could sense you were a good man, and I knew all you needed was time to figure out that we were in trouble. My mistake was fighting them when I took off. I forced them to beat me every time they caught me because I wanted you to see the bruises, but they would wait until I was healed and nothing was visible before they allowed us to leave the house again.”
“Jesus Christ.” Both men curse at the same time, not realizing the lengths I was willing to go through to get us out of there.
“And now, because I didn’t act sooner, my sister, the only family I had left in the world, is dead. Rotting in an unmarked grave behind some whorehouse. I forced Cami to escape that night. I had a way out
. I was ready to carry her if she needed it. I didn’t count on Sully deciding it was time to make Camilla his. He came down to that cellar and found it empty. He discovered the hole I dug out just under the old farmhouse and became so enraged he chased us with a truck, and when he hit Cami with his open door, she begged me to keep going. She pleaded with me to leave her. Maybe if I had, I could have gotten help. You could have helped her. But I failed her, and Sheriff Wade, so did you.”
Chapter Five
Isabella
After I dropped that bomb on the sheriff, he left very angry. He made it clear that he wasn’t upset with me but with himself for being suspicious but not responding sooner. He believed something was wrong in our lives, but he couldn’t act because he had no reason to.
With the sun high in the sky now, the mid-day heat has me exhausted as I sit on the porch with a cold glass of water and nothing but time to reflect and think about my life. Sherri is still in the kitchen cooking up a storm, and when I offered to help her, she told me to come out here, clear my head, and see my new home for the beauty it created.
Home.
I haven’t thought of that word in far too long.
Nick came and collected Cross for help on the barn before Cross could ask me about the second time that I was locked away in a psych ward. I know he’s dying to have the answer, but I’m not ready to tell him that one yet.
I’ve been the protector my entire life. When our parents were alive, they held Cami back a year in school so we could be in the same grade together; that’s how close we were. Our whole lives, Camilla and I had been two halves to the same whole. People were often shocked when my parents would tell them that no, we weren’t twins.
Now that she’s gone, though, I feel this gaping hole consuming my entire frame. My soul is fractured, and I’m not sure how to move on. I don’t know if I want to. I haven’t accepted her absence yet, and perhaps, that is what is holding me back from letting her go. Or maybe it’s because she isn’t with our parents in Nevada. She should be with them. They could protect her again. I could ultimately find peace, maybe, even with my entire family destroyed because humanity is filled with evilness.
