“The guy is in a dead stare at you. He just threatened Chance, so I think he’ll call the sheriff’s department and send over a deputy to set him straight,” Snipe told her.
“Wonderful. Just add that to my already shitty night,” York said, and then looked for Chance. “He didn’t call over there yet, did he? I really don’t need the additional aggravation.”
“You know how things work in Cherry Hill. We keep our women safe, and run a nice, respectful town,” Ferrion told her.
“Why don’t we go over and talk for a bit and catch up. Plus, I need your help with something,” Harper said to her.
“Okay, let me just go use the ladies’ room real quick,” she said, and then walked away.
“Who is that guy? Is it someone she knows?” Ferrion asked Harper.
“She said she doesn’t know him, and that he’s been coming in a lot and asking her out. She declines. He lives in Benter,” Harper told them.
“I don’t like that look in his eyes,” Snipe said, and just then, they heard the scream and then people start running toward the hallway where York had gone to. Harper looked to the bar where the guy Clifford had been, and he was gone. Her heart raced, and her men went running, pushing through the crowd. Harper got there in the nick of time to see Clifford attempting to take York out of the bar, her dress lifted and her top ripped, and then deputies Finn and Lotus McCuen enter, along with the sheriff. It happened so fast. York bit down on Clifford’s hand, he yelled out in pain, loosened his hold, and York did some kind of self-defense move on him, causing him to fall to the ground as she kicked him in the balls, then punched him in the face. She broke his nose.
“Holy shit. Great shot, York!” one of the old-timers yelled out, and everyone started clapping for her.
Finn pulled York into his arms and moved her down the hallway as more police showed up. The sheriff and Lotus cuffed Clifford and brought him out of the place. Chase and Orlando broke up the crowd of people and they dispersed back to the bar, and Harper headed toward York when Ferrion stopped her. “Let Finn and Lotus take care of her. Are you okay?” Ferrion asked her, and cupped her cheeks as Snipe placed his hands on her hips.
“I’m fine. Did you see that move York did? Oh my God, that was incredible.”
“I guess the gossip is true about Marco and Cab teaching her some self-defense training today at the dojo,” Snipe said to her.
She looked back at him. “Where did you hear that?”
“Through Cherry Hill grapevine.” Ferrion kissed her lips and then hugged her. “I think you should consider hiring a door guard, too.”
York was all fired up, and as Finn wrapped her up in his arms, she struggled to get free. She growled low and he calmed her down. “Easy, baby. You’re safe and you did so good. That was one hell of a move. Jesus, I was worried walking in to see that guy restraining you,” Finn told her, and she could hardly register his words.
“I don’t understand it. I mean seriously, what the hell did I do? I denied his offers of dates, told him I wasn’t interested and to leave me alone, and still, he comes here and thinks he can change my mind or force me into his bed. God damn it to hell!” she raged, and he had to release her as she paced and tried calming her breathing.
“Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?” Lotus asked, joining them.
She looked up at both men. Both in their deputy uniforms looking sexy, capable, and she couldn’t think or breathe. Her thoughts went to that night Vin grabbed her, forced her to do the hacking on the computer or her mom would suffer more. She did as he said and then he struck her, pushed her onto the bed and was going to rape her. She closed her eyes tight and flashbacks of that night, of his hands, his touch, had her shaking.
“Calm down, baby, and breathe. It’s Lotus and Finn right here with you.”
She felt their hands caressing her, then her top being lifted up and then Lotus’s strong arms pulling her into an embrace. Finn pressed up against her back and kissed her neck. “Nice and easy breaths. You’re safe in these arms. You’re so brave, so strong, it’s going to be okay,” Finn whispered.
York signed the papers to press charges. Kane placed his hand on her shoulder and looked down into her eyes. “I’m glad that you’re okay. That you were able to defend yourself and make a move. Finn and Lotus will follow you home when you’re done with work.”
“That isn’t necessary, Sheriff. I’ve got several more hours to go and things to take care of. I have a sweater I can put on to cover the tear in my dress.” He didn’t look happy, nor did Finn and Lotus who stood there with their arms crossed in front of their chests. Even Montana was there and angry about what happened.
“It’s not a suggestion, it’s an order, and they will follow you home. If I need any more information, I’ll have Finn or Lotus get that from you. Have a good night,” he said, and then headed out with the other deputies.
“We’ll be by when you’re finished up. Ade will text us,” Finn said to her. She nodded her head and then turned toward Harper.
Harper placed her arm over her shoulder. “Let’s get that sweater and then sit and talk. I think I missed a few things, and you failed to come clean with me.”
“What does that mean?” York asked.
“The McCuen brothers? Seriously York? Self-defense moves with Marco and Cab?” Harper asked and whistled.
York chuckled. “I’m in over my head.”
“I think you owe Marco and Cab a little appreciation for showing you that move. I wouldn’t be surprised if they were at your house when you got home tonight.”
“That’s all I need.”
Harper chuckled. “Let’s grab a drink.”
“Shots won’t do the trick.”
“You’re driving anyway. One drink and conversation.”
A half hour later, Harper and York were deep in conversation in the back corner of the room. Ferrion and Snipe were nearby, but not within earshot.
“You have got to be kidding me. How could you not call me and tell me what happened between you and Finn?” Harper asked.
“I was in shock myself. It was crazy how it happened.”
“He was really worried about you tonight, and Lotus, as well.”
“Yeah well, I went and made matters worse because my mom was texting me. I had a headache and didn’t want to deal with her situation and wanting me to meet her for lunch.”
“She wants to meet you? Shoot, do you think she’ll bring your dad, too?”
“I wouldn’t put it past him. To use my mom and try to manipulate something.”
“You shouldn’t go,” Harper warned her.
“I don’t want to, yet there’s this guilt I feel. I know Mo is going to screw her over. I just know it. She isn’t going to listen to me and hasn’t through texts, so maybe in person she will, or at least be open to keeping her guard up. I don’t know. I’m so confused right now. And that night she kept texting and I had the headache, Clifford asked me out and was flirting so I told him off.”
“That’s crazy and you having nothing to feel guilty about. You said you wanted nothing to do with your dad again. Look what happened with the situation tonight with Clifford.”
“That’s the least of my worries now. What am I going to do when Lotus and Finn follow me home?”
“What you’ve been doing every other time they follow you home. Say thank you and hurry up inside.”
“Yeah, well that didn’t work that night with Lotus either.”
“Oh shit, you fooled around with Lotus?”
York felt her cheeks warm, and then she shook her head and reached for her glass of rum and Coke. “Maybe I need to do the shots and just get a ride home? Perhaps Ferrion and Snipe and you could drop me off?”
“And help you to not face Finn and Lotus, who definitely want you. No way, this is too good. You like them.”
“What’s not to like, Harper? You know that isn’t the problem.”
“I don’t think there is a problem here. Well, I mean how far did you go with Lotus
?”
York exhaled and guzzled down the rest of the rum and Coke.
Harper laughed. “Oh boy, this is wild.” She leaned closer. “What about Marco and Cab? Anything with them?”
“No, actually, they probably think I’m an immature girl who is playing games, and you know what? I think I’ll be okay with that if it’s a way to put on the breaks and get them all to just stay clear of me for a bit. It won’t work out and—"
“You, an immature girl? Explain that to me and how you screwed it up.”
York explained about the dojo and afterward at the store and Harper laughed. “That sounds like you got under their skin, and especially Cab’s. York, they’re a lot older than you. Have more experience with things.”
“Exactly,” she said, and threw her hands up in the air. “Which means they just want sex, no strings attached. A good time, another woman to put another notch in their belts. I am not going to lose my virginity on men like that who won’t appreciate what I’ve gone through to keep my virginity, and to stop a man from doing what he did to me. I can’t make a mistake.”
“Whoa…hold up.” Harper leaned closer and took a few breaths. “You’ve never had sex before? I thought when we talked a while ago about the incident with that guy that he was a boyfriend.”
“No. No, definitely not a boyfriend. God Harper, I don’t even want to explain the crazy, shitty life I had before.”
“You can tell me. I won’t tell anyone.”
York took a deep breath and explained a little further about what she had gone through.
“What happened to the guy Vin?”
“Don’t know and don’t care. My dad got locked up and I took off before I could get arrested. My mom was in the hospital with her injuries, and I hunkered down and focused on my life and what I needed to do to stay clear of them.”
“So how did you start talking to your mom again?”
York looked away and felt the tears in her eyes. “I guess the loneliness, the fears from the assault and near rape did me in, and I needed to just hear her voice.”
Harper reached out and touched her hand. “Damn, that’s understandable. You’re a good person, and you didn’t do anything wrong. You were forced to help out with that job, or your mom could have been hurt worse or killed, and you could have been raped.”
“Vin wouldn’t have let me go either way. I would have been thrown in deep, Harper. Really deep. He’s an evil man, and the thought of even seeing him ever again has been a fear of mine since. It’s why it’s been so hard not talking to my mom and making her remember the past. Mo has his claws in on her because she gave him her heart. I can’t let lust, an attraction to four, that’s four older men, make me lose control of my life. Never mind what it will feel like when they’ve had their fun and move on, taking my heart with them. I can’t risk that no matter how wild they make me feel, or how much I’m compelled to let go with them.”
“You’re just scared, York. The McCuen men are not bad men. They won’t hurt you, or think badly of you for what happened. They’re older, like my men, set in their ways. Yes, hardcore. But caring, protective, and are not looking for a fling. That’s pretty damn obvious.”
York held her gaze. “I feel guilty about the crime.”
“You shouldn’t. It was forced on you, and maybe telling them about it, about the assault, could help ease your mind and help them to see why you hold back.”
“When I’m with them I don’t hold back. It’s the thought of telling them that makes me keep my distance and push them away.”
“Don’t assume they’ll react in the negative. Take a chance and tell them, at least some of it, so they understand your fears. Feel them out and see their reactions. You’re a good judge of character, and something tells me tonight, all four of them will be at your place, and looking for answers, as well as looking to make sure that you’re okay after the situation tonight.”
“So how do I stop it from happening?”
Harper chuckled. “I don’t think you can.”
York exhaled. “I feel like I could vomit.”
Harper laughed. “Totally know that feeling,” she said, and then looked at Ferrion and Snipe.
York glanced their way and saw them both wink at Harper. “They love you so much. I’m surprised Broaden and Lextin aren’t here yet.”
“They’re here now,” Harper said, and York turned to see the two men making their way through the crowded bar and right to Harper.
“What the hell happened? Are you both okay?” Lextin asked as he placed a hand on York’s shoulder and leaned down to kiss Harper.
“We’re fine. York handled herself brilliantly,” Harper said as she slid off the stool and into Broaden’s arms.
York watched as they kissed their woman and ran their hands over her body as if checking to make sure she was in one piece. The care and affection brought tears to York’s eyes, and she wondered what that might feel like, and if she could ever be truly loved. Or was her destiny laced with guilt and loneliness?
“Is she okay?” Marco asked Finn over the phone.
“She seems fine. A little shaken up, but more angry than anything. You should have seen the move she pulled on the guy,” Finn told him.
“She shouldn’t have to pull moves on guys to defend herself. Who was this asshole? Are you with her now?”
“No, Marco. She refused to leave work and is still there. Lotus and I don’t get off work until 7:00 a.m. We can probably follow her home if we don’t get any other calls at that time.”
“No, we’ll do it. Cab and I will head over now.”
“I would wait until she’s done with work. She was fired up. Oh, and when you do see her, her dress got ripped up top.”
“What?” Marco raised his voice.
“Was she hurt anywhere? What the hell did the guy try to do?”
Marco explained what happened as they got the call about the situation at Harper’s, and then what they saw when they arrived. With each detail Marco got more upset and concerned for York.
“Ferrion and his brothers are there now, too, so she isn’t going anywhere alone, and that dick Clifford is behind bars as we speak.”
“Good. We’ll follow her home and talk to her.”
“Good luck, and hopefully we can meet you there when we get off from work, otherwise we’ll meet you at home.”
“We’ll see.”
Marco ended the call and then looked at the clock. It was after one in the morning. He ran his hand along his jaw and got dressed. After he washed up and brushed his teeth, thinking he had just gotten out of the shower an hour ago and headed to bed feeling restless, he heard the knock on his bedroom door. “Yo.”
“Hey, who was that?” Cab asked, standing in the doorway half dressed in jeans and no shirt.
“There was a situation at Harper’s.”
Cab narrowed his eyes and Marco explained.
“I’ll get dressed,” Cab said, and then walked out of the room.
Marco stared at himself in the mirror. He was tired, and yet the thought of York in trouble, that some guy tried to make her leave with him, pissed him off and made him feel wired and wide awake. He wasn’t sure if she had the same feelings for him and Cab like she did for Lotus and Finn, but he felt it. Felt that instant jealous feeling when other men looked at her, wanted her, and that protective feeling now, knowing she was in trouble, in danger, and he and his brothers weren’t there to protect her. This shit had to end, and fast. He was too fucking old for games. Hell, for courting a woman, taking his fucking time when he knew what he wanted. York. Every beautiful, sexy, tough inch of her. She was young though, and defiant, untrusting, and there was a reason for that. But what could it be?
Love Will Find You Page 5
