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His posture made it clear he wasn’t leaving.
“Liam and Hammer asked you to babysit me?”
He shrugged. “They don’t want you alone when you’re upset.”
“I’m not going to run off again.” She’d been completely miserable those few days without them. As long as they had any chance of building a future together, she’d put her all into it.
“Good to hear. Quit stalling.”
She sighed and made her way into the bathroom, shutting the door behind her. Seth had seen every bare inch of her at the lodge, and she wasn’t embarrassed by her nudity. But she wanted a moment alone to try to piece together what was going on.
A good shampoo, a deep conditioner for her hair, and a razor across any stubbly skin later, Raine didn’t have any new theories.
When she emerged from the shower, she grabbed Liam’s robe from the back of the door, inhaling his deeply familiar scent. She closed her eyes, and a slew of memories assailed her.
The night Hammer had introduced them over beer and seafood—and she’d felt a surprising zing of attraction. The morning she’d made a fool of herself over Hammer after his fling with Marlie, and Liam had comforted and—for the first time—kissed her. Meeting Liam’s gaze in the mirror when he’d claimed her in the dungeon in the midst of a roomful of people…then minutes later when he’d made love to her again privately. The day he’d collared her in a beautiful ceremony. The terrible morning he’d uncollared her for failing to trust in him, communicate with him, or be honest about her fears. The way he and Hammer had worked together these past few days to build a new foundation for their future. And the amazing moments last night when they’d solidified everything in their hearts.
Raine felt as if she and Liam had loved a decade in that short month, and the idea that he might be pulling away now crushed her.
Belting the robe around her waist, she determined to be ready when Hammer came. He might not tell her everything happening, but surely she deserved to know something more than a vague platitude about Liam’s business. Raine meant to convince him. Somehow.
She moisturized her face and put on a little lip gloss, then towel dried her hair and searched for her comb. When she didn’t find it in her drawer, she automatically opened Liam’s, wondering if he’d borrowed it. She cursed when she remembered it was probably in her suitcase, out with Seth in the bedroom.
But just as she made to close the drawer, something caught her attention, and she pulled the handle again.
Yep, there sat a pacifier. Blue with little holes surrounding the rubbery mouthpiece. The flat front said mute button in a childish font.
Raine picked it up with a puzzled frown. Why would this be in the bathroom she shared with Liam?
Once Seth and Beck escorted Raine to her room, Hammer stormed into his office and slammed the door. Could this day get any fucking worse? First Gwyneth and her baby, then Liam’s meltdown, Raine’s withdrawal, and now Bill Kendall.
“What next?” Hammer spat.
Hopefully, he’d reached his shit quotient for the day.
After grabbing his phone, he punched in Bill’s number. Raine’s pitiful excuse of a father answered on the third ring.
“About time you got back to me, Master Pervert.”
So the asshole had caller ID. What shocked Hammer was that Kendall’s voice lacked the usual slur. Macen glanced at his watch. Not quite eight a.m. He’d thought it was always cocktail hour at the Kendall household.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing, coming to my club?”
No need for subtleties. In fact, Hammer cursed himself for not beating some fear into the lowlife piece of shit years ago. Instead, he’d paid Raine’s father a monthly stipend to steer clear of her. And continued to pay it long after she’d turned eighteen. But providing her a safe haven had been worth every penny. He’d have spent everything he owned to keep her out of Bill Kendall’s abusive hands.
“You’re late with your payment,” the old man complained. “I want my money.”
“I won’t give you another cent,” Hammer grated out. “I made that clear during my visit last week.”
“Do you have any idea what I can do to you?” Bill lashed back, his voice ugly.
“I know you think you have power over me. You’ve got nothing, Bill. Fuck off.”
“If you don’t pay up, I’ll tell the police you kidnapped my minor daughter and raped her.”
“Say anything you want.” Hammer called his bluff. “You’ve got no proof, and Raine will insist you’re lying.”
Even if the man made those ludicrous allegations and actually found someone willing to listen, Hammer felt sure he and Liam could keep Raine safe.
Besides, he had some insurance of his own.
“Do you honestly think I need proof?” Bill scoffed. “You run a den of iniquity. To the community, you’re Satan himself. Tying up women, beating and raping them, and god knows what else. They’ll line up ten deep to watch you fry. And I’ll just laugh.”
