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She had to be strong enough to make her brother see the truth.
River rose from the bed, swallowed. “I had no idea. Bill kicked me out that summer because I challenged him about Mom’s ‘escape.’ I was suspicious and I’d gotten big enough to fight back when he hit me for it. He beat the shit out of me a lot as a boy, but he never touched me like that… Jesus. I’m so sorry I left. I was angry and I missed Mom. After that, I was just a kid with no job or social skills, trying to learn how to feed myself and survive. I ended up street fighting for money. I almost killed a guy with my bare hands, so I went to juvie. The judge told me to enlist when I turned eighteen or go to prison, so I joined the service. Once I was there, I just wanted to forget it all and be someone normal.”
“We were all Bill’s victims. But why didn’t you listen when Hammer and Liam tried to tell you what my life was like? Or when I explained?”
He shook his head and raked a hand over his scalp. “I’m a soldier, storm cloud. Until seventy-three days ago, that’s all I’ve ever been. I left a commanding officer, trained to look at facts and make quick decisions. I called it like I saw it.”
On shaky legs, she rose. Seth and Beck were both there, offering her their hands. She took them because she’d cried out so much of her fortitude. Damn it, she’d sworn another Kendall man would never hurt her.
“You were wrong. Hammer doesn’t even know I’m here. He would never want me begging on his behalf.” Her proud, strong Dom would rather go down with his head held high. But she’d give up her soul over and over to save him. “Liam didn’t want me here, either. But I insisted because I would do anything for the man who’s done everything for me.”
“Princess,” Beck whispered. “Take a deep breath. Liam and Hammer wouldn’t want you upsetting yourself this much.”
Raine knew that. She felt decimated and spent and empty of everything but the gnawing fear that she wouldn’t get to grow old with Macen.
“There are only two people in my life I can’t do without, and you’re trying to send one of them to prison. I’m in agony and I’m begging you to stop this. Please…”
Slowly, River approached her. On either side of her, Beck and Seth tensed, poised to defend her. She stared at the stranger who had her eyes, the only other person left on the planet who knew what it meant to grow up under Bill Kendall’s iron fist. Raine didn’t know what she expected, but her mountain of a brother wiping tears from her cheeks with the gentlest of touches wasn’t it.
“It’s hard to understand, my kid sister living with two men both older, previously married, and so much more experienced. They’re Doms, so I have a really good idea what they demand of you. The visual is burned into my retinas, and I’m sick at the thought of you kneeling for anyone. And you’re pregnant.” He rubbed at his eyes with thumb and forefinger. “It’s hard to accept. But I’m trying.”
“I’m not asking you to love it. I’m asking you to tell the police you got your facts wrong and make these terrible charges go away. I’ve said all I can. If you need to see my life for yourself, follow me home. If you don’t believe how happy and adored I am then, you never will.”
Praying River would come along so the healing—and her future—could begin, she released Beck and Seth and left the motel.
Liam sighed.
Fifteen minutes ago, Hammer had come through the front door and deduced that Raine was with River. He hadn’t taken a breath since.
“I can’t believe you just let her walk out the damn door. Seriously, Liam. We’re supposed to protect her from that prick, and you just…what? Usher her out with a smile and a wave. ‘Sure, love,’” he mimicked. “‘Go have fun with your crazy brother. Hope you come back!’ Are you fucking kidding?”
“She was determined to see him—with or without our permission. What would you have me do? Tie her up?”
“Maybe. Or maybe you should have chained her to the bed, like I told you to.”
“Is that your solution to everything?”
Hammer surged into his face, turning three shades of red. “At least we’d know she’s safe.”
“We both know how she handled restraints last time we tried. Be reasonable. We can’t make Raine a prisoner in her own home. I worry about her, too. But she’s strong-willed, a survivor. And she’s no one’s fool.”
“No, we’re the fools for letting her walk out the door!”
“She’s well within her rights to come and go as she pleases.”
