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“Charles will be gone for an undisclosed amount of time. We have some things to discuss and clear up. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t call the police.”
“We won’t,” Sarah assured him.
“I certainly hope not, because if the police or anyone else is informed, I’ll have to send Dev to pick up Rae . . . and she won’t be coming back.”
Devlin’s eyes lit up as he grinned at Rae.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. I was trying to rein myself in, but murder was an option if that asshole tried to touch her again.
“Understood.”
Dev tossed the phone back to Charles, “On our way.”
“Good,” Striker answered before he hung up.
I moved back into the shadows with R.J. and hid long enough for Devlin and Charles to leave. Only once I heard the Harleys pull away did I run into the living room.
Sarah was holding her daughter tight, trembling. Rae appeared shocked, her face pinched and pale.
I pulled her from her mother’s arms, intense relief flooding my system. R.J. yanked her close next, crushing her in his embrace.
Sarah stood, running up the stairs as Leah cried from her room.
“I’m fine,” Rae whispered, her voice shaking. “I’m fine.”
My arms surrounded her slowly, concerned at the glassy look in her eyes. She was not fine.
Chapter 24
I couldn’t seem to stop shaking. My whole body shivered like I was freezing, but it had to be the adrenaline. I wasn’t cold at all. I don’t remember how I got upstairs. Did I walk?
“Shhh, baby,” Peter was holding me in his arms, leading us over to the bed. “Everything is going to be alright. You’ll see.”
I didn’t answer, tired of hearing him say that when it wasn’t true.
The next time he told me I was going to go off on him.
“She’s in shock,” R.J. blurted as Pete shot him a shut the fuck up glare.
The first thing I noticed was my body overheated. I lifted my t-shirt over my head and tossed it aside, leaving my tank. My jeans hit the floor next. “I’m hot,” I complained, walking to my window and pushing it all the way open.
“You want anything, Rae?” R.J.’s voice was soft.
I shook my head, distracted, “No.”
Wincing, I noticed the pain in my lip. It throbbed like a bee sting and was hot and swollen. Peter led me into the bathroom where he picked up a washcloth and ran it under warm water. A tick in his jaw revealed his anger as he pressed the cloth to the corner of my split lip, “I’m sorry.”
There wasn’t space in my head for apologies or secrets. Not now. I could only stare at him, unable to respond.
His hand cupped my cheek, “I know.”
He always knew how I felt, perhaps even before I did. For once, I was grateful for that, “Pet.”
Without hesitation he lowered his
head and nuzzled his nose to mine, and then I was lifted as he carried me back into the room, curling his body around mine protectively. My shaky hands gripped his shoulders tight and slid around his neck. I didn’t miss the way his voice caught when he whispered close to my ear, “I’ve got you. Always.”
“We’re here Rae,” R.J. assured me, his eyes holding a combination of anger, concern, and love.
