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“Nope.”
“You going to tell her?”
“Yeah. Tonight.”
“Good move. Charlotte’s been through a lot. She’ll appreciate the honesty,” Vi says quietly. Then, with a mischievous glint in her eye, she adds, “You can also let her know you’re moving in together.”
What started off as a simple move turns into a congregation of Pride brothers and their women. I made sure the cottage was thoroughly cleaned before having Charli move in. The furniture was delivered over a week ago, including a king-size bed I have every intention of sleeping in, sooner rather than later. The couch, recliner, seventy-inch television, table, and chairs were all my doing. Camille, Vi, and some of the other ladies added what they call accent pieces. They even thought ahead to make sure there were proper plates, a coffee machine, and the stuff I never would have given a second thought about until I needed it.
I’ve got to admit the place looks great. Risk did all the renovations, so I know it’s been done right. It’s only a two-bedroom cottage, but the property around it allows for additions to be built on when the time comes. I bought this place with Charli in mind. At first, I just wanted to help her and Noah out and thought that I’d sell it when she was ready to move out and onto something better. Now, I know that we’re going to make this place home.
“This place is perfect,” Charli says as she looks out across the room, watching the brothers laughing and lounging about. Some are on the couch, others hang out on the floor or on the outside patio furniture. Vi is playing with her daughter, Gabby, and some of the other kids outside. Orion cradles his baby in his arms while he sleeps. Demon’s doing the same with his kid, with his wife, Sofia, next to him, her head on his shoulder.
Suddenly, I decide I want what I see around me. I want a family of my own, and when I glance down to see Charli’s face soften at the sight of family coming together, I know she wants the same.
Noah heads out with Hammer and Thunder. He’s staying at the compound for the next week, partly because I want to keep him away from his father and what could be a nasty run-in, but also, in reality, I want some time alone with my girl.
When the last person leaves, I make sure to check all the locks on the windows and doors before setting the state-of-the-art security system. This place is locked up tight, but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to be vigilant.
Charli is loading the dishwasher when she glances over her shoulder and says excitedly, “I’ve never had a dishwasher.”
“Live it up, babe.” I chuckle. “Hope today wasn’t too much for you. They all just wanted to welcome you to the neighborhood. Ava and Guard are farther up the road. Vi and Orion are five minutes in the other direction.”
“I loved it. I love the group. Everyone’s been so good to Noah and me. I’m never going to be able to repay them for all their kindness.”
“They don’t want payment. They want you to be happy.”
Charli walks around the counter, and I take her hand and lead her over to the plush overstuffed gray couch. “I’m only a twenty-minute walk to work. I’ve saved up a down payment for a car. I’m fine walking now, but I’m not thrilled to trek through the bitter cold and snow,” she says as she drops down beside me.
“I’m driving you to work. You’re never alone until we sort out the situation with your father.” I wrestle with telling Charlotte about our unwanted guests last night. I don’t want her to get upset, but she needs to be cautious, and the best way to do that is to have her understand the dangers that lurk. I want her to feel safe in my arms before I drop the bomb, though. I guide her onto my lap. She can tell by my expression that something’s up.
“What aren’t you telling me?” she whispers, cupping my cheek with her soft, gentle hand.
I blow out a heavy breath. “It kills me to tell you this, but your father is an even bigger asshole than I thought. He’s got massive gambling debts that total over a hundred thousand dollars and probably climbing, unless they’ve cut him off.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Two men came calling for you in the middle of the night last night. Risk, Saint, and I were there, and they got nowhere near you. They were sent to get you and take you to their boss, who happens to be a loan shark. Your father promised them that you would be his way to pay back his debt.” I wait for that to sink in. Charli’s jaw drops, and her hands shake.
“What…what are you saying? My father pimped me out?” Her tone elevates to a high-pitched shrill.
“Baby—”
“What kind of man does that?” It all starts to dawn on her. Her father calling her a whore, the urgent need for him to get to her. “A father is supposed to love his kids. He should walk them to school. Hell, I would have settled for feeding us. Instead, he—he…” Charlotte can’t finish her words. Her chest heaves. At first, I think she’s going to cry, but instead, she lets out a cry of fury, jumps to her feet, and grabs a throw pillow to shove her face into it and scream.
Logically, I know she needs to get this out, but watching her go through this agony is tearing me apart.
“Charlotte—”
“Is there more?” she asks, tossing the pillow aside.
“I don’t think—”
“I need to know. You told me that we don’t keep secrets,” she insists.
Fuck!
“You’re right, and I’ll tell you what I know. Come back here.” I pat my knee, the wheels start spinning in my head on how to soften the harshness of her father’s actions. “We’ll talk this out and I’ll tell you what we’ve got so far.” I tell her about Mariano and Iano and how her father has involved her in his gambling debts. I emphasize how Orion and I, along with the rest of the Pride, are searching for her father.
