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“What? How?” Her eyes move to the diner, then back to me.
“Call Wildcard. Tell him you’ll meet him at the club,” I suggest.
“Noah will be there. I don’t want him to find out,” she says.
“Noah’s seventeen. Not a kid anymore. He should know what kind of man his father is. Best person to break it to him is you,” I tell her. “Did you tell your mother? Is that why he left?”
She shakes her head. “Mom was already dealing with so much. He left after I threatened to tell Mom, but not before he beat her so bad and took what little money we had left. I just couldn’t drop this on her too.” She begins to pace. “I can’t tell Noah yet.”
“Charlotte—”
“Not tonight. Telling Wildcard is going to be hard enough,” she insists. Charlotte doesn’t know the half of it. “But you’re right, Noah needs to know, in case our father decides to approach Noah.”
Charlotte’s a survivor. I saw it in her eyes the first moment I met her. I just wasn’t sure how deep the wounds went. This is going to be a test of control for Wildcard. He’s earned his name for a reason. He’s loyal and dedicated, but hell on wheels when riled.
* * *
Wildcard
When Charlotte callsto tell me she’s coming by the club, I know something’s up. She usually drops in to see Noah. She knows he’s at the garage with War tonight. We’ll find a quiet place to talk it through. If she’s good with it, I’ll take her to my private room.
Guard built this place with the intention of making it a home. Some guys still have a room here, even though they have their own places off-site, just because. I have every intention of moving into the cottage with Charli, when she’s ready, of course, but this room was my first real home. I’m not sure if I can ever let it go. I’ve been working with Orion and setting up security software for a client, but I make it back to the compound in time to take a quick shower and change.
By the time I come back down, the place is full of brothers, all hanging out. It’s never this full during the week. Most nights, they go straight home to their wives and families. Something’s not right.
As I scan the room, I notice Charli on the black leather couch and Hammer handing her a soda. Ignoring the rest, I make my way over to her.
“Hey, babe.” I drop beside her and kiss her cheek. “It’s busier than I thought in here. Do you want to go somewhere quieter?”
“That would be good.” She gives me a small smile. She’s nervous. Her hands are shaking.
“Are you scared of me?”
“No, never.”
“Then what is it, babe? Never seen you this anxious around me.”
Charlotte turns to face me, cupping my cheek with her hand. “You are the handsomest, sweetest man I’ve ever laid eyes on. From the moment I met you, I dreamed of being with you, but I couldn’t imagine you’d want to be with me.” I open my mouth to speak, but she puts her fingers over my lips to stop me. “What I’m going to tell you, I’ve only shared with one other person. I’ve held on to this for so long, I almost convinced myself it didn’t happen. Then my father showed up to remind me that it did. It brought back all the pain. There was so much pain. I didn’t think I’d survive it. But here I am.”
I swallow deep.
“Christ! What did he do to you?” I search her face, and there it is. The same shamed expression, the fear, just like Teresa. It hits me like a cement truck. A wave of nausea sweeps over me, then the anger builds. Charli sees it and jerks backward into the corner of the sofa. “What did he do to you?” I ask again, my voice low and contained.
“He raped me,” she whispers, holding my gaze and waiting. Waiting for judgment. Because after everything I’ve read and researched, I know the victim continues to feel worthless, used, and left hurting. It’s not just the physical, but the ongoing mental anguish they endure. Shame winning out, her eyes drop and her head sags forward.
I put a finger under her chin and tilt her head up to meet my eyes . “You keep your head held high. You are not to blame.” Her lips tremble, and my anger grows stronger. “You’re safe here.” When that single tear drops, I can’t hold back any longer. I bolt off the couch and beeline to the door, only to find it blocked by Risk and Orion.
“Get out of my way,” I shout. They don’t budge.
“Think this through, brother,” Risk replies in a low tone.
I try to push my way past, but Hammer comes up close behind me to rein me back. “Wildcard, we’ll work this together. Take a breath.”
I turn on my heels, staring him down, unable to control my temper, “Has your woman been violated? She was a child. A father is supposed to love and protect his kids. Men like that don’t deserve to live. Men like that need to be taught a lesson. He needs to pay. My woman needs to feel safe. She’ll never feel safe with that slimeball of a father roaming free.” My heart is racing, my fists clenched so tight, they ache. I shrug his hand off my shoulder.
Ghost steps closer and puts a hand at the back of my neck, pulling me toward him, his eyes searing into mine. His voice is just loud enough for me to hear. “Look at your woman. Look at her!” he grits through his clenched teeth. I tip my head to see Charli watching us, arms wrapped around her waist, pain and fear all over her face. “Charli needs you first. You need to take care of your woman. She just told you she’s been violated, and she’s only told one other person. She needs you to stand next to her and guide her through. Tomorrow, we regroup. Tonight, it’s about Charlotte and what she needs.”
Charlotte silently pleads with me, until she finally calls my name. “Emmet, please.”
