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“What?” I cry, trying to understand what he’s talking about. Then the phone is removed from my hand, and Thunder has it at his ear, listening to the caller.
“Listen, asshole. Rose is a Satan’s Pride, and you are in for a world of hurt.” That’s all he gets out before the click on the other end tells him the caller hung up. Thunder holds me to him. He must feel the shivers running through my body. He soothes me with his loving words. “You’re safe, Rosie. No one is gonna get anywhere near you. I’ve got you, baby.”
“He said he owns me. He actually said he’s my new owner.” I look up at him pleadingly. “What does that mean?” My hands fist into his T-shirt. He doesn’t respond, but holds me tighter. “He’s not going to stop, and I don’t even know why.”
“He won’t have a choice. I’ll find him, and when I do, I’ll tear him limb from limb,” Thunder growls.
“Why are they doing this?” I whimper. “These are the people Clarissa got involved with, aren’t they? I didn’t want to believe it. I hoped it wasn’t, but it’s them.”
Thunder doesn’t bother lying. “Yeah, baby. It’s them.” He drops his chin on top of my head. I’m holding on to him as tightly as he’s holding me.
Eventually, he guides us to sit on the sofa, nestling me into his side, and pulls out his own phone.
“Shit just got worse,” he says into the phone, after which he follows with a couple of grunts of “Yeah” or “No problem,” before hanging up and calling Risk to let him know we aren’t coming and quickly explains why.
An hour later, Hanna and Risk show up at our door with Romeo and enough food to feed twenty people. At first, I’m not sure that I’m up for company, but Hanna has a way of calming the ripples of the emotional tidal wave I’m experiencing. Soon, we’re sitting around the living room with plates on our laps, watching Romeo have a deep and meaningful conversation with Thunder about the new truck he got from his parents.
Romeo is a serious boy, as are his thoughts. You can see that he thinks about what he wants to say before speaking. He’s a smart little thing. I love that he’s inquisitive and asks a lot of questions, although I can tell his parents have their work cut out for them. A simple answer isn’t enough. Romeo wants to understand the “why” in the answers.
Thunder already explained to me that Romeo was adopted, but I swear he looks like Risk and has some of Hanna’s mannerisms. I believe that being a parent isn’t just about genetics, it’s about love. Romeo is a happy, loving boy who has adapted to the love and respect that Hanna and Risk show him, and Romeo gives it right back.
“Are we having a sleepover?” Romeo asks.
“Not tonight, buddy. One day soon, Rosie and I will have you come and stay overnight,” Thunder tells him.
“And Gavin?” he asks. Romeo talks about Gavin a lot. It’s clear these two are besties.
“We’ll have to ask Uncle Guard and Aunt Ava,” Thunder says.
“Ryder will want to come.” Romeo pouts.
“Don’t you like Ryder?” I ask.
“Sure, but he likes to play fight, and I don’t like it so much.”
“We’ll just have to tell Ryder that there’s no fighting at my house. I don’t like tussling either.”
The little guy gives me a giggle. “Tussle,” he repeats.
Darn, he’s so cute that I want to snuggle him hard. It’s as if he knows what I’m thinking, because he walks right into my embrace, wrapping his arms around my neck and hugging me close.
All a sudden, all the bad stuff from the day is wiped away with the warmth of his snuggle.
* * *
Thunder
Even with my Pride brothers having Rosie’s house on watch, I had a difficult night sleeping. I only got the tail end of the call. The douchebag’s intimidation tactic shook Rose up pretty good. I know I’m going to have to tell Rosie everything we’ve found out, about her sister and the depths of her involvement with John Harvey and his gaggle of whores.
It’s not something I want to do, yet Rosie needs to understand the dangers involved. I can’t delay it any longer.
“Babe, come sit for a minute,” I call to her as she finishes loading the dishwasher.
She glances over her shoulder. “We need to get to the shop.”
“The shop can wait a little longer. Your delivery isn’t due for another couple of hours.”
She studies my face, then slowly comes over to sit across from me. I reach out to take her hand. “What is it?” She sighs, preparing herself for more bad news.
