“Poison ivy? Seriously?” Cade flops down beside me, his expression horrified, but also relieved that Hayes didn’t have some mutant STD. “How the hell did he get poison ivy down there?” He reclines his legs over the armrest, forcing a scowling Theo over in the process. Beer in hand, he takes a long pull from his Corona, sighing into the neck of the bottle.
That’s odd, Cade only drinks on rare occasions. Long day, I guess. He’s been holed up with Lawson for the past three hours after they got back from work.
Theo snorts out a laugh at Cade’s ridiculous question before I have the opportunity to answer.
“Cade, stop me if I lose you.” There’s a mean-ass gleam in Theo’s eye. Whatever he is about to say is most certainly going to piss Cade off.
Oh, hell, here we go.
“Hayes,” Theo motions out the window, “had some chick grinding down on his dick in the middle of the woods. Those of us who aren’t prudes call it fucking.” Theo’s smile clearly reflects that he disapproves of Cade’s abstinent lifestyle.
I elbow him, needing him to reign it in before an all-out brawl ensues but Cade beats me to it and stands, taking an intimidating step forward to do who knows what. Theo doesn’t budge from his place on the sofa. Instead, he stays cool, his leg bouncing across his knee with a smug-ass smile that turns to a glare in seconds.
Locked in a stare-off, ripping each other to shreds with their scathing expressions, I intervene, pushing at Theo’s chest, encouraging him to relax and knock it off as Cade settles down, retaking his vacated spot. These two have a hair-trigger of a temper today. “By the way, how was your community service?”
“Fine,” they both say in unison, eyes still locked on each other.
I know good and darn well something went down. The purple discolorations on Cade’s arm and face are not from a fall he took off a ladder today, no matter what he tells me. Neither are the bruises on his ribs. I know what fist marks look like.
What confuses me is that Lawson has a couple bruises, too. He wouldn’t allow me to look as he stormed up the stairs and slammed the door, Cade hot on his heels and in a fury. Lawson hasn’t come out of his room since.
I look back and forth at the men glaring death rays at each other from their opposite ends of the sofa.
“What’s going on with you two? What happened out there today?”
Cade breaks first, taking another swig of his beer before answering. “Lawson lied.”
I’m stunned, my mouth opening and closing like a fish. “What do you mean, he lied? About what, exactly?”
Cade swallows thickly as Theo scoffs behind my back.
“Well,” he sighs, scrubbing his hand along his five o’clock shadow. “Lawson is different from the rest of us.”
Cade’s cryptic sentences are wearing down my nerves and pissing me off by the syllable. “Just spit it out, Cade.”
Cade nods solemnly as Theo chuckles at his scolding. “Lawson isn’t a druggie like we thought.”
My head cocks to side as I encourage him to continue.
“He was fucked up when we found him, yes—” He takes another long pull from his beer. “—but, not under the circumstances we thought. He was undercover, trying to find a kidnapped girl. Nicole is her name.”
“He’s a cop!”
Shaking his head, Cade looks to Theo for help.
Theo laughs incredulously, “Don’t look at me. I told y’all to stop adopting these strays.”
I pinch the side of his leg, in no mood for his bullshit I told you so’s.
“He’s not a cop. He’s a Marine. His term was up four months ago. Apparently, he intercepted a call six months ago while trying to call out to his family. He got Nicole, the woman he found today in the subdivision we were working in. She told him she needed help—”
“Why didn’t you help her?” I cut him off, up and ready to grab my keys to go help this poor girl, except Theo holds me close in hug, restraining me.
“I didn’t know at the time she needed help. Besides, I need to investigate this more. I can’t just go running off, snatching random women from their home just because Lawson said so. So far, he hasn’t been very honest with us. Anyway, Lawson has been tracking this man for four months, finally gathering enough intel to track his drug supplier. That’s why he was high when we found him. But he doesn’t have a problem like we suspected.”
My mind spins with this new information. Lawson let us believe he was an addict in need of refuge. I can’t decide if I’m pissed or impressed that he would go to any lengths to get this guy.
“Why hasn’t he gone to the police with this information?”
Cade lips purse a moment. “He says Lou, the guy who kidnapped Nicole, his brother is the sheriff. Lawson thinks he may be dirty, too, helping Lou smuggle women out of the state.”
Did I hear him right? Did he say smuggle? What the ever-loving fuck! “Come again?”
Cade sighs, knowing what I mean. “You heard me, Lawson thinks he and his brother are part of a sex trafficking ring.”
“No fucking way! In Madison? I don’t believe it.”
Cade shrugs, chugging the last of his Corona. “I don’t know but we need to look into it before Lawson does something crazy, like go after this guy on his own.”
I agree, my finger slipping in between my teeth. Theo swats it down, a knowing smile on his face. He arches a brow. “Are you biting your nails?”
I wave him away like an annoying gnat. “I was not.”
Giving him a little shove to the chest, he pulls away and flashes me a playful grin. “Enough of this Debbie Downer shit. I’m horny talking about all this sex slave stuff.”
Theo springs from the sofa and drops to his knees in front of me. Yanking my lower body off the sofa, he throws my legs over his shoulders, biting and nipping at my inner thigh. I squeal, fighting to get upright again, but he’s too powerful.
“What’d ya say, Ans. Wanna pretend to be my sex slave? Beg me to let you come on my face?”
His grip tightens, and I’m at his mercy in seconds. He tugs at my leggings, inching them past my thighs. Is he seriously about to eat me out right here in front of Cade? Does he have no class? What the fuck am I thinking? Of course, he doesn’t.
“Theo,” I giggle, fighting his death grip on my hips. “Cade is here!”
“Oh, I think your pet needs to learn how to please a woman. How to make her scream when she rides your face to oblivion.”
Cade rises from the sofa, his cheeks crimson. “You’re a real piece of work,” he says as he passes behind Theo.
Theo winks at me above my leggings, which are now at my knees. He pulls them lower slowly, all the while tracking Cade out the door. When Cade disappears, he yanks them back up.
“I thought he would never leave.” He plops down on the sofa, burrowing down in the cushions. “Want to watch that movie I recorded the other day?”
“What about Lawson? We need to deal with the situation.”
“Lawson, Shamawson. Who cares. He’s been tracking this girl for months. He now knows where she is. What’s one more day? Besides, Cade has no life. I bet he runs to his office and starts researching right now. Problem solved.” He shrugs, proud of himself. “Now, do you want to watch that movie or not?”
I chuckle, catching onto his tactic to get Cade out. “That sounds very domestic of you, Von Bremen.”
He smiles, shrugging those million-dollar shoulders. “I kinda like being domestic with you, McCallister. The buffet of sex opportunities is worth putting up with your terrible taste in roommates.”
Scoffing, I try and fail to look offended at his comment. He laughs it off, drawing me down to his chest and hits play on the remote. For once in a very long time, I put everyone else’s issues aside and enjoy the simplicity of just being with Theo.
The farmers market is filled with chaos tonight. People are everywhere stocking up on fresh fruits and vegetables along with custom jewelry and homemade home decor. I love the farmers market. The quaint little section just off West Main Street is gorgeous with its country beauty. Tall, old oaks that have grown along the sidewalks for years stand imposed and strong, providing shade for the market’s customers.
Cade has been busy researching with Lawson, both only coming out of Cade’s office to eat and workout. I’m trying not to worry about poor Nicole. I know Cade wouldn’t let anything happen to her. But I can’t help the betrayal I feel by my sheriff, by my town, that has supported such a heinous act. Sex trafficking? I’ve only ever heard of that shit in the movies. Who would have thought we would have participants here in Madison.
Distracted, I shuffle through the stands, admiring a burlap bracelet with a handcrafted wooden bead.
“Can I help you with something?” A petite woman with an English accent steps out from behind her booth with a genuine smile.
“This is gorgeous. Do you have more charms? Say maybe a baseball?”
She chuckles, wiping her hands on the white apron around her waist. “My husband can make anything. We can custom create something for you.”
Excited for a new piece of jewelry, I tell her what I have in mind. She writes it all down and instructs me to come back in a few weeks to pick it up.
I stop at a few more booths before calling it a day, heading down the narrow alley to where I parked my car. Buzzing vibrates my purse. I fish out my phone, balancing it in one hand, my bag in the other.
“Hello.”
“If Washington were a dick it would be a short, uncircumcised one.”
I laugh.
Theo flew out early this morning to be with his team. He’s on the roster as the starting pitcher tonight against the Mavericks. Even with our relaxing evening, he was still ill as a damn hornet when he left this morning. His attitude about working for the ball club is getting worse by the game. I need to talk to Thad and see if he knows more. I hate to see Theo so unhappy.
“It can’t be that bad,” I say, turning the corner.
“Oh, it’s bad. Bellamy was in my face as soon as I got to the stadium, bitching me out about missing batting practice again.”
“Why did you miss batting practice? Your plane left early enough to make it on time.”
Theo pauses for a moment before sighing. “I might have passed out when I got home and forgot to set my alarm—”
“Theo!”
“And then, since I was late anyway, I stopped for breakfast and a Starbucks coffee.” His tone is amused, as he loves to ruffle feathers wherever he goes.
“You know better than that. Bellamy just wants to find a reason to kick you off the team.”
“Bellamy wants to fuck me on all fours but he won’t, Tom won’t hear of it.”
Tom is the owner of the Washington Nationals. He personally offered Theo the job on the Nationals’ pitching staff when he was merely twenty years old. Even with the forty-year age difference, they are good friends. Thank goodness. Otherwise, I think Theo would have been fired years ago.
Exhaling into the evening air, I scold, “Theo—”
“I know, I know. I’ll do better. I promise.”
Bellamy yells in the background and screams at Theo to get his spoiled, playboy ass out on the field, pronto.
“I gotta go—” he moans, “—and be Bellamy’s bitch for the next four hours. I hope he’s gentle.”
He laughs at the last comment and so do I.
“I’m sure he’ll be sweet.”
“Yeah, yeah,” he mutters, becoming serious. “Hey, Ans?”
“Yeah?”
“Stay with the guys until Cade and Lawson can figure out what’s going on, okay?”
My voice is a whisper when he reminds me of the situation with Nicole. “I promise.”
“Good. Daddy loves you. Be a good girl and keep that pussy wet for me until tomorrow.”
I holler in laughter, his ridiculous comment lightening the mood. “Will do, champ. I love you, too. Knock ‘em dead.”
Theo hangs up and I toss my phone back in my bag. Where the fuck did I park? It feels like I’ve been walking for miles. Thankfully, my white Audi SUV, parked along the curb, comes into view shortly.
“Finally! What the hell was I thinking parking out here in Bumfuck?”
I throw open the driver’s side door, slinging my purchases into the passenger seat, when an eerie sensation tickles the hair on the back of my neck. I turn to take a quick look around, but before I can manage even a glimpse, someone grabs me from behind, his hand covering my mouth.
I kick out, instinct taking over as my fingers immediately scratch and pull at my captor’s hand, attempting to leverage some distance between us. If I can get free, I can run. He’ll never catch me. My running ability can only be outmatched by one other person. And right now, the thought of never seeing that one person again sends enough fright through my veins that I scream for help through the barrier of this crazy man’s hand.
“Hel—” My voice is garbled and unrecognizable as the sweaty palm clutches firmer against my pitiful outcry for help. Then to make matters worse, he closes his other hand over my throat and squeezes. With my air supply cut completely off, I panic, thinking of dropping my weight to the ground and throwing him off-balance. But when he squeezes harder, anticipating a struggle, self-preservation kicks in and I stand stock-still, the only other thing I know to do.
“You tell your friend that if he comes sniffing around my house again I will kill him.”
Another squeeze, but this time something cold and sharp presses against my throat.
Does he have a knife? I’m shaking, the adrenaline kicking in. I try to speak around his iron grip, but nothing comes out. I don’t want to die here, not in this abandoned alley that smells of stale cat piss.
“And then, I think I’ll take you. I could find plenty of buyers for a feisty little piece like you.” His tongue snakes out, licking my cheek.
I feel violated. Dirty. And mostly, I feel terrified.
“I promise,” I gasp for breath beneath his hold. “We won’t bother you.”
Laughter sounds from behind me and I think of trying to scream for help again but when the cold blade bears down on my skin, I quickly decide against it. Lou (I’m taking a guess here, I haven’t sniffed around many properties here lately), shoves my face into the hood, grabbing my pussy in a bruising hold. “I’ll be back for you, bitch,” he growls right before he slashes my front tire, and flees behind a building.
I stay that way, face smashed against the hood, tears streaming down my face, reeling from the aftermath of what just happened. I don’t know how I’m going to get home. My tire is hissing as it expels the last bit of air. I don’t even know how to change of fucking tire. I’ve never had to.
The realization that I am not prepared for real life events is so overwhelming that I begin to cry. For the first time in my life I was held at knifepoint and I didn’t do anything heroic. I didn’t flip him over my shoulder or knee him in the balls. No, I stood there, shivering like a coward, my tears running down the hand that was choking the very life from me.
I am one of those women. A sheltered, spoiled woman who relies on a man for security. Pulling upright, I wipe the tears from my face, mascara smearing onto my fingers.
“I can change a tire. If Theo can do it, it can’t be that hard.”
I root through the back, determined to do something, finding the spare and some crowbar-looking thing attached to what I think is probably the jack. I pry it off and attempt to dislodge the spare, which proves rather difficult and I only manage to break a nail.
I want Theo. Just the sound of his voice would calm me but he’s on the field and won’t have his phone. And what could he do? Worry. Worry, is what he would do. And be helpless to do anything about it. I won’t let myself call his phone just to hear his asshole voicemail greeting, “This is Theo. Don’t leave a message, I won’t check it.”
I’m just gonna call Cade to come get me. I tried to change the tire and I couldn’t. There’s no shame in that. Before I can talk myself into trying again, I call Cade, sniffling a little as it rings. And rings. And rings some more until finally his voicemail comes on.
“Gorgeous. I…uh…need your help. My tire is flat and I can’t change it myself. Okay, so… call me back.”
After a few minutes and no return call, I decide I’m done waiting for someone to rescue me. I’m my own motherfucking hero! I’m getting the fuck out of here one way or another. I lock up my car and inhale a deep breath, digging deep for my buried courage. It’s only five miles to the plantation. I can trek through the woods and get there faster. Lou is probably long gone by now anyway. He won’t show again until Lawson or Cade give him a reason to.
Silent tears glide down my cheeks as I take the first steps toward home. Toward safety. My knees buckle a few times but I power through, swiping at the errant tears, squaring my shoulders, my ears peeled for anything that would signal Lou is following me.
“Don’t be a pussy, Anniston,” I tell myself in the worst pep talk voice ever.
But I am a pussy. For once, I crave comfort. I crave one of my guys. Their voices. Their strength. Anything to take away the fear Lou just created.
Thor.
Thor’s a hero. And he always answers his phone.
Dialing his number, I instantly feel better.
“Dr. McCallister,” he drawls out lazily.
Relief crashes over me as the sound of his voice soothes my fears.
“Hey, Thor.” My voice is over the top squeaky with fake cheeriness. “How’s the security team?”
He grunts on the other end of the phone, his way of laughing. “Well, they might be fantastic if I actually cared enough to ask.”
I chuckle, “Wonderful. I like to hear that the wellbeing of Theo’s staff is intact and not in need of therapy.”
“What’s wrong, Anniston?”
No bullshit. No beating around the bush. That’s the Thor I’ve grown to annoy.
I debate on just hanging up and sprinting the rest of the way. I’m still probably three miles from the plantation but if I run, I could be there in thirty-ish minutes or less. I could make it. Thor would be none the wiser and I could threaten Cade into not telling Theo. Problem solved. But when I cut through a sketchy backyard, I rethink it, deciding I would rather the guys find my body and bury me properly.
“Oh, nothing. Just taking a stroll. Thought I’d check in and shoot the shit with you for a little while.”
“We never talk.”
“Yeah, well we should,” I tease, dragging out my confession.
His voice softens as he tries extracting the truth from me once more. “Tell me what’s wrong, Anniston.”
I sigh, this is it. Theo is going to hit the motherfucking fan. “Oh, nothing bad. Just some crazy held me at knifepoint, threatened me, and then slit my tire, which I have no idea how to change, by the way. So, I’m walking home from the farmers market and could use a familiar voice to keep me company.”
“Where’s Cade?” he questions on a growl.
“He’s at the house dealing with a problem.”
“Why didn’t you call one of the others?”
“They’re busy, too. Can I not talk to you?” I snap, and regret it immediately. I’m being petty and snapping at Thor when I really should be snapping at myself. I can’t even change my own damn tire.
“I mean, couldn’t one of them come to pick you up,” he tries again, this time with a lot less attitude.
“I tried Cade, he didn’t answer.”
Thor makes a sound deep in his throat that sounds much like disbelief. “Theo is going to go ballistic.”
“And you’re not going to tell him. Promise?” He goes to argue and I cut him off. “Promise,” I demand, my voice catching. “He doesn’t need to worry about this right now during the All-Star voting.”
Thor sighs. “Okay, but if he finds out on his own, I’ll throw you under the bus in a heartbeat.”
“Deal,” I compromise, a smile forming on my face for the first time since Lou grabbed me.
“Let me try and call Cade again?” he asks softly.
“No, I’m almost home. Just keep talking to me?”
His quick intake of breath tells me I’ve shocked him with this question.
“Okay,” he agrees.
The rest of the walk home, I’m entertained by Thor’s dry humor. Except for the occasional f-bomb and threats about when Theo finds out about this, the conversation is rather delightful.
Until…
Tires spin gravel into the air, dust flying in my nose and mouth. I’m coughing, shielding my face from the worst dust tornado ever experienced in Georgia, when I hear, “You have two seconds to get your ass in this fucking truck before I lose the last bit of self-control I have.”
Cade is hanging out the driver’s window, his face blazing with white-hot fury. Brows pinched, hands gripping the steering wheel like he could rip it off the column without a second thought.
Fucking Thor. “You told.” My accusation hangs in the air, daring him to deny it.
After a brief pause, he admits, “I had to. I just want you safe.”
I should’ve known. Thor may talk smack and cut up with me but he’ll always be a protector first and foremost. “Thanks, Thor. I really appreciate it. Now I have to calm Cade down.” My thanks is sincere but the rest of it…yeah, that’s aggravation and exhaustion speaking.
“Cade is the least of your worries.”
Right, if he told Cade, he’ll most definitely tell Theo.
“I take it back, we should never talk. In fact, I hope Theo gives you hell tonight.” I’m only half joking. I really do hope Theo drives him fucking crazy. That sweet asshole told on me before I could gently ease Cade into the story. Ugh.
Thor laughs softly into the phone, “I’m sure he will. Be safe, Anniston.”
“Anniston!” Cade is out of the truck, barreling toward me.
“Bye, Thor,” I end quickly, meeting Cade halfway between his truck and the dirt road. “Hi, Gorgeous.” My voice is fake cheery as I reach for the hulk of man that looks like he’s ready to shake me, toss me over his shoulder and spank my ass all the way home. But this is Cade we’re talking about, not Theo.
Cade stops in front of me, his hands fisted by his sides, jaw ticking with unbridled rage. “Don’t talk,” he growls, snatching the plastic bag off my arm. “Just tell me one thing…Was it Lou?”
My usual playful attitude is gone as the gravity of the situation pushes down on my shoulders. All at once, holding Cade’s brilliant green eyes, I want to cry. I don’t want him to be mad at me. I want him to comfort me, to tell me I’m okay. For some unknown reason, I don’t want to be the strong one right now.
Tears well in my eyes. “I can’t be sure. I’ve never seen him before and he was behind me the whole time so I didn’t get a good look—”
Cade scoops me up like a baby, tossing down my bag, cradling me to his heaving chest. “I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry.” He starts walking us toward the truck.
“My bag,” I look back at it lying on the ground.
“Hayes will get it,” he returns, never slowing down.
I didn’t even realize Hayes was here but when we near the idling truck, Hayes jumps out, coming to me. “You okay, Commander?”
I sniffle, unable to look at his concerned face or I’ll start to cry all over again. I bury my face into Cade’s chest.
“Go get her bag.” Cade’s voiced is laced with so much venom that I doubt Hayes hesitated to go grab it. Cade is scary when he’s pissed. I’ve never seen him behave like this before. And that’s saying something with all the times Theo pissed him off.
The driver’s door is still open from his sudden exit and very gently Cade puts me down on the soft cloth seat. “Scoot to the middle,” he orders quietly, sliding in behind me. Hayes returns, my bag in hand and files in on the other side just before Cade guns it down the dirt road, headed home.
“Never again,” he growls, punching the steering wheel and causing the horn to blow, startling me. “This will never happen to you again.”
Neither me or Hayes comment. Instead, I ease my hand into Cade’s, interlacing our fingers, offering silent comfort.