I paced in the backyard, refusing to leave Rae’s house, even for a second. My boot kicked at the lawn, clumps of grass and dirt flying up in the air. I was pissed, but it was more than my anger that was eating me up inside. I could sense Rae’s sad and frustrated emotions. My chest was aching with her pain and I wanted to run inside to her and take it all away.

“Pete. You can hardly blame her for getting angry.”

Pacing faster, clenching my hands into fists, I nearly growled at him, “We can’t tell her. Not yet. She won’t understand.”

“I disagree.”

I spun and walked up to R.J., toe to toe, “Don’t push it.”

“I don’t answer only to you so remember that,” R.J. took a step back but it wasn’t in a pussy ass defeat, he wanted to keep us calm which still pissed me off anyway. “We’re best friends but don’t expect me to take your bullshit. Rae is my responsibility too.”

Running my hand through my hair in agitation, I was only a slight bit sorry, “She’s making me crazy.” I shook my head and began to pace again, “I can’t think around her bro.”

“You’re letting yourself get too close. I told you to wait.”

I laughed humorlessly, “And you think I haven’t tried? I’ve wanted to tell her how I felt for the last three years R.J.”

“I understand that, but now she’s in greater danger, and you’re too close. You’re gonna get one of us killed.”

“That’s not going to happen.”

The garage door opened as Rae’s mother and Charles returned home. We slipped around the side of the house out of view. I felt a sudden moment of panic in my chest and hardly had time to blink before I realized it was Rae. Standing beneath her bedroom window, I heard a scuffle and then a man’s deep voice.

“Shhh, don’t scream. Don’t try anything either, little girl.”

“Rae,” we spoke in unison and exchanged a look, both of us scurrying to her rescue.

R.J. began to climb up the tree. I grabbed the awning and pulled myself up, catapulting my body onto the roof. I crept along, crouching until I was directly underneath the window sill.

“Who are you? What do you want?” Rae’s voice wavered slightly, but she was calm.

“You’re coming downstairs with me so we can have a chat with your stepdad.”

“That jerk is no relation to me.”

The man laughed at her response, “Move sweetheart, nice and slow.”

Slowly I inched my way up until I could see into the room. Rae was walking into the hall with one of the two men from earlier. The shorter guy. The one who looked at her like she was his next meal . . .

And he had a gun pointed right at her head.

Anger flashed through my brain, firing a string of curses in my head. If that bastard tried to touch her . . .

R.J. gestured for me to go in first. I slid inside my gun in hand, and crept slowly forward. R.J. was close behind. We swept the room and cautiously entered the hall. Another sweep and the upstairs was clear. Leah was still asleep in her crib. R.J. closed the door silently.

“Well Charles, isn’t this a nice surprise?”

There was a scramble, muffled voices, and then silence.

“That’s better. No one has to get hurt.”

R.J. met my gaze and we nodded, deciding to split up downstairs, each taking a side. We could surround the living room from the two exits with only the front foyer and windows to worry about. Making hand signals and gestures, we crept along, until I could see the biker’s back.

Rae’s wide, frightened eyes found mine, but she managed not to let the recognition show on her face.

Well done baby, I applauded in my head.

Charles was arguing with the intruder, “Devlin, this is not necessary. I was coming to the clubhouse tomorrow.”

“A bit late for that now, isn’t it?”

“My family doesn’t have to be involved.”

“Your family?” Rae shrieked. “I hate you!”

“Rae!” her mother scolded. “Enough! This isn’t the time.”

Rae shook her head, “No, Mom. He did this. We’re in danger because of him!”

I frowned and shook my head at her. Don’t be stupid, I thought, please.

Devlin laughed, “I like her. Why don’t you let me take her and work off some of that debt?” He sauntered over to Rae and hauled her to her feet. “You a virgin baby?”

Rae stiffened as I saw red. Pissed off and ready to jump in any moment, I was fully comfortable with shooting that asshole right between the eyes.

“Don’t touch my daughter!” Rae’s mom stood as Charles pulled her back down on the couch.

“Devlin my stepdaughter isn’t going anywhere. Why don’t I call Striker?”

Both Devlin and Rae continued to stare each other down.

“Answer the question sweetheart.”

“Go to hell,” Rae spat, her cheeks flushing.

Devlin pulled her in roughly and kissed her, right on the mouth.

“Take your hands off me! I’m not some common whore,” she yelled, incensed. Her hand rose as it formed a fist and clocked him right in the jaw.

Fuck. I groaned inwardly. She was going to get hurt. R.J. was gesturing frantically to get my attention. He looked positively livid.

“I like it rough honey. You’re coming with me.”

Rae shoved him back, “Fuck off!”

Devlin smacked her across the mouth, blood spurting from the side as he split her lip, “Watch it girl, or I’ll put that pretty mouth to a different use, and I can guarantee you’ll be unable to talk.”

Rae’s eyes widened then hardened in disgust, “No thanks.”

Charles was calling someone on his cell. A voice answered the phone, deep and cheerful, “How’s it going, Charles?”

“Striker, I’m more than happy to come to the clubhouse right now. No need to hold my family hostage.”

Striker laughed, his deep voice chilled me to the bone as it echoed in the quiet room, “Why would I do that? Surely you could have cooperated long before now.”

“My fault. I was lazy. Forgive me, Striker.”

Devlin was listening to the conversation with interest, but I caught his eyes roaming over Rae constantly, “Boss? Want me to bring in the girl too?”

“Do I need to do that Charles?” Striker let the question hang in the air.

“No, I can come right now. No worries.”

“Dev, bring Charles. Put me on speaker.”

“You’re already on Pres.”

“Sarah and Rae?”

“Yes?” Both women answered.

“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.