Tex Page 4

  She trembled under my touch, and I rubbed her leg before rising to my feet.

  “Kalani,” Torch said softly. “I’m sorry for everything that’s happened to you, but you have my word that no harm will come to you while you’re here.”

  Kalani glanced at Torch, then turned her gaze toward me. I could see the fear and uncertainty there, and I hated it. She’d only been free for one night, and I knew it was too much to hope that she’d settle in quickly. After all the years of abuse she’d been through, I knew it would take time. I’d give her as much as she needed.

  “Kalani, I need to know your mother’s name,” I said. “It’s important.”

  “Ulani Mahelona.”

  “And she told you she was from Hawaii?” I asked “Do you remember what part?”

  Her brow wrinkled and mouth turned down as she thought about it. “Oahu? Is that a place?”

  “Yeah, sweetheart. That’s a place.”

  “Do you know when your birthday is?” Torch asked. “The month or day?”

  “March seventh,” she said. “I remember last year on my birthday, one of the doctors made a comment about it being my twenty-first birthday.”

  She grew quiet, and a darkness entered her eyes that I didn’t like. I had no idea what had happened on her twenty-first birthday, but I could tell it hadn’t been good. I wanted to help her heal, but I didn’t even know where to start. And with Janessa always nearby, I didn’t think Kalani would open up completely. My daughter might know some of what happened at Hillview, but I doubted she knew everything Kalani had done to protect her, and I wanted to keep it that way.

  “Janessa, my wife was going shopping today. I have a few men going with her for protection. Would you like to go too?” Torch asked. “A few Dixie Reapers will be with them, so I don’t think you’ll have any problems. Never hurts to have protection, though.”

  “Can Kalani come?” Janessa asked, looking at the woman who was still cowering on the couch.

  “I think Kalani would prefer to stay here,” I told Janessa. “But I trust the Dixie Reapers to keep you safe. If you’d like to go shopping, I’ll make sure you have money to buy some new things.”

  Her eyes widened. “You mean like at the mall?”

  Torch chuckled. “Yeah, kid. At the mall.”

  Janessa let out a whoop and ran for the bedroom, coming back a minute later with her flip-flops on. She’d been dressed all morning, and the excitement in her eyes made me smile. She seemed normal in that moment, like she’d never been locked away in that awful place. And I hoped she’d have many more moments like this one.

  “I’ll head home and take over babysitting duties from Isabella and send her this way in the SUV. Tank will go with them, since he’s familiar to Janessa. I’ll leave it to him to decide who else goes,” Torch said.

  Janessa bounced around the living room until Isabella arrived to take her shopping. I hugged my daughter, made sure Isabella had my number, and then waved as they pulled down the driveway. It was amazing how Janessa was acting so normal considering what she’d been through.

  After they were gone, I went back to Kalani, settling on the couch next to her. She chewed on her lip nervously and her gaze darted around the room.

  “Do you want me to move?” I asked.

  “No!” She winced at her outburst. “Please. Stay.”

  “Come here, sweetheart,” I said, lifting my arm.

  She hesitated only a moment before curling against my body. Her hand clutched at my shirt, and she held on tight, almost like she was worried I’d disappear. I was humbled that she trusted me this much. There were questions I wanted to ask, but I didn’t want to push too hard too fast. She’d had enough for one day. Dr. Myron had been professional, but a bit invasive. I knew it was for her own good, but Kalani seemed fragile in the light of day. The tough girl from last night had disappeared.

  “What’s going to happen to me?” she asked, her voice so soft I almost didn’t hear her.

  “You’re going to stay here with me and get better.”

  “I can’t stay with you forever,” she said.

  “Let’s just take things one day at a time. I’m not throwing you out anytime soon, Kalani. You protected my daughter. Let me protect you for a little while, okay?”

  She nodded and relaxed into me a little more.

  “Let’s spend a quiet day watching movies while Janessa is out shopping.” I frowned. “But you’re going to need some clothes too.”

  “These are a little tight,” she said, tugging on the leggings.

  “We can measure you later and figure out what size pants and tops you need. If you want to stay inside the compound, I can order you some clothes online, or ask Ridley to pick up something the next time she goes out.”

  “Okay.” She glanced up at me. “Thank you. For saving me.”

  “My pleasure, sweetheart. I’m only sorry I couldn’t have gotten you out of there sooner.”

  Chapter Four

  Kalani

  Two Weeks Later

  I still jumped at shadows and loud noises, but I thought I was improving. I was also adjusting to some of the men in the Dixie Reapers, but a few still scared me. Janessa had blossomed and settled into her new life with relative ease. I was a little jealous at how easily she’d adapted, but at the same time it meant I’d done a good job protecting her from the horrors of Hillview. And for that I was really grateful. Tex was amazing with her, and she seemed to sense that she was safe with him.

  She’d been spending a lot of time with Isabella and Ridley and seemed fascinated with the smaller children in the compound. Most days, Janessa was gone from after breakfast until nearly dinnertime. Which left me a lot of time alone with Tex. I’d encouraged him to leave, to spend time with his friends, but he’d refused to leave me alone. I didn’t know how he could tell that I needed him here, but I was glad he’d stayed with me every day. As long as Tex was here, it made me feel like the monsters would stay away a little while longer.

  He was in the kitchen with two other Dixie Reapers having some sort of meeting, and I’d been watching romantic comedies on TV. I didn’t know what they were discussing, but I had a feeling it was about Hillview. I knew Tex was worried they’d come for his daughter, and they might, but something told me they wanted me back far more. I wondered if he’d considered that the doctors at Hillview might be willing to trade. Me for his daughter’s freedom. Being away from Hillview had been nice, but I didn’t delude myself into thinking it was permanent. Did I want it to be? Hell yes! But I’d been born into that hell, and until the night Tex carried me out of there, I’d known I was never leaving. Going back would be hard for me, but I knew I could handle it better than Janessa. She needed her daddy, and I think he needed her too.

  There was a knock at the door, but Tex never came to answer it. The knock sounded twice more before I got up. I pulled open the door and took a hasty step back. A fierce-looking man stood on the other side, his height towering over me even more so than Tex. His long, blond hair flowed over his shoulders and his gaze seemed to miss nothing. He took a step over the threshold, and I scrambled to put more distance between us. My heart hammered in my chest as the door shut and he came closer. He wore a Dixie Reapers cut, but I’d never met this man before. The hard look in his eyes reminded me too much of the men who had delighted in hurting me.

  A whimper escaped me, and black dots swam across my vision. The man kept coming until I could nearly feel his breath in my face, and I cried out, falling to the floor and curling in on myself.

  “What the fuck is going on?” Tex demanded, stomping into the front entry.

  “I think I scared her,” the other man said, his voice deep and gruff.

  “Jesus, Bull. You should have called and let me know you were coming over. I could have prepared her,” Tex said. “You’re a big bastard and scare the shit out of grown men.”

  I felt strong hands grip my arms and pull me up. Tex’s scent surrounded me, and I held on tight a
s he pulled me against his chest.

  “Easy, Kalani,” Tex murmured. “You’re safe. Bull would never hurt you. I know he’s huge and a little scary, but he’d never hurt a woman.”

  “I’m sorry,” Bull said.

  “Go into the kitchen. I’ll be there in a minute,” Tex said.

  After we were alone again, he lifted me into his arms and carried me over to the couch. He sat down and held me close. I wasn’t as scared as I’d been a minute ago, not with his arms around me.

  “I need to finish talking to the guys,” he said.

  “Please don’t leave me.”

  “Will you be all right sitting in there with all of them?”

  I nodded slowly, but I wasn’t sure I quite believed it myself. He carried me to the kitchen, then sat on one of the wooden chairs, settling me in his lap. I clutched tight to Tex’s shirt and tried to slow my racing heart as I looked at the men sitting around the table. The redheaded man smiled slightly before looking down at the computer in front of him, and the others only gave me a brief glance.

  “I think I know how to solve one of our problems,” the redhead said.

  “How?” Tex asked.

  “You have the paperwork I gave you for Kalani? Her birth certificate and social security card?” the man asked.

  I had those things? My brow furrowed. I didn’t understand how any of that worked, but would my father have actually acknowledged my birth like that? I’d always thought I was a dirty little secret.

  “Yeah. Why?” Tex sounded a little leery of what the man was about to say.

  “Then getting a marriage license shouldn’t be an issue.”

  My breath caught in my throat, and I glanced up at Tex. He looked completely stunned, and not in a good way. I’d watched enough TV the last few weeks, and read enough books, to understand that a marriage license meant a wedding would take place. But who was getting married and how was that going to fix anything?

  “I don’t understand,” I said, drawing everyone’s attention to me.

  “You need to get married, darlin’,” the redhead said softly. “After the things I’ve discovered by digging into Hillview’s records, including the ones they don’t want anyone to see, I don’t think they’ll let you just walk away. You’re dangerous to them. Marrying one of us would give you some added protection. It’s not going to be a magical fix by any means, but I honestly think it would help your situation.”

  “How?” I asked.

  “If Hillview comes here looking for you, we could deny them entrance, but they would likely have some sort of forged documents saying they have the rights to decide what happens to you. They could call the cops, and the officers would send you back with them to Hillview, no questions asked. Right now, you have no living family except that asshole doctor. And he has the documentation to prove that you’re his kid. I was surprised as fuck to find a form completed by a midwife. While it wasn’t an official birth certificate, it might hold weight. As your only surviving relative, he could tell the police you need to be committed for your safety, or for the town’s safety. But if you’re married, then your husband could keep that from happening,” the redhead said. “Theoretically, anyway.”

  “Who would I marry?” I asked. “I don’t know any of you.”

  “Yeah, Wire,” Tex said with a growl. “Who is she going to marry?”

  “We kind of assumed it would be you,” he said, smiling a little at Tex.

  I felt Tex stiffen, and I knew he didn’t like that idea. I couldn’t really blame him. I was a complete wreck, jumping at every little sound, and I’d never been intimate with a man willingly. I wasn’t certain I was capable of such a thing. If he married, he deserved a woman who didn’t have my problems. Besides, if he’d thought I was attractive, he’d have said or done something by now, wouldn’t he? It wasn’t like he’d tried to steal kisses or get me naked all the times we’d been alone. That’s what happened in the books I’d borrowed from Ridley. If my mother hadn’t been part of my life the first eight years, I’d likely have never learned anything. She’d taught me what little she could. And from what I’d witnessed firsthand at Hillview, if a man wanted a woman, he didn’t keep his distance. He took what he wanted. Didn’t he? I felt so confused, and a headache was growing behind my eyes.

  “I already have a woman, so it can’t be me,” Bull said.

  “Ridley would kill me if I married another woman,” Venom said. “But if you don’t want to do it, Tex, we have quite a few single guys in the club. Including Wire.”

  They wanted me to marry a complete stranger? I didn’t understand. I knew what happened between men and women, and if I were married, then my husband would want to do that all the time. What was the difference in being married and going back to Hillview? If a man was going to force himself on me, what did it matter if I was married and free or back in my prison? It was all the same thing, wasn’t it? But then, Tex had been so sweet to me. I had a hard time picturing him treating me the way the staff and doctors at Hillview had, but he was still a man. I trusted him, for the most part, but I didn’t know if I would ever completely trust a man, not after what I’d been through.

  “What about Janessa?” I asked. “They won’t be happy she’s gone. She’s seen too much.”

  “Tex already filed for custody of his daughter,” Wire said. “Hillview is aware that Janessa is here, and for now, the lawyer has managed to get Tex temporary custody until the paperwork can be pushed through. That should be resolved within a few days. But your problem is more long-term.”

  “It won’t matter if I’m married or not,” I said quietly. “They’ll get me back by any means necessary. You should just…”

  “We should what?” Wire asked.

  “Trade me. Give me back to Hillview to keep Janessa safe,” I said.

  Tex’s arms tightened around me. “You’re not going back there.”

  I looked up at him, and the fierce expression on his face made me feel… something. Being with Tex was unlike anything I’d ever experienced before, but he needed to be reasonable. His daughter was more important. At fourteen, she had her entire life ahead of her. I’d known from an early age that my days were numbered, that I was never supposed to exist. My father had made sure of that, and once my mom had died, there had been no one left who cared what happened to me. Janessa had a family here, people who loved her. I had nothing.

  “Being here has been wonderful,” I told him. “But I never expected to get out of Hillview. I’ve always known that I would die there, probably sooner rather than later. Save your daughter. You know it’s the right thing.”

  Tex growled. Literally growled! Then he stood so abruptly, the chair fell over. He clutched me to his chest as he surveyed the room. “Do it. Get a minister or who the fuck ever.”

  “I have a better idea,” Wire said.

  “What?” Tex asked, pausing in the kitchen doorway.

  “Take her to Vegas. You can get a license there and get married the same day. Just as legal, but faster. I can do a bit of magic here in Alabama, hack the state system and get a license for you in a few days, but do you really want to put this off?” Wire asked.

  “No. But they’ll be watching the airport and bus stations for her, and it’s a long ass drive to Vegas from Alabama,” Tex said. “Besides, I’m not sure how she’d handle all that noise and the crowds.”

  “You can’t seriously be thinking about marrying me,” I told him.

  He glowered down at me, and that look said yes, that’s exactly what he thought. Stubborn man. He was going to ruin his life if he married me. Dr. Whitby would never stop, not until I was back behind the gates of Hillview or dead. I knew that. Everyone in this room should know that, especially if Wire said he’d seen the files on me. Oh, God. My stomach nearly dropped.

  “You… you said you saw my files?” I asked Wire, the blood draining from my face. I didn’t know for certain what was in there, but I could only imagine. Had they documented everything they’d done to
me?

  “Yeah,” he said softly, sympathy in his eyes. “I did, and I’m sorry as hell for everything you’ve been through. You should know there are videos of some of it, stored on what Whitby thought was a secret, secure server. But I found them, and I saved a copy in case we need leverage. I still think marrying Tex is your best bet, though.”

  “If you’ve seen all that, then you know why I can’t marry him.”

  “What’s going on?” Tex asked.

  “Because Kalani was a favorite,” Wire said, his face twisting with disgust, “Dr. Whitby had her tubes tied when she was only sixteen. He wanted to make sure she never got pregnant.”

  “You mean he did that to his daughter so the assholes who worked for him could…” Tex made a sound like he was strangling, and as I looked up, I saw an unholy light in his eyes, and possibly a sheen of tears. I didn’t know what to make of that, but surely he could understand now that if he married me, he’d never have more children. And as wonderful as he was with Janessa, he deserved that chance.

  “I’m tainted, Tex,” I told him softly. “Do you really want to be stuck with me? I’ve read enough and watched enough movies since being freed that I know married couples…” My cheeks flamed, and I couldn’t even finish the sentence.

  “Everyone out,” Tex said quietly.

  Wire closed his laptop and hesitated after everyone else had filed out of the room. He looked from me to Tex and seemed to come to some sort of decision.

  “If you want to go to Vegas, I can make it happen. Casper VanHorne can have a jet or chopper here probably within a few hours,” Wire said. “No one at Hillview would even know you’d left.”

  Tex frowned. “Why the hell would Casper VanHorne help me?”

  Wire smiled a little. “Because Isabella is his daughter.”

  Tex looked more than a little stunned, but I had no idea who Casper VanHorne was. I was going to assume he was someone important to get that kind of reaction from the man who still held me like he’d never let me go.