Page 5 of Avenging Azalea (California Made Men #2)

Chapter

Four

FAWN

Tears fell as I realized just how much I feared going back to that house, even to save my brother.

It gripped me like a hand around my throat.

The memories of unwanted touches and showering robotically before going to bed like nothing had ever happened were ripped free from where I’d stuffed them to suffocate me.

But who was going to help George if not me? My mother said she couldn’t leave, chained by her reasons that I didn’t understand. I stared down at my lap, arms crossed and ass numb from the hard bench.

What the hell do I do now?

The question swirled around with no answer.

The bench moved as someone sat down, and his cologne hit me.

“Do you want to tell me why you ran away?”

Titus’s voice was soft. There was no judgment or anger. He was still the same caring person…and that made everything worse.

Covering my face, I cried harder than I had all day. The weight of everything pressing down on me felt like it would crush my bones. When he wrapped his arm around my shoulders, I lost it completely, breaking down into hysterical sobs that wracked my body.

He held me gently against his side and waited me out. I refused to look at him, even as he handed me tissues.

“I’m so sorry,” I said.

“Normally, I’d let it go and not push you to talk to me, but there is obviously something very wrong, Fawn. Tell me what it is,” he said.

Titus toed the line between gentle persuasion and making me want to jump up and yell, yes, sir. Wiping at my eyes with the arms of my hoodie, I tried to pull my shit together.

“Did I do something to upset you?”

I shook my head and forced myself to speak.

“No, you’ve been so nice to me. But I still don’t understand why. I keep looking for a motive.” I bit my lip as another wave of tears gripped me.

Titus touched my chin and forced me to look at him. His eyes, which reminded me of amber stones, were bright in the dim light cast from the bus terminal.

“Do you think I have some sort of hidden malicious intent?” My mind said that there was always the possibility, but when I looked into his eyes, my heart knew better. I shook my head. “Then what’s wrong?”

“My stepfather won’t stop.”

“He can’t hurt you now.”

“It’s not me I’m worried about,” I said, licking my lips. “He’ll keep gambling until there is nothing left to bargain with but his soul, and even then, he’ll continue and die because of it.”

“I’m sure you’re right. Were you close with your stepfather?”

“He liked to think so,” I muttered under my breath, not wanting to explain what exactly that meant.

If Titus heard the comment, he didn’t let on.

“No, not at all. We got along okay when I was a kid, but that changed once I was old enough to realize what he was doing to our family. The problem is my younger brother. He’s my half-brother, but we’re close, and he’s only eight.

I can’t leave him there. He’ll end up sold like I was, and he won’t be so lucky.

I…I’ve been trying to call and reach him, but my mom’s cell is disconnected. ”

All the words and emotions I’d been holding in tumbled out and landed at Titus’s feet.

“It’s happened before when she couldn’t pay a bill.

I’m sure that’s all it is, but I need to know if he’s okay.

I…I’m his sister, and I keep him safe.” I held my arm out toward the empty bus lot.

“And I failed. I couldn’t get on the bus.

I was too weak and didn’t want to leave. I’m a horrible person.”

“No, you’re not a horrible person. That is a lot to be carrying around at sixteen. You’re not his parent. You shouldn’t be looking after your brother. Why didn’t you come to me with this?”

I wiped away the fresh batch of tears and shrugged.

“You took me in out of pity, and you’ve already been so generous. How was I supposed to ask you for more? I couldn’t, and I promise that I’ll find a way to pay you back for everything that you’ve spent on me.”

“Stop, you owe me nothing. I made a choice. I wasn’t forced. For the record, I’ve never pitied you, and I’d do it again a thousand times.”

It was dumb, but the idea that he wanted me in his life and would take me from Cesare and my old life all over again made me feel like I was worth something.

“You are mafia, right? Why are you this freaking nice,” I asked, confused how this man could be the way he was when I’d heard and seen so many terrible things.

Titus burst out laughing, the deep rumble completely intoxicating like the rest of him.

“Yes, I am, but I hope you never see more of my world than being sold by Caesar. I choose not to let the world I was born into define who I want to be as a person.” He sobered and stretched out, crossing his feet at his ankles as he folded his arms over his chest.

He was mesmerizing, and I couldn’t take my eyes off him even if you paid me.

The elegant suit, with the long buttercream coat, did nothing to diminish the sexy appeal of the jeans and T-shirt he normally wore around the house.

In contrast to his casual look, the crisp lines of the suit and the slight bulge of his gun hidden underneath enhanced the mafia vibe and reminded me of an Al Capone movie.

“So, what are you going to do with me?”

He looked at me, and his face turned serious.

“Well, for starters, we are going back to the house. It’s Thursday, and you have a long weekend so technically it’s not too late to choose a movie. Then I’ll let Bella and Daisy tell you off for sneaking away and making them worry.”

“That’s it?”

“Yes, that’s it. I’m not going to punish you if that’s what you were thinking.”

“You confuse me,” I said, mimicking his pose.

“Why is that?”

For just a moment, I was tempted to tell him what I had endured, all of it.

Maybe I finally had someone to share my trauma with and not keep it buried.

But the caring look in his eyes stopped me.

I couldn’t bring myself to say the words.

Even if he didn’t pity me, telling him I’d been used sexually as payment for the last two years wasn’t something I ever wanted him to know.

It was my secret and my cross to bear, along with the doctor’s appointments and blood tests to make sure I was still valuable. I…I couldn’t.

“You just do.” I sighed and then shrugged. “I still need to find a way to help my brother.”

“We will. I’ll contact a friend of mine and see if he can locate your family. Once I do, then we’ll go from there.” I swallowed hard. What the hell would he learn if he started digging into my stepfather and family? “Do you not want me to? You look worried.”

“No…yes. I mean, yes, I do, but….” I stood and paced back and forth. “What will you do with George?”

“Do you think I’d hurt your little brother?”

“What?” My eyes grew wide. “No, I didn’t mean that. I just…will you bring George here or ship him off to another family? Are you going to kill my stepfather?”

“You need to lay off the old mafia movies.”

Titus smirked as I crossed my arms and glared at him.

“No, I’m not going to kill your family or toss George into some random orphanage.

But I can’t bring him to my house. I took you as payment for a debt owed, but you’re sixteen and already self-sufficient.

I’m not ready to be a surrogate stepfather to an eight-year-old, and it’s complicated with my family. ”

“I understand…maybe I can give George a phone so I can keep in touch,” I offered.

“No, I didn’t mean that I wouldn’t go get him, just that he can’t come home with me. I’ll place him at a boarding school where he’ll be safe.”

“Sooo…you’re going to kidnap him?”

Titus laughed. “No. Let’s just say that my men can be persuasive without killing anyone.”

I swallowed hard, not wanting to know what that meant, even though I was tempted to ask.

“What school? Does it have a good reputation?”

“You ask a lot of questions,” Titus said.

Heat spread across my cheeks, and I looked down at my sneakers. “I like to know things.”

“Golden Oak Prep is in Portland. It’s for the children of powerful families like mine. He will be perfectly safe there, I promise. I’ll even get him a cell phone so you can talk to him as much as you want.”

“You’d really do all of that? I…I can never repay you. Even if I worked every day for the rest of my life, I’d never make enough money. I only have one thing I can offer and….”

“No.” Titus suddenly stood, his large frame looming over me, and even with the dark shadows hiding his eyes, I could feel the anger rolling off him.

I shivered. “We’ve already been over this, so don’t ever mention it again.

” I swallowed. “Say you understand, Fawn. There is no room for negotiation on this.”

“I…I won’t bring it up again,” I said, and for the first time since I understood what sex was, there was a small part of me that wished Titus wanted more from me.

It was a terrible thought, and I kicked it to the side despite the uncontrollable feelings that had begun to form in my chest for him.

“Good. As far as repayment, please understand that I don’t expect one cent for anything.”

All the heat that had been in his tone was gone, like he’d never been mad at all.

“I know you don’t, but I’ve been working for the last year. I was flipping burgers at a fast-food restaurant. You paying for everything feels strange. The least I can do is use the money to buy extra things. Are there any chores I can do around the house?”

“No, that’s why I have staff.”

“I could be a staff member.”

He sighed, and I could feel his frustration rising again, but I didn’t understand it.

“All I’m saying is that I don’t want you to feel like I’m a burden. I know you said you chose to take me, but that man didn’t give you a real choice, and I hate that I’m taking advantage of you. Now you’re talking about helping my brother. It’s just too much, Titus.”

He put his hands on his hips, but I lifted my chin and rolled my shoulders. I was determined to contribute something to this arrangement.

“You’re not going to let this go, are you?”

“No. I’ll just start doing random things, like washing your car. I’ll probably use the wrong wax, and where will we be then?”

He chuckled, and I knew I’d worn him down.

“Fine. I’m putting you in charge of looking after my girls.

That means feedings twice a day, walks, baths, and everything else that needs to be done.

I’ll give you their schedules, and you’ll need to stick to them.

This sounds easy, but it’s a seven-day-a-week job, and I won’t tolerate any slacking where my girls are concerned. ”

“Really,” I asked, bubbling with excitement.

“Yes, really.”

I squealed and wrapped my arms around his waist before I realized what I was doing. He was so incredibly warm, he reminded me of everything comforting.

He didn’t return the hug, so I let go and stepped back.

“Sorry, I….”

“We’re good,” he said, but I felt like an idiot.

Why would he be interested in me? He was twelve years older and saw me as a kid. We came from two different worlds, and I had nothing but trauma to offer.

“I’m craving a milkshake, want one?”

“I wouldn’t say no to a milkshake,” I said as we turned toward the parking lot. “I’m buying, though.”

“Is that so? Well then, you better be prepared to buy four because Shadow and Sheba love vanilla.”

“Well, of course,” I said, smiling. “You came to find me. That, at the very least, deserves a milkshake. I should probably get two for Bella and Daisy so they will forgive me.”

Titus laughed. “That’s a good idea. They hold grudges.”

Walking to the car, I glanced up and smiled. A shooting star was visible above the tree line. I stopped and closed my eyes to make a wish. Right or wrong, I wished that one day there could be more between us.

“What are you doing?”

I opened my eyes and looked at Titus, who was staring around like there was a threat. I pointed.

“Wishing on a shooting star. They’re good luck.”

“Oh yeah? What did you wish for,” he asked, opening my door for me.

“If I tell you that, it won’t come true.”

“There are rules to shooting stars? Good to know,” he teased and then laughed as he closed the door.

Turning around, I greeted Shadow and Sheba, who were whining in the back.

“Hi, girls. Do you want milkshakes?”

They responded with happy yips as if they understood every word.

I'd already gotten so lucky. Was it greedy to want more with Titus? Yes, it was, but I couldn’t help it.

Titus made me want to grab hold of the shooting star and let it carry me away.

When I was near him, all I could visualize were dreams and possibilities of a future that seemed right out of a movie.

We pulled out of the parking lot, and I glanced over at Titus. And, it was all because of him.