Page 32 of Broken Skulls (Rebel Skull MC #7)

Chapter Thirty-One

Jacob

I lean forward, running my hand up the inside of her thigh.

“Do you like them?” she asks, turning to look at herself in the mirror.

“So much that I’m not sure I want anyone else to see you in them.”

A shy smile pulls at the corners of her mouth. “It’s my outfit for tomorrow. Jesse picked it out.”

My fingers brush lightly over the seam between her legs. She sways on her feet. “I’ll have to remember to thank her.”

“Oh, wait.” She pulls away from me, rushing out of the room.

I almost fall off the chair in my attempt to keep her near me. I’m finding it harder and harder to keep my hands off her.

She comes back a few seconds later and hands me a little box. I take it from her. “What’s this?”

“It’s for you.”

My heart stops when I see what it is. I clear my throat. “Elizabeth.”

“Do you like it?” she asks quietly, biting her bottom lip.

My fingers wrap around her thigh, pulling her close. “It’s … perfect. Thank you.”

“Jesse says it will protect you on the road.”

I nod, unable to find words for how much this little bell means to me. Several of my brothers have them, but I’ve never been gifted one.

“I’m going to go put it on right now,” I tell her, and that earns me the biggest smile I’ve gotten from her to date.

She pulls me to stand. “I’ll go change, and then I’m going to start on supper. Jesse gave me one of her recipes to try … if that’s okay?”

I rub my hand over my chest. “Yeah, yeah, baby. That’s fine, but I can cook. Why don’t you rest?”

“Jacob, I’ve been resting for years. I want to do this.”

I give her a kiss on the cheek before she walks away. My fingers wrap tightly around the little bell in my hand. She’s lighter today. I can’t imagine the relief she feels knowing all of her monsters are gone. I felt that relief briefly when my father went to prison.

As I’m hanging the guardian bell on my bike, the smell of something wonderful wafts on the breeze. I turn and see the curtains blowing softly in my windows. I stand up straight. I’m not sure why it surprises me. Probably because a few days ago, she wanted to remain barricaded in my basement. Maybe she just needed someone to step in and demand something different for her.

I crouch down and flick the little bell, thanking the gods that orchestrated bringing us together.

I glance at my watch. Anthony and Danielle are supposed to stop by. They’re late. I wonder if I should mention it to Elizabeth. I hope there’s enough food. I thought they’d be here before supper.

My fingers pause on the door when I hear someone singing. I quietly turn the handle. What I find inside permanently imprints on my brain.

Elizabeth is quietly singing one of my mom’s favorite songs. She’s in a pair of tight jeans and an oversized sweater that is hanging off her shoulder on one side. I look behind me, making sure I’m still in the junkyard. Suddenly, my house feels very different.

She rises to her tiptoes, looking in the cupboard for something.

I’m frozen. I sure as fuck don’t deserve such a beautiful creature in my space. When she lifts her leg to climb up onto the cabinets, I step forward.

“Here let me help you,” I say, making her jump.

Her hand rests on her chest. “Shit, you scared me. I didn’t hear you come in.” She giggles nervously. “I was trying to grab that bowl up there.” She points.

I reach up and hand it to her.

“Thank you,” she says softly, her cheeks turning a light shade of pink.

I’ve never been around anyone who has been so affected by my presence before. I like it.

Her finger traces the pattern on the side of the dish. “It’s beautiful.”

A chuckle escapes me. “Yeah, I’m sorry nothing matches.”

She lifts her eyes to look at the other items in the cupboard. “I like it that way. I’ve never understood why someone would want one pattern when there are so many to choose from.”

She’s perfect.

Perfect.

“Whatever you’re making it smells wonderful.”

This spurs her into action. “Oh yeah. You made me forget what I was doing.”

I laugh. “You might want to get used to that.”

The shy dip of her head when I wink at her makes my heart warm.

“Do you have enough for four? I think Danielle and Anthony will be stopping by.”

She turns away from me. “They aren’t coming.”

“Are you sure? I just talked to them before I left the warehouse today.”

Her shoulders slowly pull to her ears. “Jesse told me she would talk to them. I’m not ready to see them right now.”

“Okay,” I say. It makes me so fucking happy that she’s leaning on Jesse. That bitch is as loyal and tough as they come. I’m glad they seem to be hitting it off really well. Elizabeth could use a good friend. One who understands sometimes you have to be the villain.

Instantly, her shoulders fall. She was worried I would be disappointed with her.

“Elizabeth, look at me.”

Slowly, she turns away from the stove, her eyes eventually landing on mine.

“Don’t feel guilty for doing what’s best for you. You don’t owe anyone anything.”

She nods and then goes back to her task.

I’m not sure she believes me, but it’s a start. She stood up for her own needs, and that is huge. I’ll have to remember to thank Jesse.

“So, I was thinking maybe this weekend we could go over to Dan and Lily’s. They have a shooting range on their property. Would you like to learn?”

Elizabeth is quiet as she thinks about it. “Do you think I need to learn?”

I shake my head as she leans around me to set the table. “I don’t think you need to. I was just asking if you’d like to.”

She sits down beside me. “I think I would like to try it.”

“If you don’t like it, I want you to tell me. No secrets. Okay?”

Her shy smile gets me every time. “It’s weird.”

“What’s weird?”

“Not having any secrets. Well, at least from you. I guess I’m still keeping one from the rest of the world.” She folds her hands in her lap as a frown slowly forms on her beautiful face.

“Hey, she’s okay. He was just trying to worm his way into your mind.”

She nods, but I can tell she’s not as confident as I am. The oven dings, and she jumps up to pull out whatever she’s making.

“I should have known he knew. It was stupid of me to think I was ahead of him, or that he let me go so easily.” She pulls out a pan and sets it on top of the stove. “What if he was right? What if she’s like him?”

I go to her, wrapping my arms around her waist. “She’s not like him. No way. I bet she’s got a lot of her mother in her.”

She huffs like that isn’t much better.

“Hey. You are strong, smart, compassionate, loyal, and sweet.”

This makes her let out an unhappy chuckle. “No one but you would describe me that way.”

“I’m the only one you’ve let in.”

Her head falls back against my chest, and I know I’m finally getting through to her.

“I think you’re starting to let Jesse in too, and the more you open up to people, the more comfortable you’re going to be being yourself again. Lizzie died with that evil piece of shit. You’re Elizabeth.”

“I don’t even know who she is.”

I laugh. “No one knows who they are. We’re all on a journey to find ourselves, so don’t put so much pressure on yourself. Right now, you’re a woman who cooked a delicious meal for her man.”

“My man?”

“You better believe it.” I tap her on the butt lightly, ready for lighter conversation.

It makes her laugh. “You don’t even know if my cooking is any good.”

“I’m pretty sure it will taste as good as it smells.” I sit back down at the table.

My gaze follows her as she busies herself around my kitchen. I sip my beer. I’m the luckiest motherfucker in the world.

Elizabeth leans against me as she loads my plate with food. I wrap my hand around her thigh, pinning her there as I take the first bite.

“Jesse said enchiladas and rice were your favorite. I hope I did it right.”

My eyes close, and my head falls back as I savor the spices. “Fuck. Baby, it’s so good.”

She claps, sitting down beside me. “I’m going to have to find a way to thank Jesse.”

“Maybe you can help her with the cooking tomorrow. Everyone will be heading over to the warehouse after the run.”

She takes a bite, and her palm comes up to cover her mouth. “Oh shit, it’s hot.”

I push her water closer to her. “The spicier the better.”

She waves her hands over her face. “I’m used to the bland shit they gave me at the home.”

“I don’t know how you lasted there so long.”

Fuck, I don’t know why I said that.

“I wasn’t there. I was up here.” She taps a finger over her temple. “Disassociation at its most extreme.”

“Is it hard to be present now?”

“No. I think Kelsie broke me.” She laughs lightly. “I haven’t been able to slip away since she wrapped that necklace around my neck.”

I lean back in my chair. “Her fucking mom did the same shit to me.”

Her big brown eyes focus on me intently. “You disassociated?”

“You probably couldn’t classify it as that. I didn’t hide in my mind. I hid out here in the junkyard.” I laugh.

Elizabeth curls her legs under her, settling in her chair. “I can tell Lily’s protective of you.”

There’s no jealousy behind her statement.

“She saw my soul.”

“I felt the same with Kelsie.”

“She’s adopted, you know. They aren’t even related by blood.”

“She told me. It’s crazy because they have the same mannerisms.”

I lean forward. “Keep that in mind the next time you’re stressing about your daughter being like him. You said her adoptive parents were good, right?”

Tears pool in her eyes, and she nods. “I read hundreds of files looking for the perfect couple.”

“Then I’m sure they raised her up right.”

She trails her fork over her plate, thinking about what we’ve discussed.

We’re quiet for the rest of the meal. I guess both of us are used to it being that way … and that’s okay. I’m not one for small talk, and I know she’s processing a lot.

“Thank you for cooking tonight. It really was nice having a home cooked meal that I didn’t have to make. I’ll take care of the cleanup. Why don’t you go relax.” I stand, taking her plate from her. “The remote is on the coffee table.” I motion toward the living room with my head, my arms full of dishes.

A few minutes later, she’s standing by my side.

“Couldn’t find anything good to watch?”

Her fingers wrap around a dish cloth. “I … I’d rather be here.”

I chuckle, a bit confused. “In the kitchen?”

“No. By your side.”