Page 9 of Defended by Bama (Royal Bastards MC: Mobile, Alabama #1)

Brooklyn

My stomach was in knots and my head was swimming.

I’d only had a few hours of sleep in the last forty-eight hours, very little food, my body was sore, I’d seen some crazy shit at a strange place, and now I was pulling down a long dirt road, to the house of a man I barely knew, all with my daughter in tow.

The dirt road was lined with tall oaks and moonlight peeked through them. Other than that, it was dark. The dirt road wasn’t bumpy but a trail of dust followed behind us. We came to a clearing and the headlights illuminated a small house, white with dark colored shutters and a small porch.

When Bama turned the truck off, my eyes had to adjust, but the moon was still out, shedding light on the quaint home.

“Last stop. I’ll get your bag,” he said before hopping out of the truck.

“Mommy,” Sadie whispered, wiping her eyes.

“Hey sweet girl. We’re at our destination. Let’s go potty then get you in bed, okay?”

She nodded as my door opened.

“Someone is up,” I said as I climbed out, not taking his hand this time. Knowing we were at his house and alone, it seemed more intimate, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. It should seem inappropriate, but that certainly wasn’t how I’d describe what happened to me every time he touched me.

Sadie unbuckled herself and scooted to the end of the seat, so I helped her out. She took my hand and we stood by the truck while he reached inside and grabbed my one bag and his. He also grabbed the grocery bag with snacks he took from Allie’s house.

After he shut the door to the truck, he started walking, so we followed him inside. The yard was mostly dirt with a few patches of grass, and besides a detached garage, there weren’t any other structures around. No neighbors in sight.

“Watch your step,” he said as we walked inside.

A light came on and I stood, keeping Sadie close. Looking around, I was surprised to see a tidy home. I kept our house neat, but no thanks to Marshall. Thinking about how he’d fare without me there to be his maid, I had to fight a laugh.

Bama must have noticed because he asked, “Something funny?”

“Just thinking about something. Is there a bathroom she can use?”

He walked a few steps, waving us behind him and he turned the light on. “Right in here. And here’s your bag in case you need to freshen up, or whatever.”

“Go on in sweet girl and don’t forget to wash your hands.”

When she shut the door, I turned around. “She needs to get back to sleep soon. Should we take the couch?”

Bama’s face scrunched up. “No, you two will be right there,” he said, pointing over my shoulder. The hallway light gave a glimpse into a bedroom.

“I can’t take your room. This is your house. She and I can have a little campout. If we can get a couple of blankets–”

“I’m not letting you and your kid share my tiny ass couch. You’ll stay in there. That bed can fit you both. I have a place to sleep.”

His dark eyes were serious and I decided it was pointless to argue with him.

The bathroom door opened and Sadie rubbed her eyes as she came out. “All done, Mommy. Can I have some water?”

“No, you know the rule. First thing in the morning but not at nighttime. Let’s go right in here,” I said as I guided her to the bedroom.

I didn’t turn the light on since there was enough light to see where I was walking. After pulling the thin blanket down, I helped her take her shoes off before she climbed into the bed.

“Mommy’s going to potty and talk to our new friend for a few, but I’ll be in here soon, okay?”

“Okay, Mommy. But will you leave the door open?”

I brushed her hair from her face, sighing in relief. “Yep. Now close your eyes and try to go back to sleep. Love you.”

“Love you, Mommy.”

Standing up, I smiled down at her. It was so odd to feel so at peace in the midst of everything, but for the first time in a long time, I wasn’t worried that she wouldn’t get a good night’s sleep.

Honoring my word, I left the door open and went down the hall to use the bathroom. I’d been holding it a long time but didn’t want to ask to go at the hotel.

When I was done, I found the living room empty but heard something around the corner. Following the sound, I found Bama putting drinks in the fridge.

“You hungry? Thirsty?” he asked, holding out a soda.

“Got anything stronger than that in here?”

He opened the freezer and pulled out a mason jar, as well as a bottle. “You want to take the edge off or breathe fire?”

“Is that moonshine?” I asked, looking at the mason jar.

He held it up. “Yep. Buddy back in Georgia hooks me up. You want some? Apple pie flavored.”

“Why not?” I asked, stepping closer.

He pulled two glasses from the cabinet, opened the jar, and poured a finger in each one. Passing me one, he said, “Cheers.”

I clinked my glass to his, then took a whiff, wincing.

“Don’t smell it, just drink it,” he said.

“Right. Bottoms up.” I knocked the cold, clear liquid back and my eyes squeezed as I coughed a little.

“You alright?”

Coughing a few more times, I put the glass down. “Shit. Yeah. You weren’t kidding.” I could probably ignite a fireball with a flame near my mouth after that shot.

He grabbed the jar, closed the lid, and put it back in the freezer along with the bottle.

“You don’t have to quit on my account.”

“I didn’t want a drink.”

“Oh. Well, you didn’t have to have one just because I did.”

“A lady shouldn’t have to drink alone.” He handed me a bottle of water from the fridge. “What was that face for?”

“Huh?” I didn’t realize I’d made a face when he said a lady shouldn’t drink alone. “The lady thing. I dunno.”

All night long, he’d either stared intently at me, or I’d caught him watching me. He was trying to look now, but looked away when I caught him. “It’s really okay to look. I know it looks bad.”

He leaned against the counter and looked at me. “I’m not staring at the marks. I’m staring at you and trying to figure out how someone who thinks they’re a man could do that.”

Shrugging, I said, “If I figure that out, I’ll let you know.” I sipped the water, cooling my throat as my insides warmed from the shot.

“You don’t know me, but I can promise you that won’t happen to you here. Not at the clubhouse, either.”

“Is that where we were before? The clubhouse?”

“Yeah. It’s a little rowdy. But the guys are good.”

“Glenda was really nice.”

His brow pinched briefly and he cleared his throat. “Yeah, most of the girls are.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Well, I think I’m gonna hit the hay. Why don’t you get some rest?”

Guess I struck a nerve with the mention of Glenda.

“Yeah, it’s been a long day. I don’t know if I can sleep, though.

Just a few more hours until he realizes I’m gone.

” Would it be on the news? Would there be a manhunt?

Did anyone see us? The heat from the moonshine spread through me faster and my heart sped up.

“Hey,” Bama said, stepping closer. “He won’t find you here. You can rest.”

The weight of his statement was heavy but freeing at the same time. He just meant I could sleep, but for a little while at least, I could rest knowing Marshall couldn’t hurt me.