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BLYTHE

I lie back in the bed and close my eyes. I don’t want to look at the ceiling. I’m scared that I made the wrong choice. If Leif hadn’t heard me, I’d be dead. Elliot’s threat of finally ending me echo in my head.

“Bumblebee.” I hear his voice, and my eyes fly open to look at him. I can see the hurt in his eyes. “I know,” he says. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there to protect you before or now.”

“What do you know?” I pray he doesn’t know everything. He couldn’t. Only the medical staff and counselor know that. No one else knows how much I really lost that night.

“I only got through part of the file. I know that you were attacked, and…” He can’t say it.

“Raped.” The word tastes bitter as I spit it out. He sees me differently now that he knows. “I’m not good enough anymore. Just leave. Get out of here.” I turn my head away and let the tears flow silently down my face.

“Bee, I swear I’ll never let that happen to you again. We’ll find out who it was and kill him.” He takes my hand, and I jump from the pain in my knuckles from fighting back.

“Don’t worry about it.”

“I do. If I had known back then, I would have come straight home. It wouldn’t have changed my mind about how much I loved you.”

“I had to leave.” I don’t explain further.

“Let me give you a ride back to the condo. Hartley is worried about you.”

“He’s not here, is he?” I sit up in the bed and look over Reed’s shoulder.

“No, he’s with Emersyn and the boys.”

“Thank goodness.”

Trevor was the responding paramedic who came to my rescue again. This time I didn’t fight him and let him help me. He was shocked and pissed that I was attacked.

“Okay,” I tell him, not wanting to fight anymore.

He stays with me, even when a nurse comes in and helps me get changed. I keep my back to him and hear his intake of breath when my naked back is exposed. He finally grumbles and turns his back on us. He wanted to help me get dressed, but that would have been too intimate. He says he wouldn’t have changed his mind about me, but I don’t want to risk it.

He walks next to the wheelchair as I’m pushed through the doors and out into the lobby. Wayne and a couple of other men are there, along with the chief. I was already interviewed by a deputy, who said it would be hard to identify my attacker. When I told him I was sure I knew who it was, he told me I was probably wrong. I’m pissed and ready to expose Elliot next.

“I’ve already been questioned, and I know that your department won’t be investigating my attack. You can leave. I don’t need you here,” I snarl. My throat aches. All the emotions today have put a lot of strain on me.

“I need to talk to you,” Evander says.

“I told you to leave. I’m not interested in hearing you say I don’t know who attacked me, because I do. I know his name and even gave your deputy his address. But he told me I was mistaken. So no, thank you.”

“It’s not about that. I’ll get that information and continue the investigation, but I really need to talk to you.”

“I’m not in the mood.” I drop my head, the aching pain is almost too much, but I can’t take the medications to relieve it. I almost became addicted to the pain medications before. I took them so often and tried to overdose once, just to end the pain in my heart.

“I know who your father is,” he says.

I lift my hand to stop the nurse from continuing to push the wheelchair. I want to know, and Evander knew that would get me to talk to him. I don’t know how he knows, but I’ve always wanted to have a family.

“Meet us at the condo,” I tell him, then let them continue pushing me out. When I see Erika and her husband, along with Leif and a woman I don’t recognize, I nod to them. “Rain check.”

“You bet. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

“Can’t. I need a new phone.” I shrug. “I’ll message when I get one. Your number was saved on my cloud.” My phone was shattered in the alley as I fought back.

I’m not shocked that Elliot was sent after me. I’m just confused that it was done in such a public area. Either he or Randall is getting anxious to get rid of me. I didn’t name him in the article, but soon, I will.

“Darling, I’ll get you a new phone in the morning.” Wayne carefully takes my hand. “If you don’t want to deal with Evander tonight, I can tell him no.” I look up at him, and that’s when I see it. He already knows.

“No. Maybe I should have known before you, Father ,” I sneer. It’s funny that he’s supposed to be my father when he knows who my real father is. The whole reason I couldn’t be adopted was because my father never signed off his parental rights.

When we get to Reed’s truck, a large dark-haired man following along opens the door for me. He’s extremely intimidating, but when he smiles at me, I see a gentleness in his eyes. Standing with him are two other men. One is wearing a cowboy hat and smiles. He’s handsome, and again I wonder about this town now. There’s something about the other man, who is not quite as tall as the others, that scares me. Maybe it’s his nearly black eyes or just how quiet he is.

“I’m Gambit, Hem’s President. I was wondering if I could ask you some questions later, after you rest.” His voice is deep and ragged, almost like mine.

“Why?” I ask, distracting myself from the pain I’m in and the fact I’m going to have to pull myself up into that truck. I look at the lifted truck and see a dog waiting.

“I got you, Bee,” Reed says, and he steps around the wheelchair after the nurse locks the wheels.

I try to brush his hands away, but he’s stronger and lifts me up. My ass is planted into the seat before I can argue. Reed pulls the seat belt across my chest, and my traitorous body reacts to his touch. My nipples become hard, and my breath catches.

“I’ll see you later,” Gambit says, then turns to the other man. “By the way, this is Cowboy. He’s a brother too. This is Butcher. He’ll be your protection for a bit. Don’t get freaked out if you see any of my guys keeping an eye on you.”

“She will have a security detail before the night is over,” Wayne says as he pushes through all the intimidating bikers and reaches my open door. “Bly, darling, I didn’t want to keep the secret from you. I wanted to see the proof first. He’ll meet us at the condo, where we can discuss everything. I’m sorry. I just do what I can to protect you. You know that. I love you.”

I lean forward and press my forehead to his. “I love you too, Daddy.” He kisses my cheek and then steps back as he closes the door.

“I wish you had told me,” Reed says quietly as he pulls away from the hospital.

I can’t answer him because there is too much. Too many secrets. I keep my eyes closed, pretending I’m sleeping, until we pull up to the condo.

“Thank you for the ride. I’ll see you in the next few days.” I reach for the handle with my left hand as it was my right shoulder that was dislocated.

“I’m not leaving you, Bumblebee,” Reed says as he gets out of the truck.

The dog jumps out with him, and I watch him as he comes around to my side. His body moves with the grace of a lion. Confident and unafraid of anything. He opens my door and helps me down.

I watch Chief Evander’s SUV pull in, followed by Wayne’s car, along with a motorcycle. We all walk to the building, and I try to ignore all of them. When we get on the elevator, Reed presses his hand into my lower back. It’s intimate and controlling, and it reminds me of when we were together. Evander clears his throat, and I’m brought back to the reality of my situation. I step away from Reed. I can’t do this. I would be putting him in jeopardy.

When the doors slide open, I’m the first one off, rushing to get away from all of them. As I approach the unit, an uneasy feeling trickles down my spine. I notice the door is slightly ajar. Butcher races in front of me as both Reed and Evander push me back and draw their guns. They enter the condo, leaving Butcher with Wayne and me. He’s so quiet I almost forget he’s there, until he moves to put himself between me and the stairwells. I stand there with Wayne, my legs trembling as reality sets in. I’ve been back here for two weeks and have only published one article. I’m already putting my friends and family in danger.

“Everything is destroyed,” Evander says as he steps out. He looks at Reed. “You better be licensed to carry that.”

“Do I look stupid?” Reed snaps. Evander is about to say something when Reed adds, “Except for where she’s concerned. I know I fucked up, but I had my reasons.”

I step past them to see the damage.

“I’ll get someone in here to clean as soon as I can. Your security detail and company will be here soon,” Wayne says as he comes up behind me.

“She already has protection, the best. Besides, she’ll be staying at the house now,” Reed says with a slight smile on his face. He’s pleased that I’m going to be there. I’m not.

“I can’t. This is proof that I can’t stay near Hartley. I don’t want anyone else hurt because of me. Too many have died so far.” I can’t stop the words. When Reed freezes and stares at me, I quickly look to Wayne for help.

He slowly shakes his head. “He needs to know, my love.”

Reed picks me up and carries me to my bedroom. There is so much destruction. I notice my laptop is gone, but before I can say anything about it, he sets me down and presses me into the now closed door.

“I’m only going to ask this once, Bee. What did you mean?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m a little concussed.” I shake my head and play it off.

“I said. Once.” His tone is firm, his voice deeper than I’ve ever heard it. I look into his eyes that are so close to me, and my heart rate accelerates. I lick my dry lips, and he groans. “Don’t distract me. Explain, now.” He raises his voice, but I’m not afraid of him. He’d never hurt me.

I look deep into his eyes, trying not to give too much away. I can’t stop myself from leaning forward and softly pressing my lips to his. When I pull back, he steps away and stares me down.

“I’m sorry. I had to?—”

He presses into my body, lifting me up, and takes my lips in a deep kiss. His tongue seeks entrance, and I can’t stop him as I open. Our tongues duel for dominance, and I finally give in to him. He presses into me harder, making me groan from the pain against my ribs.

“Sorry.” He pulls back. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

A knock sounds on the door, and we both just continue to stare at each other. He was clean-shaven when he left for the military. I’ve never kissed someone with facial hair. I reach up with my good arm and touch my lips where they tingle from his kisses.

I have to get him back to hating me or not wanting me, because now I know I can’t stay here. I will be arrested for murder when everything is done. I will kill them for what they did to me. What they took from me. From us. For those they took.

“If you know, then you know I was gang raped. You don’t want me.”

He shocks me when he leans back into my body and whispers against the shell of my ear. “I’ll never stop wanting you.”

A knock sounds again, and we step back before opening it.

“I can’t have you disturbing any more evidence. I have techs coming to dust for prints.”

I shake my head at Evander. “They won’t let you do that. Your sheriff doesn’t want anyone to know what happened to me or who did this. Don’t you get it? You work for a dirty man,” I shout, beyond frustrated.

“I fucking know that, Blythe. Don’t you think I know. I joined the force to find out who attacked my father. I joined to find you,” he shouts back.

“Why?” I yell. Moose, Reed’s dog, tries to step between Evander and me. I notice Butcher has worked himself closer too.

“Because you’re my sister.” He freezes as realization fills his face.

I shake my head. “No. No. No.” I step back as the betrayal washes through my body. “He didn’t care that they gang raped me. He didn’t care that I was left for dead.” I turn to Reed. “You don’t get it. None of you do. I died that night. I tried to kill myself so many times afterward. I can’t have anyone close to me because they are cleaning house.”

“You promised it would only be the articles, nothing more,” Wayne says.

“Ha.” A defeated laugh bursts from my body. “I lied. I’m going to kill them all. They won’t get away with hurting anyone else. I won’t be responsible for any more innocent deaths. Sam should have been enough. But then it went on and on. I’m done. There are too many of us that they got away with raping and killing. I should have died that night, like the others. I can’t live like this anymore, Wayne.” I turn back to Reed. “I can’t be a lover or someone’s forever. I’m broken. Damaged.” As I talk, I step further away from them.

Hemingway

S he’s retreating, but I won’t allow it. She was alive and passionate in my arms a moment ago. But her words hurt. Sam was killed by the same men who attacked her. I need her to understand that she’s not going to do this, though.

I advance on her as I wave my hand behind me. “Out, now. Moose, go,” I order Wayne and Evander. Moose follows them.

I hear the door close and continue until I have her pressed against the glass, overlooking the beach where I proposed to her. I read the first notes in her file. She was attacked there.

“I won’t let you walk away. You go ahead and bury these men in public opinion with your articles, but you will not kill anyone unless it’s in self-defense.”

She scoffs. “I can do whatever I want.”

I decide to play dirty. “Then Hartley will be raised by the state.” I know she doesn’t want that. She hated never knowing if she was going to be in the same home. She worried all the time that she would lose the Montreys. “If you go after these men with the intent to kill them, I’ll go to prison right along with you, because I want revenge for Sam and Oliver too. I want revenge for what happened to you.”

She drops her head, and it falls to my chest. “There were so many more victims than them. Karyn and Clark. The original detective on the case, and even Hartley’s mom. She got a loaded dose from Elliot.”

“Then let me take care of them while you raise Hartley. He loves you and needs you. I’ll do everything I can to make sure I don’t go to jail too.”

“Okay.” She gives in. When she looks up, I see the tears swimming in her eyes.

“I’m here now.” I wipe away the tear slowly sliding down her face. “I should have been told. We still have so much to discuss.”

“There is so much more that you don’t know yet. Let me finish talking to Evander,” she says as I step back.

We walk to the door together. I have my hand against her back. She isn’t running this time.

She and Evander talk for a bit while I stand there and watch with Wayne.

“She has my mother’s maiden name to protect her. She never moved on,” he shares.

“I’m an idiot.” I let my head fall back on my shoulders and look at the ceiling. I see the note stuck with a knife over my head and reach for it.

“Hey, Chief.” I point to it as I pull my jacket sleeve over my hand, making sure to grip it with the fabric. I open the letter and know my brothers and I are going hunting soon. Butcher grumbles behind me. He doesn’t talk much and is usually very quiet.

Evander and Blythe walk toward us. I turn it so they can see. It’s a picture of a younger Blythe. She’s bloody and naked, lying on the sand. A broken doll, barely clinging to life. The words “You’ll die this time” are written in red marker across the top.

“Fuck,” Evander says, and Blythe shakes her head.

“Tomorrow, I’ll post more proof of the dirty sheriff.”

“Where’s your laptop?” Wayne asks.

“Missing, but everything is on the cloud. I made sure they couldn’t access any of it. I need your phone.” She holds her hand out to Wayne, and I watch as she dials a number.

“Wayne,” a feminine voice says over the line.

“It’s me, Briar.”

“What’s up, chickee poo?” Briar laughs.

“I have you on speaker. I’m with Wayne, Reed, Chief Evander, and another friend.”

“Reed? As in the Reed.” Something in my chest swells at the thought that she must talk about me to this woman.

“Yes. Focus. I was attacked tonight, and my condo was broken into.”

“What? You said it wouldn’t be dangerous. They wouldn’t recognize you or attack you again.”

“Sorry. You wouldn’t have helped me if I’d been honest.”

“Damn straight, girl. I’ll get a team headed your way.”

“No need, Briar. Between the team I’m hiring and Reed’s brothers, I think we got her now.”

“Good. What else?”

“Track my laptop.”

“Okay. I’ll call you back.” She hangs up, and we wait for the forensic team to arrive.

After an hour, no one has shown up, and Evander calls the station.

“Yes, sir,” he says, and hangs up. “You were right.” He looks at Blythe.

“Let me call someone,” I offer as I step aside. Moose stays with Blythe.

I call Gambit and tell him what happened. He says he’ll have a couple of prospects and his computer guy, Browser, show up.

“Okay, it’s all set. Some prospects will be here in a bit to watch over everything until our guy can get here.”

“I’m going to call the security team I hired,” Wayne says.

“Good. The more eyes, the better. I’m going to get Blythe to the house to rest. I’ll have the prospects grab things after everything is checked out. Butcher, are you coming with us?” I turn to him, and he nods. I then look over at Blythe, who is almost falling over from exhaustion and pain. I help her out of the condo and into my truck. Moose won’t leave her side.

When we pull up to the house, I watch her glance toward the darkness of the Montreys’ old house. I can see the hurt and pain in her eyes.

“Come on. Emersyn texted and said they’ll keep Hartley for the night.”

“Okay.”

I park in the garage, and as the door goes down, I notice a car in the distance with its running lights on. I send a quick text to Butcher as I walk around to Blythe’s side of the truck. I help her out, then follow her into the house. Both of us grew up coming to this house all the time, so we aren’t strangers to the floor plan.

“I’m staying in Sam’s old room. You can have the master.”

“Are you sure?” Her ice-blue eyes stare back at me, filled with torment.

“I’m sure, Bee. Come on.” I lead her upstairs and stop at my room to grab a shirt for her to wear. “You go lie down. I’ll grab you a cup of chamomile tea.” I hand her the shirt, and she nods. I kiss her forehead before she turns and heads for Oliver’s old room.

Once I have her settled in the room with tea and a piece of toast, I head back to the office where I left her file. I start to go through it thoroughly. Flipping back and forth, I notice a chunk of her medical records are missing. I’m confused and run my hand through my hair, messing it up, as a scream rips through the house.