Page 21 of Loving Trent (Love in the Bootheel #5)

Thirteen

TRENT

Harley didn’t want to stay at the camp any longer after talking to Demon.

No one blamed her, especially me. Luckily, Jerry, who works with Sonny, drove his truck instead of his bike.

I loaded Harley up in the truck, gave Jerry my keys, and we hit the road.

Even though it had been a long day, I wasn’t tired, so I decided to drive until I couldn’t hold my eyes open anymore.

Harley was quiet after finding a radio station playing something she liked.

After three hours of driving, I pulled over to get us something to eat.

After Harley had her belly full, she reclined the seat and, within minutes, was fast asleep.

By the time the sun rose, we were pulling into the place we would call home for the foreseeable future.

The bootheel of Missouri.

Shutting the truck off, I rub my eyes, trying to get the burning to stop.

Blinking away the blurriness, I look out the window at the light brown double-wide trailer sitting off to the left of the driveway.

The door opens, and a short, elderly–but very spry–woman walks out onto the porch.

Her gray hair is still in rollers, and she has a long, flowy nightgown on.

Her sky-blue eyes are bright, and the smile on her face is even brighter.

She lifts her hand in a little wave that I return.

Mary Hill, or Nana, as she insists everyone calls her, shifts her attention from me to the passenger side of my truck.

Sonny called me a little over an hour ago to check in, and I guess he called her to let her know our ETA.

Reaching over, I gently lay a hand on Harley’s shoulder, hoping I don’t frighten her. “Hey, Harley,” I say, giving her a gentle shake.

She groans but opens her eyes. “Yeah?”

“We’re here.”

Removing my hand, I watch her for any signs that she is getting overwhelmed. She rubs her eyes like I just finished doing and then focuses on the trailer. “Is this where you live?”

“No. This belongs to Mary Hill or Nana, as she will tell you to call her. She is Sonny’s mom. Truth be told, I don’t have a place to live here, but Sonny knows of a house for rent that we’re going to look at.”

Harley hasn’t taken her eyes off Nana the whole time I’ve been talking to her. “She looks friendly. Does she…” Harley closes her eyes for a brief second. “Does she know about me?”

“Do you mean what you went through at that place? Or that you’re coming?”

Her shoulders fall a little. “Both, I guess.”

Wanting to offer Harley whatever support she needs, I place my hand on her shoulder and use the other to turn her face toward mine.

“No one told her your story, and no one will. Who you open up to and when is up to you. All she knows is that we were coming, and she offered to feed us.” Her gray eyes brighten at the mention of food, and I chuckle.

“Come on. She makes the best biscuits and gravy I’ve ever tasted. ”

Reaching into the back seat, I grab the handle of our bags and open the door.

The smell coming from me isn’t pleasant, and neither are the sounds coming from my stomach.

After shutting the door, I wait for Harley at the front of the truck.

She isn’t limping as badly as she was, but her eye is still swollen almost shut.

Seeing her head held high and shoulders back brings that pride soaring back into my chest. This girl is going to be just fine.

“Well, aren’t you just the prettiest thing ever?

” Nana asks, looking at Harley with love in her blue eyes.

But the moment Nana’s eyes shift to me briefly, I see the anger simmering just below the surface.

“A little on the skinny side, but don’t worry, dear, I’ll fix that right up.

Now you come up here and let Nana take care of you.

” She opens her arms and makes a come here motion.

Harley looks from me to Nana. I shrug my shoulders, silently asking her what she wants me to do.

Nana will force her love onto Harley no matter what anyone says.

Harley gives me a shy smile, walks up the steps, and straight into Nana’s arms. I watch as Nana’s eyes mist over as she squeezes Harley.

It takes Harley two seconds before she melts into Nana’s embrace.

With Nana’s arm slung over Harley’s shoulder, they make their way inside, and I bring up the rear.

The house smells like bacon, pancakes… shit, everything breakfast. My stomach grumbles as I set Harley’s bag by the door.

Nana is fussing over Harley, filling a plate for her and asking her what type of milk she wants.

“I’m going to take a shower before I eat. You okay, Harley?’

Harley’s eyes snap to me, and she starts nibbling her bottom lip. “Should I shower before eating?”

Nana waves her hand, pulling apart an apparent homemade biscuit fresh from the oven. “Nonsense, sweet child. You sit here and fill that belly. Unlike the smell coming off of him, you smell like freshly bloomed flowers.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Harley says, eyeing the very full plate in front of her.

Without a care in the world when it comes to Harley’s safety, I head down the hallway.

Behind the safety of the bathroom door, I hurriedly pull out my phone and pull up the camera feed of Shawn’s apartment.

For a moment, I wonder if he is with Boe Aldridge, but it’s short-lived because I know Boe is no longer in Cape.

Yes, I might have gone a little homicidal when Boe popped into Shawn's life, but after digging deep, thanks to Demon, into Boe’s life, I calmed my ass down.

I might want to own Shawn, but I’m not so far gone that he can’t have friends.

Switching off the app, I open my messages to Demon.

Me

Just got to Nana’s. Any luck on finding some dirt on Harley’s parents?

Demon

I was just about to text you. Actually, I did.

It seems Jaxx Wisco isn’t as squeaky clean as he likes to say.

He has been sleeping with Harley’s friend, who is only sixteen.

Also, it turns out Harley’s mom isn’t her mom but her stepmother.

I’m taking it as Harley doesn’t know any of this.

From what I’ve found, Harley’s biological mom disappeared when Harley was three months old.

My heart aches at the thought of what this information will do to Harley, but I won’t keep it from her.

Me

So, what’s our next move?

Demon

I’ve got a guy about an hour away from Jaxx’s house. I figure we will have the papers we need to be signed not long after that. I’m having another friend look into her mom’s disappearance. Something seems off about the story Jaxx told the police.

Me

Let me know if I can help.

Demon

Will do.

I turn on the water and step under the spray, groaning.

My muscles are tight from sitting for so long.

I’m going to have to hit the gym soon to work out some of this tension.

Shawn’s gym in Cape springs to mind, but I push it away because I can’t go there right now.

The urge and need to see him grows, but Harley needs all my attention right now.

I hurriedly get clean and get out, conscious that Harley is alone in a new place.

After putting on clean clothes, I shove my dirty ones in my bag and head out to the dining room.

As I exit the hallway, Nana turns her gaze to me. Her blue eyes are wet, but that fire is back. Her brows are slanted, and her mouth is in a thin line. “What are we doing about these assholes who hurt this poor baby?”

“I take it Harley told you her story,” I say, setting my bag on the floor and sliding onto the bench seat.

“She sure did, and I want to know what the plan is for them,” Nana demands, placing her hand on Harley’s arm.

Harley has made a decent dent in the food piled on her plate. “Want the truth or the story that won’t get you in trouble?” Grabbing a plate, I fill it with eggs, bacon, and biscuits.

“The truth, Trent Anderson.” Nana’s no-nonsense, fuck around and find out voice causes a shiver to run down my back.

“When I find them, I plan on slowly draining them of blood.” I crumble up my biscuits and add a scoop of gravy on top of them. “Then I’m going to find out if they had any associates who helped cover for them. If they do… well, they will meet the same end.”

I look up to find Harley and Nana staring at me, mouths open and eyes wide. Oh shit, maybe I shouldn’t have said it like that. “How can you so calmly talk about taking someone’s life while putting food on your plate?” Harley asks.

“Simple. They ended multiple children’s lives.

The only difference is that when I get done, they will be dead.

The children who were put in their care are dead inside, but hopefully, they will find the help they need to overcome what happened to them.

Harley, I told you that no one would hurt you again, and I meant it.

You are now my family, and I will kill anyone who tries to hurt you or has hurt you.

” I motioned to my plate with my fork. “As for the food, I’m starving.

” I hope the joke will make her laugh or smile, but it falls flat.

“Why?” Harley asks, her voice low.

I reach across the table and lay my hand palm up.

Harley doesn’t hesitate to lay her hand on mine.

“Because you deserve someone like me in your corner. Someone who isn’t afraid to defend you.

Because you didn’t deserve what happened to you.

No child does. I told you we are the same.

I had an uncle who stepped up and took me when I needed him.

I want to be that person for you. Did me talking like that scare you?

” I look toward Nana, seeking reassurance, I guess.

Her eyes are bouncing between Harley and me.

I can practically see the wheels turning behind them as she tries to figure out how much alike we are.

“A little, but because I don’t want you to get hurt or go to jail,” Harley answers honestly.