Page 11

CHAPTER 10

W raith’s alarm sounded early the next morning. He kissed her before rolling out of bed. “Go back to sleep, Caroline. Call me when you wake up.”

Closing her eyes in the dark room, she crashed into sleep. When she woke, the room was brightly lit. Caroline stared at the clock. 9:00 a.m.? That couldn’t be right.

“Wraith?” she called, pushing herself up to sit in the middle of the spacious bed. No one answered.

Sliding out of bed, she opened a couple of drawers, searching for something to wear. When she found a T-shirt, Caroline pulled it over her head. Her first stop was the bathroom. Then she toured through the cabin, double-checking she was alone. On the kitchen counter sat a note.

Good morning, Caroline,

It was difficult to leave you this morning. Give me a call.

Daddy

He’d plugged her cellphone in for her a few inches away. Picking it up, she selected his number. He answered on the second ring.

“Precious.”

She loved the warmth in his gravelly voice. “Hi, Daddy. I finally woke up.”

“I zapped your energy, Little girl.”

“Zapped. Is that what they call that?” she teased.

“It’s become my favorite new term. There’s breakfast for you in the refrigerator.”

“You didn’t have to do that,” she protested, touched he had taken the time to do that for her in the early morning hours.

“Daddy’s job. Eat and then relax. I won’t be home too late.”

“I’m going to head back to my apartment to write,” she said quickly. She couldn’t lounge around all day in his place while he worked.

“If you have to. I’d like you to pack some things and stay with me for a while. Bring your computer. You can create at my place. I like having you close.”

“Like a couple of days?” she asked, trying to figure out what he had in mind.

“As long as you’ll stay, Little girl. I’d like to have you with me.”

“I’ll go home and grab a few outfits. Can we talk about this when you’re back?” she asked.

“I think that’s a very good idea. They have your name at the gate to come and go as you like. I’ll be back at the cabin around five, Caroline.”

“I miss you, Daddy.”

“You have no idea how hard it was to leave this morning, Precious. I’ll be there as soon as possible.”

She stared at the phone for a long time after she’d disconnected. Should she move in? Her apartment definitely didn’t hold any appeal for her. This cabin seemed much more like home than her place ever had. It had simply been a shelter to live in when her marriage had crumbled.

Making her decision, Caroline set the phone down with a click. She opened the refrigerator to find scrambled eggs with bacon covered neatly by a sheet of plastic wrap. Suddenly ravenous, she popped the plate into the microwave. He took such good care of her.

* * *

After a long bath in the enormous tub, Caroline reclaimed her clothes from the laundry hamper. She didn’t want to wear his T-shirt home with nothing else. Confiscating a pair of his stretch boxer briefs, Caroline giggled as she substituted those for her lacy panties. Why is men’s clothing more comfortable than women’s?

Returning to the bathroom, she noticed he had left a new toothbrush on the counter for her. How did she find this guy? She tore into the packaging and cleaned her teeth before storing the pink toothbrush next to his. The sight of them snuggled together in a glass made her heart happy.

Caroline snapped a quick photo and texted it to Wraith. His heart emoji answer fueled her dance back into the bedroom to grab her shoes and Jam. He had to come with her to pick up some things. He’d waited for her for too long. She wouldn’t leave him behind.

She headed into the garage and opened the door using the wall-mounted control. After sliding into the driver’s seat, she carefully backed out and paused to fasten her seatbelt.

“Crap! How am I going to close the door? I guess I can go in and out the front door,” Caroline said to Jam. She noticed the purple monkey seemed to be focused on the glove box. Automatically, she followed his gaze. Remembering, she opened it to find the remote Wraith had given her last night. She took a second to attach it to her visor next to her condo’s.

“Damn. He’s good!”

After triggering the device, Caroline reversed carefully out of Wraith’s driveway. Hitting a biker would be bad. She paused for a second to memorize his house number before heading out of the complex. A silver-fox biker she hadn’t met before waved her out.

How many Devil Daddies were there in the MC?

Caroline dismissed the question from her mind as she concentrated on the secluded road toward Inferno. Emerging into the sunlight from the shaded tunnel of tree cover, she grabbed her sunglasses and popped them on. Inferno was quiet, with only a few bikes and cars in the parking lot as she drove through.

Once on the freeway, Caroline plotted what she needed to pack. She worried she would bring too much or too little, giving Wraith the wrong message, but then she remembered Wraith’s words, “As long as you’ll stay, Little girl. I’d like to have you with me.”

She wanted to be with him. Caroline made a list of items to take care of while she was at her place. Empty the fridge, water the one plant she had…. Maybe she should bring that plant? Pack her large suitcase and her laptop.

With plans made, she organized everything quickly and piled things together. She made a trip to the dumpster with food that would spoil. Lifting her suitcase into her car was a challenge, but she made it. Caroline stood in her family room and looked around.

While this wasn’t a permanent goodbye, she wouldn’t miss this space. This condo had sheltered her when she’d been at her lowest points, following the end of her marriage and her panic about Wraith. It hadn’t counted as home, but she would always appreciate having some place safe to hide from the world.

“And you wrote a new book here,” she reminded herself aloud. Crafting a romance about people in love had challenged her as she recovered from her heartbreak over her failed union with Adam. Wraith had shown her that part of her wasn’t dead.

Caroline had hope once again. She still expected that Adam would be a pain. Her life was ensnared with his. But he didn’t have the same power over her that he had before Wraith. Plus, having a big, bad biker on her side would discourage him from being a complete ass.

A warm feeling filled her. She’d survived so much. Wraith made her believe her fantasies could come true. He gave Caroline back her hope and passion for life. Caroline wrapped her arms around herself and squeezed.

“Time to go, Jam. Let’s go home to Wraith.”

Pausing at the mail station to empty her box, Caroline noted she’d have to remember to pick up her mail from time to time. She’d enrolled her regular bills in automatic payments from her bank account, so she didn’t have to stress too much. But random things could slip through. With her to-do list complete, Caroline drove toward Wraith’s home.

When she saw Inferno coming into sight, her phone rang. Caroline answered it through her blue-tooth connection, “Hi, Wraith! I’m on my way back to your cabin.”

“Stop and have lunch with me.”

Would that gravelly voice ever stop being a turn-on?

“Are you there, Little girl?”

“Sorry, I had to concentrate on the road for a minute,” she lied. “I’d love to spend time with you. Should I stop and pick something up?”

“I have lunch for you. I’ll meet you at the back door of Inferno.”

“I’m pulling into the parking lot. See you soon.” Caroline loved that he wanted to see her so soon. She parked in her normal area and bounced up the steps at the entrance with her laptop bag thrown over her shoulder.

Spotting a biker at the door, she told him quickly, “I’m having lunch with….”

“Wraith. He alerted me, Caroline. I’m Fury.”

“Hi, Fury. Nice to meet you.”

“Don’t keep him waiting,” Fury said with a smile.

“Right. Thanks!”

When she turned the corner to see the back entrance, Caroline spotted Wraith’s bulk. He immediately pushed away from the wall to stalk forward. She jogged forward to throw herself into his arms.

“I missed you, Little girl,” he growled before bending her backward with a fiery kiss that made her forget they weren’t alone.

When he lifted his head, she could only blink up at him.

“You going to work?” Wraith asked, taking the laptop bag that had somehow ended up in his hand and slinging it over his shoulder.

She’d totally forgotten. “Your kisses are dangerous,” she whispered.

“I can live with that,” he said with a smirk.

“I didn’t want to leave it in the car, just in case. It has my world on it,” she explained. When he raised an eyebrow, she amended that, “All my work world on it.”

“A fool would break into a random car in the Inferno parking lot. A man with a need for pain would target the Little girl of a Devil Daddy.”

She shook that thought from her mind. “I saved him a lot of trouble then, didn’t I? Did you promise me lunch?”

“I did. Come on, Precious.”

He took her hand and led her outside. A bunch of Devil Daddies MC members had gathered, hanging out behind the building. Feeling out of place, Caroline tucked herself behind his massive back. Wraith stopped and tugged her from hiding behind him. Caroline was thrilled she’d changed clothes and put on makeup before leaving her condo.

“This is Caroline. She’s mine,” Wraith explained.

They all nodded and stood to greet her. She could feel them studying her and knew they wouldn’t forget her features. Wraith’s claim on her made Caroline important to remember. She recognized a few faces: Scythe, of course, Fury, and Lucien, the owner.

The latter stepped forward to consider her. Caroline didn’t understand all his tattoos, but her biker research clued her in that some were vaguely prison-related. How dangerous was this man? Would he give her another chance after she’d fled from his MC brother? Wraith squeezed her hand to reassure her when her fingers tightened on his.

“Welcome, Caroline. The Devil Daddies MC recognizes you.”

“Thank you, Lucien,” Wraith said as Caroline wondered what that meant. Quickly, she collected herself to say something.

“Yes, thank you, Lucien. It’s nice to meet you all.”

“Such nice manners. You’ve chosen well, Wraith. Is she staying with you?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Priceless treasures should be protected,” Lucien stated and nodded to excuse himself as he returned to Inferno.

Caroline breathed a sigh of relief. His tone was free of censure. She’d wondered how Lucien would react to her after she’d run from his MC brother. He didn’t look like someone who’d forgive or forget easily.

Wraith interrupted her whirling thoughts. “Let me introduce you to the others. You’ve met Scythe and Fury. I’ll start on the right: Pirate, Street, and Toxin.”

“Hi,” she said with a wave. She’d never remember all those names. “I hope there’s not a test.”

“Never,” Wraith reassured her before wrapping his arm around her and guiding her away. “Come on, Caroline. We’ll have lunch over there.”

Caroline followed him closely. The bikers were definitely different from the people she’d always hung out with, but they’d greeted her warmly. A thousand questions tumbled around in her mind, distracting her as they walked. When Wraith stopped suddenly, she ran smack into him.

“Uff! I’m sorry,” she rushed to say.

“You’re cute when you’re nervous,” Wraith complimented her.

“I’ve got a lot of questions. Can I ask them when we’re at home?” She definitely didn’t want to say anything wrong here.

“Of course. We can sit on this bench,” Wraith told her, pointing to the secluded spot. He set her computer bag safely on the ground next to them and sat down.

As he pulled things out of a cooler, she couldn’t help but notice that deep lines were carved into his face. “I’m sorry you didn’t get enough sleep.”

“I’m not. I only need about four hours and I’m fine. We had a snafu that caused a flurry of work this morning. It zapped my energy.”

“I hope it is okay now.”

“Everything is better when you’re with me, Caroline,” he told her softly. Wraith reached for her and drew her face to his. “So much better.” He pressed his lips to hers in the sweetest kiss. It brought moisture to her eyes.

“You’re going to make me cry,” she whispered when he released her.

“No crying. We’re happy to be together. Now, let me feed you. Ham and cheese or turkey?”

“Did you make this for yourself?” she asked in wonder.

“I threw in a sandwich for you if you could come join me.”

Caroline scanned the pile of sandwiches on the cooler and looked at Wraith’s physique. It probably required a lot of food to power that strength. “I’ll take turkey.”

“You got it. How did things go in your condo?”

“I barely got my suitcase in my car. You’re going to think I’m moving in,” she warned, watching his reaction. Was this really what he wanted?

“Moving in is great. I wish I could have helped. I’ll go with you for the next load,” he promised.

“We’re not going too fast for you?”

“No. How do you feel about it?” he asked.

“Good. It makes me happy to be with you,” she told him honestly.

His smile transformed his face. “Having you close is important to me as well, Little girl. Did Jam go with you?”

“He’s snuggling with my computer,” she admitted.

“Eat, Caroline,” he encouraged.

Their conversation for the next twenty minutes was light and fun. She loved hanging out with him. Caroline noticed the guys leaving from their gathering place. He’d have to return to work. “I’ll see you at the cabin later?”

“I’ll be there around five thirty.”

“Do you need to work at Inferno?”

“Not tonight. Pirate is filling my place to give us time alone. Leave that suitcase in your car and I’ll pull it out when I get home.”

“Thanks. I’ll go back and write this afternoon. I feel pretty inspired.”

His eyes darkened with desire at her reference to their previous evening’s activities. “I’ll enjoy sparking new ideas for your books.”

“Find Razor!”

That cry made them both whirl around. Wraith leapt to his feet and was off in a flash. He ripped open the door to Inferno and raced inside.

Caroline’s heart pounded. What was going on? Wraith hadn’t asked any questions but had reacted instantly. Feeling powerless to help what had to be an urgent situation, Caroline busied herself with gathering the remains of their lunch and packing everything back in his cooler.

She hadn’t finished when Wraith returned with a man with silver hair who carried a satchel. Was that a doctor’s bag? As they reached the concrete pad outside Inferno, four bikers appeared, carrying someone.

“Set him down,” the man with the bag directed firmly.

That must be Razor.

He was handsome with silvery black hair. His serious expression wasn’t panicked. Caroline immediately felt he was in control of the situation. Even in the scary situation, that reassured her.

Everyone complied instantly, gently placing him down on the solid surface. Razor dropped to a knee next to him and barked orders. Blood was everywhere, making Caroline queasy. Had that guy been shot? Why would someone do that? The Devil Daddies didn’t waste time on speculation. They were completely focused on their MC brother.

“Give me your belt,” Razor said, making eye contact with one biker.

Caroline stood a distance away, but she could tell he’d been dangerously wounded by the blood that spilled onto the cement. She brought her hands to her heart. Unable to see his face, she worried for whoever that was. Should she call an ambulance?

As that thought crossed her mind, the wail of a siren sounded and grew louder. Blood coated Razor’s hands as he worked to staunch the wounds. With the leather strip tightened around the injured man’s thigh as a tourniquet, he called for material to use for pressure bandages. All the men ripped off their shirts without hesitating.

“Wraith, I need pressure on this spot, too. Put those muscles to use. Push hard here.”

Wraith had instantly lowered himself to the man’s side. He followed Razor’s directions and squashed the fabric tightly to the man’s abdomen. By the time the ambulance rolled up through the warehouse’s entrance, Razor had him stabilized. He quickly joined the emergency medical technicians in the ambulance as they rushed the injured man to the hospital.

“What the fuck happened?” Lucien demanded as soon as the doors closed.

“I don’t know, Boss. Hellcat pulled in like that. There are bullet holes in the truck. The load is secure,” a biker answered. Caroline thought he was Toxin.

“Bullet wounds will have the police here to investigate. Pull the cargo off and stash it where they can’t find it,” Lucien said. “Grab everyone to help.”

Wraith ran to her side with hands stained with blood. “Go back to the cabin. I’ll be there when I can.”

He didn’t stay for her to answer but raced off after the others. Caroline started for the door and remembered her laptop. She returned to the bench to grab it.

As she debated whether she should grab Wraith’s cooler, Lucien said her name from behind. She whirled to face him.

“Go to the cabin. Wraith will take care of it.”

She nodded and slung her bag over her shoulder. Turning, she walked toward the door.

“Caroline.”

When she spun to face Lucien, he added, “Not everything is as it appears. Trust Wraith.”

“Okay,” she whispered and dashed for the door.

A few minutes later, she sat in her car and tried to figure out what had happened. A man had gotten shot and horribly wounded. Razor had identified himself as a doctor to the EMTs. Even she had noticed his skill as he worked to save the man’s life. Then Lucien had sent everyone to hide the cargo. What was going on?