Page 45 of July 27

"Brah, it's me." Shady patted his chest. "I'm good. You can trust me."

"I trust no one." He went back inside and shut the door.

He knew Shady better than Shady knew himself. Briefly sharing a cell showed him enough to know that desperate men would promise their souls to the devil.

Going to the window, he made sure Shady got in his car and left the property. Shady had helped him once. He'd paid him back. There would not be a second time.

A cabinet door slammed in the kitchen. "Damnit."

Ruger entered the other room and found Rachel using her hand to sweep up spilled sugar on the counter. He grabbed a few sheets of paper towels and a paper plate. Instead of handing them to her, he moved her away from the mess and cleaned up the granules remaining on the counter.

"I don't know what's going on with my brother." Rachel blew out her breath. "Ever since my dad died, he's been running around—"

"He's desperate and running hot." He put the towels in the garbage. "It's what scared men do. It makes his life dangerous." He met her gaze. "I'm not going to let his trouble touch you."

She moistened her lips. "That's not fair to you."

"Fair or not, I'm taking it on."

Her brows furrowed, and she looked away. He waited for her to spit out her thoughts. The longer he waited, the tighter she pursed her lips.

How long had she kept her opinion to herself? She'd told him enough for him to understand that growing up in her family hadn't been a walk in the park. Was there ever a time when her family listened to her?

"God, I hate him," she exclaimed.

He reached for her. She threw up her hands.

"He never thinks of anyone but himself." She stabbed her finger in the air. "It took me a week to learn he was in prison because I was used to him staying away from the house." She scoffed. "It wasn't until one of his friends came over drunk, pushing his way into the house, that he told me Shady was arrested. I took the bat behind the door and kept swinging to get him out of the house so I could lock the door."

She shook in anger. He took every detail and would remember them because the next time he saw Shady, he was a dead man.

"I'll never go back home." Her wild gaze connected with his.

"You won't have to go back." He framed her face with his hands. "This is your home now."

She grabbed his vest. "Promise?"

He brought her to his chest and wrapped his arms around her. "On my life."

"I don't deserve you."

He cupped her head. She felt that way today, but he'd only disappoint her in time. Her opinion of him would change. There was nothing he could do to stop time.

Until she decided it was time to leave him, he'd do everything he could to make her feel safe.

Chapter Twenty Two

Abuzz came from the other end of the cottage. Rachel carried her cup of coffee from the kitchen and followed the noise to the bathroom.

The door was open. She peeked in and gasped. Half his beard was in the sink.

Ruger's gaze connected with her in the mirror. She stepped closer, trying to understand what was happening. Minutes ago, he'd had a full beard that had covered his lower face and went down to his shirt. Now, the sides of his jaw were cut back, leaving a five o'clock shadow behind.

She wanted to stop him, yet she couldn't stop staring. The tattoo she'd spotted at the base of his neck went up to his jawline.

His Adam's apple bobbed, and he turned the razor on again. Her coffee was forgotten. She stood back and watched him shave the other side of his jaw. He left the whiskers around his mouth and on his chin.

She swallowed, hoping he wouldn't shave it all off.

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