Page 41 of Babydoll

“I need to hear it, babydoll.”

“Yes.” It comes out quietly and she’s not looking at me when she says it, but then her eyes flick to mine. “I trust you.”

I release a breath, knowing how hard that was for her, for the strong survivor to ask for help. She lifts her arms and I remove her sweatshirt. It’s a grey hoodie with too many holes and I toss it to the side like that damn garbage it is. I’ll buy her a hundred good ones to replace it. Underneath she wears a faded concert tee. I look up at her, needing her to talk.

“Did you go to this concert?” I ask as she raises her arms again for me to remove the shirt.

“Gage—” She stops suddenly and her vision clears. Her brow wrinkles. “You know Gage?”

“Yes, he’s… he was the MC’s best dealer. Or was.” I chew over the decision to add more and decide honesty is best. “I had him under surveillance until you found him that night. After that, you were my focus. I was trying to get enough on him so I could blackmail him to roll on them. So I could prove Preacher killed my sister because the cops refused to investigate. You were my next best choice when I lost him.”

She swallows. “Your sister? Reece’s mom? Preacher murdered her?” Her eyes grow unfocused and she looks away. “I’m so sorry.”

“Babydoll, you have nothing to be sorry for.”

“I’m sorry I can’t help. I don’t know anything.” Her eyes flick to mine. “I understand now though. You’d do anything for family. And that’s…” She looks down. “Brave. Admirable even. Two things I’m not.”

I take her hips in my hands, giving them a reassuring squeeze. “You’re the bravest woman I know.” She looks so sad that the rock sitting in my gut triples in size.

“Gage is my foster brother. Saved my life when we were kids. He took me to this concert. ” She smiles at the memory but then it’s gone. “We lost touch. I…” Her throat works a few seconds before she continues and I kneel, helping her remove her shoes and socks. She was there for her brother. Not because she was an addict or a dealer or prostitute. Not because she was involved with Satan’s Ransom. Why hadn’t I thought of that? What the fuck kind of investigator was I?

Feeling like a moron, I rub warmth into her legs with my hands, promising myself I’ll spend my life making all this up to her—if she lets me.

“I thought I was better than him.” She looks at me, her eyes welling, before tipping her head back to keep the tears at bay. She smiles then, but it’s a bitter one. “Because I went to college? Got a diploma and a decent job?” She shakes her head. “I’m an asshole. He had a brain injury, for fuck’s sake.” Her eyes, hard and angry, find mine. “You were right. In your note. I am a jackass.”

I just listen and soothe with my touch as she gets it all out.

“He called me a few weeks before he overdosed. He wanted my help.” A choking sound erupts from her and she shivers.

I want to hold her, hug her to me, but I don’t. Not when it might stop her from getting out what she needs to.

“How could I refuse after he almost died for me? How could I? But I didn’t go see him for three weeks. And I didn’t want to. I went out of guilt, not family loyalty or love.” She gathersa breath. “I found him on the floor. He wanted my help getting clean and I failed him.” Whimpering, she adds, “I was too late.”

“You’re so brave, baby, so damn brave. You went. No matter your reasons, you went to him.”

She blinks at me and as if not really hearing my words, continues. “I was so upset. With him. At the drugs. Once the ambulance arrived…” She shakes her head, knocking a few tears loose from her lids and they slip down her cheeks. “I dumped them all.” Her eyes flick to mine. They’re wild for a moment as if she can’t believe she did what she’s telling me. “I dumped Satan’s Ransom’s drugs down the toilet and left, walked right out the door and into Python’s clutches.” She curses. “So stupid.”

“Not stupid,” I say, rubbing the cold from her arms. “Impulsive.”

She looks at the water. “I couldn’t stay and explain what I’d done to the authorities. What if they thought I was involved, charged me with evidence tampering?” She swipes a hand over her cheeks and winces as she brushes away more stray tears. “Then Satan’s Ransom said I had to pay them back for their loss. They didn’t know I dumped them at first. Just thought they were confiscated by the cops. But they’ve got guys on the inside, so they knew eventually. And either way I was responsible in their eyes, because I called nine-one-one.”

“Babydoll, I’m so sorry.”

“They told me tonight that Gage disappeared after getting out of rehab.” Her eyes find mine again. “That’s why they decided they were going to start—” She swallows, gulps air and then swallows again. “Selling my body.” Her brow lifts. “Or renting it out until they found a buyer that wanted me.” She laughs as she lowers her gaze to her feet. It’s a damn haunting sound.

“I thought I escaped that bullshit. The way we grew up, Gage and I, no one would be shocked by his lifestyle. But I fought. Iput myself through school.” She stops and her eyes rise to mine. “Do you know this? How much do you know about me?”

I press my lips, helping her out of her leggings. She doesn’t look upset by the thought of me watching her now. “I know you. I know your basic background too, but, Tallulah, I know you.” I take her hand. “You’re full of spunk and sarcasm. And you’re tough, yeah, but funny too, and there’s a sweet girl on the inside as well. I see it. In your eyes. In the way you dance to that little radio on your cart when no one’s around and the way you respond to my…” I smirk, my lips quirking up. “Grizz Daddy.”

Her brow rises and a crooked smile spreads on her face. “I do respond to that, don’t I?” Her cheeks flush and she bites her bottom lip. “I really responded to that little spanking today.” Her words are quiet, shy, and the pink on her cheeks brightens. She looks down at herself in nothing but a pair of pale pink panties.

“Only one thing left.” Her eyes find mine. There’s something in them that makes my cock tighten. “Gonna make me do it myself, Grizz?”

I swallow. “Nope.” I reach for the band and she stops my hands.

“Distract me.” Again, she nibbles that beautiful lip. “Please.”

“Tell me what you want, babydoll. Be clear, because I want you, but I won’t take advantage.”

---