Page 40 of Babydoll

He puts his arm over my shoulder and gives it a gentle squeeze. “I care. Okay? And maybe I started watching you to get information on Satan’s Ransom, but not since that night I caught you with my pudding. Since then, I’ve been watching to keep you safe.” He pulls the truck back out onto the road and the gentle hum of the motor along with the ruts, dips, and vibrations of the road relax me enough to let go.

Unfortunately, the anger and sexual tension was the glue that was holding me together and the shivers hit again. Uncontrollable, teeth-chattering shivers.

“It’s okay now, honey. I’ll keep you safe and when you’re ready we’ll both tell our stories.”

Chapter Ten

Jeff

When we pull into a tree-lined drive, my heart is pounding. Lu is barely holding herself together. She’s trembling uncontrollably, and her face is so pale I’m considering turning us around and heading for a hospital. Of course, there’s a problem with that. Satan’s Ransom is so connected they’d know the second we arrived.

“Sit tight for a minute,” I tell her in my most soothing but stern voice and reach for the glove box where I pull out the keys for the cabin. “We’ll be safe here.”

Jumping out of the truck, I head up the steps for the door which is lit by the headlights. The cabin needs upkeep as no one’s been here for a while, but it’ll be safe.

Too many memories assault me as I enter and flick on the lights. Lisa lived here full time when she was pregnant with Reece. I can almost see her sitting on the old sofa, her belly round, cheeks flushed from the fire, and a pile of knitting on her lap. It’s like a punch to the gut, especially the smile I remember on her face.

My sister had never been happier than when she was in this cabin, pregnant and safe from Preacher. When I turn back toget Lu, her shivering form is lit by the interior light of my truck. Her vacant-looking wide blue eyes, and ghostly pale appearance sends the reverie away just as fast as it came. The emotion lingers though, and I have to swallow hard to work away the thickness sitting in my throat.

Lu will not end up like Lisa. I won’t let that happen. No. Fucking. Way.

I scoop Lu up. “You need to wrap your arms around my neck. Hold on to me, okay?” I look down at her in my arms. She’s so light. I press my lips, a bit annoyed with myself for not pushing her to eat more. Goddammit, why didn’t I? It was obvious by the way she reacted to my dominance in the truck that she could handle it. In fact, better than handle it. But I know the answer. She didn’t trust me then. And maybe only barely now.

I have a lot of explaining to do. And some of what I tell her could end that trust. Setting her on the old sofa, I grab an Afghan and tuck it around her.

“Lu?”

“Hm?”

Lu answers me in a tone that makes my blood run cold and my gut sink like a rock. No different than the way Lisa used to answer my demanding questions after she’d been in a fight with Preacher. Like she’s not even there—just as automatic as an answering machine message.

Lu’s not here right now. Leave a message and she’ll get back to you.

“Babydoll, look at me.” My words are curt, demanding, and a little fear filled.

She cocks her head, but her expression remains neutral.

“Tell me what happened back there.” I swallow hard. After what my sister went through, after learning what sick bastards both Slash and Preacher could be, I’m afraid to hear the answer. But she was okay in the truck and she wouldn’t have been if something horrific happened, right?

It’s just shock.

She makes some sort of noise and I can’t tell if it’s a murmur or an actual word, but I don’t waste time trying to figure it out. I head back to the bathroom and twist the taps on to get water through the pipes. The nearest neighbor around here is seven acres to the right, but he lives in his cabin full time. His cabin doesn’t have direct access to the lake but ours does, so we let him use our property for both hunting and launching and mooring his boat from our dock. He returns our kindness by checking on our cabin regularly, running the water weekly, and although we never ask, filling our freezer with fresh fish and keeping our wood pile high.

The water is clear and warms quickly so I pop the plug in the bottom of the clawfoot. I glance around for something girly to put in the tub and find some lavender bath beads and dump in the rest of the jar.

I glance at Lu as I head to the front to grab wood, her gaze catching mine and she nods as if reading my mind.

You still okay?

Yep, all good.

I load my arms and carry the wood to the stone hearth, dropping the logs with a clatter before heading back to turn off the water. Lu’s still shivering under the blanket, as I pile kindling in the fire. As soon as I get the fire to take, I leave it, grabbing her off the sofa, again noting how light she is, and carrying her, blanket and all, to the bathroom.

The tub is full and the water has a purple hue, steam curling from it. The silence seems heavier in the small moist bathroom. I lean down, kiss Lu’s head and set her gently onto her feet.

“I’m going to take care of you, okay? You can trust me.” I start by taking the blanket, setting it on the commode. Then watching her, reading her expression, I ask, “Do you trust me? Can I help you get into the tub?”

She nods.

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