Page 56 of Tempest

“Let them try,” Kasen challenged, chin lifting defiantly.

I sat up, running a hand through my hair. “This isn’t a game, Kasen. These guys -- they’re animals. They won’t hesitate to --”

“To what? Hurt me? Kill me?” Her words were sharp, cutting. “I’m not some naive little girl. I know the risks. I still remember how scared I was in Florida. But you showed me more self-defense moves, and now that I’ve faced them before, I don’t think I’ll freeze up if it happens again.”

“Knowing ain’t the same as living it,” I snapped, old fears clawing at my gut. “Look. I’ve not made it a secret I don’t trust women. You’re an exception. I’ve been screwed over one too many times. But there’s one that…”

Kasen’s hand on my arm, gentle but insistent. “Hey. Look at me.”

I turned, meeting her gaze. The fire there matched my own.

“I’m not running,” she said, each word clear and deliberate. “Whatever’s coming, we face it together. And if you want to talk about the past, I’m here to listen. We’re a team now, aren’t we?”

I nodded and ran a hand over my face. “Yeah. Just not something I like re-living. Trusted the wrong woman. I was only a teenager. She was a little older. I thought I was hot shit because she was into me. Except it was all a game to her.”

“What do you mean?” Kasen asked.

“I had a sister once. About nine years younger than me. I’ve never told anyone about her. Far as the club is concerned, I’m an only child.”

“What happened?” She reached over and took my hand.

“The woman used me to get close to my family. Then she lured my little sister.” My hands fisted as the memories washed over me. The fear. The helplessness. Betrayal. “Mary was only seven. She’d been a surprise for my parents, who thought they’d never have more children. We never found her.”

“Then how do you know for sure what happened?” she asked.

“The woman I’d been dating was caught and questioned. They ran her prints. Found out she’d been a missing child herself. The men who took her used her up, then trained her to bring in more girls. But when the police went to check the location she’d given them, the men were long gone… and so was Mary.”

“I’m so sorry.” She leaned into me. “I guess when I was taken it made you feel like you were living it all over again.”

“Except this time, I saw it happen and was able to get you back. I have no idea if Mary is still alive, or how much she suffered. Part of me hopes she died shortly after she was taken. I think that would be far more merciful.” I sighed. “She’d be in her mid-thirties now if she were still alive.”

I gripped Kasen’s hand, my fingers intertwining with hers. The tension in my jaw eased slightly, but my voice remained low, intense. “I swear to you, Kasen, I’ll protect you with everything I’ve got. No matter what it takes.”

Her eyes softened, but there was steel beneath. “And I’ll be right there with you, Rick. Not as a burden, but as your partner.”

“Kasen --”

She pressed a finger to my lips. “Listen. I’m not helpless, despite the fact I got kidnapped before. I’ve grown up in this life. I’m well aware there are monsters in the shadows, those who wear human faces. I can handle myself, and I can have your back.”

I pulled her closer, my forehead resting against hers. “Are you sure you know what you’re signing up for?”

“Maybe not,” she whispered, her breath warm on my skin. “But I’m choosing it anyway. Choosing you.”

My heart thundered in my chest. This woman, so fierce, so loyal -- she was offering everything. I cupped her face in my hands, my thumbs tracing her cheekbones. “I don’t deserve you,” I murmured.

Kasen’s lips curved into a smile. “Tough. You’re stuck with me.”

I chuckled, the sound rough with emotion. Then, sobering, I locked eyes with her. “I promise you. Whatever comes our way, we face it together. No secrets, no holding back. You’re my old lady now, in every sense of the word.”

She nodded, her gaze never wavering. “And you’re my man. Through hell or high water.”

I pulled her down, wrapping her in my arms. As we settled into the bed, I whispered against her hair, “I love you, Kasen. More than I ever thought possible.”

“I love you too, Rick,” she murmured, her body relaxing against mine.

As sleep began to claim us, I held her tight, my mind finally quieting. Whatever storms were brewing, we’d weather them side by side. For the first time in years, I felt a sense of peace. With Kasen by my side, I was ready to face whatever came our way. At least, I hoped like hell I was.

A distant crash jolted me awake. A quick glance at the clock showed I’d only been asleep a few hours. My body tensed, instantly alert. Kasen stirred beside me, her breathing still deep and even. I held my breath, straining to hear.

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