Page 14 of Property of Indiana

“With one of the greatest gifts a person can receive,” he growls, his eyes looking through the back window as he watches Elodie place a crown on Icer’s head. “Usually, he’d rip that damn thing off and incinerate it. She’sthegift, Zoey. Tell me about this mistake.”

“How many times when we went out did you tell me not to accept an open container or cup from anyone?” I start off asking.

“Every damn time we went to a party I stressed that,” he remarks. “Back then, Rohypnol was the drug of choice for men… boys who wanted to take what wasn’t theirs to take.”

“And I was the fool who thought she was safe around her peers. I knew every damn one of the attendees. We grew up together, played sports together, partied together and never once had anyone tried to slip me anything.”

“Who passed you the drink, Zoey? Do you remember?”

“No,” I whisper, unshed tears clogging my throat. “I was playing wing woman for Brooklyn. All of the people passing out drinkswere ones I would’ve sworn on my life would never do anything to hurt me. I was wrong because one of them set me up.”

“Do you have any suspicions on who that was?” I emphatically shake my head at his question. If I had any clue of who it was I would’ve put that in the report I made from my hospital bed. They didn’t just take my innocence; they beat me within an inch of my life. I’m not sure if their goal was to snuff my life out, or if I was only supposed to be taken advantage of in my weakened and confused state.

Shudders course through me as the Ghost masks flash in my mind like a strobe light. I can’t help the sob that erupts as all the sounds from that night are suddenly there again—my screams of terror and confusion, my flailing arms as I tried to fight them off even though my motions were definitely slow due to whatever I was given. This flashback is more intense than most as I can feel the pain from the fists and shoes that strike me, my skin splitting in multiple places, and the warm blood flowing into my eyes to mingle with my tears. Usually, it only happens in my dreams, but it’s daylight, I’m wide awake and Harrison is sitting so close to me I can feel his body heat radiating from him. As if he’s aware that this isn’t normal for me, he pulls me into his arms then starts talking.

“We may never know who the culprit was who spiked your drink, and I don’t give a single fuck who Elodie’s biological father is, what matters from here on out is making sure that they don’t retaliate because you made a police report and tried to get them into trouble. And we have to do everything in our power to make sure they don’t get any thoughts in their heads about Elodie. Which is why I wanted to broach another topic with you.”

“What’s that?” I ask, using the sleeve of his shirt to dry my eyes. He smirks at my action but doesn’t chide me for it which is goodbecause he pulled me into his arms and I had to be able to see, right?

“I want to officially adopt Elodie. I’d prefer we just put my name on her birth certificate so no one outside of you, me, and the club knows she doesn’t have my blood running through her veins. But I’m not sure if we can do that six years later.”

“I don’t know, but we could look into it. Are you sure you want to do that? In the eyes of the law that would make you responsible for her in every way a father is. You’ve only just met her, Harrison. Less than twenty-four hours later and you want to permanently tie yourself to her. And me by extension.”

“You don’t get it, Zoey. I’ve already tied myself to you. I’ve claimed you as mine and in the eyes of the Kings that’s as good as done. You’re mine, end of story.” I snort at that because last I checked, I have some say-so in what happens to me. The more I think about it though, if something were to happen to me, I’d rather her be with Harrison than given to my parents seeing as they’re her last living relatives. The bitch and asshole who birthed me sold my grandparents’ house from under my feet. All of my money was invested in that house and our bank accounts were tied together as one. They were only willing to give me some of the money back so Elodie and I could survive if I moved back home. I still have no clue why they want me back in Canton seeing as they were beyond thrilled when I left town that day.

“Just to say, but Morning Elodie is not normally as well-behaved as she is today,” I warn. “She’s typically in what I refer to as beast mode and getting her to do anything in a timely manner is next to impossible.”

I don’t mention that I’m not functional until at least one cup of java flows into my gut, preferably two, because of the two of us,Elodie’s far worse. I just don’t talk, I use grunts to communicate until my liquid gold starts my engines up.

“I bet anything, ifMr. Icertells her he’s proud of how well she behaves in the mornings, it’ll make a difference,” he says, making me release a not very lady-like giggle. We’ve been watching the two of them through the back windows and I can now see my giant television is playing the credits ofAladdin.

“Looks like our time is coming to an end,” I state. “I’m emotionally drained, Harrison. Is there anything else we need to go through today?”

“Yeah,” he answers. “What brought you back home?”

“I’m gonna need that bottle of wine back,” I mumble.

CHAPTER

SEVEN

INDIANA

Before I can askher why, Icer and Elodie come out the back door and Icer says, “We need to borrow your car, Zoey.”

“What? Why?” Zoey questions.

“You need a bigger tv if we’re going to have movie marathons,” Icer replies. “Yours isn’t bad for a chick’s house, but since I’ll be here frequently, we have to go big. Right, Princess?” he asks Elodie, who’s jumping up and down next to him grinning.

“Right!” she exclaims. “Mr. Icer said if you say it’s okay, we can put the one in the living room in my bedroom!”

“Uh, maybe when you’re a little bit older, El,” Zoey says. “If you get everything you want at five, there’s nothing to look forward to, sweetie.”

Elodie huffs but settles when Icer squeezes her hand and states, “I told you she might say that, didn’t I? You don’t need a tv in your room yet, Princess. Maybe the extra room your mom isusing for storage can be made into a playroom or something. Would that work better, Zoey?”

I watch my woman’s eyes light up at the thought of the toys that are currently scattered throughout the living room being contained in one space. “I could possibly live with that,” Zoey murmurs.

“Okay, then we’re off!” Icer yells, as if we’re not right there. I swear I wish I knew what Elodie had that has my brother acting so contrary to his normal behavior. Because I’d bottle that shit and sell it.

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