Page 132 of Give Me Love

I smirk. “Yeah, a whole bottle of bourbon will do that to you.”

He groans, “Apparently.”

“How did you find your mom after she disappeared?”

“I was much older. I hated her for years and I took it out on Pops. Funny enough, he’s the one who helped me find her when I decided I wanted to.

“He hired a private investigator to look for her. He didn’t like the idea, but said if it’s what I needed to help me sleep at night then okay. I watched her from afar for a while. Contemplated on even going up to her, but I knew how much my dad loved her, and some part of me still did, too. I don’t know. I just couldn’t stand by and watch her kill herself, so I tried to help.

“The first time didn’t go so well. She went to rehab, but checked herself out. Disappeared again, but I found her again. I promised that time I wouldn’t interfere. For her to just promise me she’d take the money I gave her and feed herself. Get some clothes to cover her body when she wasn’t working and make sure she had a place to stay so she wasn’t sleeping on the streets.”

Jesus Christ, this is awful. I can’t believe he’s had to go through all of this. Shame on her for putting her child through hell. I hope she’s really trying to change this time, but you just never know with people like that.

“The night you told me she got beat up. That was the second time you tried to get her clean?” I ask.

“Yeah. But I went a different way about it. I basically locked her in that room, and Lou and I took turns caring for her until she was done detoxing.”

“So, you basically held her hostage?” I ask with a quirked brow.

“Yeah,” he says it with no shame. This is all shocking as hell to me. “I was over waiting for the day I’d come around and her pimp would tell me she’d OD’d or was beaten to death. I’d had enough.”

“Do you think she’ll stay that way? That she’ll stay clean this time?”

He shrugs. “Only time will tell.”

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Bryce

September ends and October brings us weather cold enough for jackets and long sleeves. The leaves have all turned now, showing no sign that it was ever summer. Fall mums are being sold everywhere, as are pumpkins, and Kathrine has decorated the shop with Halloween décor. She has a big wreath that says something about witches and ghosts hang out here. Spider webs are hung in the corners while a big cauldron of dry ice sits in the window display. I’m realizing quickly how big into the holidays she is.

She turns into something I adore, and sometimes she looks at me like I’m the only thing worth looking at and it makes my heart freeze. This woman has changed my whole life. Our relationship couldn’t be better. We sneak quickies in on her office desk. I fuck her fast until her body shakes and she has to bite down on my shoulder to keep from screaming. She bought me a little dirt bike key chain, and I think it’s the best gift I’ve ever been given.

Simply because it came from her.

She’s got candles all in my bathroom now and throughout the living room because she likes the way they smell and the soft glow of light.

I’ve bought enough to last months, just to see her smile.

I stay at her place several days a week when she isn’t at mine because she refuses to move out and live with me. I’m also finding out that K can be a stubborn woman. When she has her mind set on something, there’s almost no changing it, but I love the challenge every time. My girl says it’s too soon to move in with each other.

I say she’s wrong.

I want her with me every day. Which is why I haven’t told the girls there’s no need to worry about Cain anymore.

The cops did find a fingerprint, but they haven’t found Claire’s ex and they won’t.

Turns out, my boy, Ben, was right. Bones and his crew are good to have on your side. They don’t mind dirty work as long as there’s a good payout.

And I’ll pay any amount to make sure Kat and Claire are safe.

I’d murder if one hair on my woman’s body was harmed, and she’d be devastated if anything happened to Claire.

I can’t have either of those.

While my relationship with my girl is going well, my brother’s and mine is not, and it’s something I’ve been meaning to deal with. But between looking for that fuck who dropped a knife in K’s bedroom and trying to keep an eye on Red and my mom, I’ve neglected to do so.

Which is why I’m headed out to Mugs & Books to tell K she’s going to meet my Pops and see the ranch. Emily has called us all out for Sunday dinner, and I know Jace will be there since that’s where he’s been staying lately. I’ll kill two birds with one stone. Fix my relationship with Jace and introduce the girl I can’t get enough of to my family.

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