Page 20 of Ripper's Property
“Hey, baby!” I turn at the sound of his voice, not having heard him come in. “Whatcha watching?”
Rip kicks his shoes off and climbs into my bed behind me. I’m relieved he’s home safe. He ran out of here pretty fast, and I could feel the tension rolling off him. I’m always worried when he goes on a “run,” scared that something’s going to happen.
I turn to face him, scooting in close, but then pull back when I get a whiff of him. There’s a heavy scent all over his clothes. It’s a scent I recognize.
“You were with her.” I pull out of his arms, feeling the panic rushing in. “I smell her all over you, Ripper.”
“It’s not what you think, babe.”
“So, you weren’t with Cherry?”
His eyes give me the truth before he even speaks, and I feel like I’m going to be sick.
“We went to the strip club.”
“What the fuck?” I shove his chest. “Get the fuck out of my room.”
“Calm your shit, babe. We went there for Montoya. Missed him by a few minutes and then we ran into Cherry. She’s working there now.”
“Montoya was there?” Everything stops. My pulse. My lungs. A chill settles over me as the monster’s name starts ringing in my ears.
“We found him,” he says. “Just over the state line. We got word that he was selling his drugs at a strip club. We were going there in hopes to get his ass once and for all, but we missed him.”
I can’t believe he’s that close. That’s only thirty minutes away. But we drove miles and miles away from him. We drove for two days straight. Tucked ourselves up in the mountains. Away from civilization. Away from everyone who’d ever recognize any of us. But the monster still managed to find us.
“It’s okay, baby.” Rip reaches for me, but I don’t want him touching me. He smells like another woman, and I can’t take it. “I’m never going to let him touch you.”
“Why does he want to hurt me, Ripper?” I still don’t know why he wants to kill me.
His shoulders drop as he lets out a low sigh, shaking his head. “Your dad should’ve told you this. It’s not my place, but it’s about time you knew. It’s because of your mom, babe. Montoya was her supplier. Your dad came home early from a run one day and wanted to surprise her. He found you locked in your highchair and your mom lying next to you on the ground with a needle in her arm. She’d been clean since the day they met. Went through rehab and the twelve steps. She was getting her life back on track. Or, so he thought.”
I swallow hard as the image unfolds in my mind. I can’t imagine the fear my father must’ve felt.
“Your dad took you and brought you to me and Raid, then he went and found her dealer. He warned Montoya that if he ever sold to your mom again, he’d kill him. But Montoya didn’t take too kindly to the warning. He wanted to prove that he was the king in that city. Ruler of the people. So, he sold your mom a batch laced with poison and it ended up killing her.”
Oh my God. He killed my mom. That bastard killed my mother.
“It destroyed your dad, babe. Your mom was the love of his life. You two were his world. So, he did what any of us would’ve done. He went after Montoya. Burned down his warehouse and ended up killing nine of his men in the explosion. They were all lowlife drug scum, dealing their toxic shit to kids, so it was a win for the city.”
So that’s why Montoya wants to kill me. It wasn’t because my dad killed his daughter like I’d always assumed. It’s because the monster lost his supply and his drug-pushing army.
“Your dad gave the cops a tip and Montoya ended up doing eight years behind bars. The day before he was set to be released from prison, your dad received a letter from the bastard. Montoya told him he was coming for you. Described what he’d do. That was the night that we packed up everything and came out west. We’ve been tracking the bastard for years, but as soon as we’d pick up his scent, he’d slip from our grasp. This time, we’ve got him. That’s why I was down at the strip club, babe. I wasn’t there to see Cherry or any of those girls. It was purely business.”
I was wrong. Wrong about so many things. All these years I assumed my father was a bad man and had sentenced me to a life in hiding because of his crimes, but my father isn’t the monster, Montoya is.
I scoot forward and wrap my arms around his neck. It’s time for me to start trusting this beautiful man. The one who’sspent the last sixteen years looking out for me. The one who’s sacrificed so much to be my guard. He could’ve left and had a life, but he’s been by my side, keeping me safe.
“Thank you for protecting me, Ripper.”
His hands come around my waist and he lifts me onto his lap.
“I’ll always protect you, baby.”
I lean forward and kiss his lips, slipping my tongue between the seam of his mouth and letting it slide against his. He lets out a groan, gripping the back of my hair, tilting my head and taking things deeper. Tangling us both up until we’re thrusting against each other. Hands clawing and rubbing. Both of us needing more.
I shift back, tugging on his lower lip as I slip away.
“God, your mouth, princess.”
