Page 34 of Shelter (The Wanderers 4)

CHAPTER12

Rush jumped to his feet when he heard the door open at the top of the stairs. He wasn’t expecting anyone to visit him at this time. He’d already been served lunch. No one usually returned until they delivered dinner and cleared away his lunch plate.

On top of that, he didn’t recognize the particular footfalls, which made him fucking nervous. He lived in constant fear that one of the men he’d made a deal with would either fuck up or turn on him. There were no guarantees in this messed-up world.

He was shocked to find a woman he’d never seen step into his line of sight. He knew in an instant she was the matriarch of this estate. She was dripping with jewels, makeup, fine clothes, and arrogance.

He didn’t like her from the first second he saw her, and he said a silent prayer that she wasn’t about to make his life a living hell worse than the one he was already living through.

“I heard you’re a doctor,” she stated without introducing herself.

“I am.”

She narrowed her gaze at him, assessing him.

He noticed her hands were shaking, and she reached up to clutch the string of pearls at her neck. “My son’s wife is newly pregnant and not feeling well. Our regular doctor is not available to see her. I’d appreciate it if you’d take a look at her.”

Rush had never been more shocked in his life. For one thing, it was incredulous that this woman spoke of her daughter-in-law’s pregnancy as if it had nothing to do with Rush. It’s my fucking child.

Also interesting was that Rush doubted this woman would ordinarily extend a polite gesture to someone she was holding as prisoner in her basement. Hell, he hadn’t ever met her or her husband. The only people he’d had any contact with before uniting forces with her son and his friends had been staff.

He wasn’t exactly a welcome guest meant to be treated with kindness. He was bought for his fucking sperm. He’d often wondered what would happen next. Would they sell him to another family after they got what they needed? And would that be soon? Perhaps even before he managed to escape?

He’d given Storm the suggestion earlier today that Haley could pretend to have cramps to keep her out of this woman’s clutches. Apparently, they had been successful. However, the mother-in-law certainly didn’t want anything to happen to her future grandchild.

Rush pulled himself together and nodded. “I’d be happy to take a look at her.” He’d be ecstatic. He’d give his right arm to meet Haley. Perhaps this was a blessing in disguise.

The woman narrowed her gaze. “My daughter-in-law’s bodyguard will accompany you. If you try anything stupid, you’ll regret it. You’re lucky that we paid good money to have you moved here, and you’re well aware very little has been required of you. You’re not mistreated in any way. If you want to keep your current cushy lifestyle, you’ll see to my daughter-in-law and return to your quarters without incident. Have I made myself clear?”

Rush nodded, but his mind was running. It was difficult not to laugh out loud.

Little has been required of me? You fucking used my sperm to make a human.That was a pretty huge fucking requirement.

Cushy lifestyle? Lady, I’m a prisoner in a jail cell. Rush fisted his palms behind his back to keep from throttling the hoity, haughty bitch.

Keep it together, Rush. Your ticket out of here is coming due.

Rush flinched at the sound of the heavy, metal gate to his cell being unlocked. It hadn’t been opened since he’d arrived. The sound of it screeching from lack of use as it swung open grated on his nerves.

He was surprised Braylon’s mother was letting him out without an entourage of guards with her, but the moment he stepped to the bottom of the stairs, he saw Storm standing at the top.

In truth, Mrs. Hanson had nothing to worry about. If Rush were to so much as look at her wrong, he’d be hung before nightfall.

He took deep breaths as he headed up the stairs with the woman behind him. And he wasn’t surprised to find Storm staring at him sternly. It was his job.

“Come with me,” he demanded.

Rush said nothing as he followed Storm, glancing around at the meticulous kitchen that could have been used to serve the entire neighborhood. There was a woman at the counter cutting up vegetables, but she barely glanced at him.

Rush had hoped to see more of the estate, but he was led to a set of stairs just outside the kitchen at the back of the house. These were undoubtedly secondary stairs. Not the main set he was sure was elaborate at the front entrance.

Rush followed Storm to the second floor and down the wide hallway past several rooms before coming to a door that was ajar. When Storm pushed the door open to let Rush inside, Mrs. Hanson rounded them to enter first.

She gasped. “What are you doing here?”

Rush stood just inside the doorway. Braylon was sitting on the edge of the bed, blocking Rush’s view. He turned toward his mother. “I came home early to check on my wife, mother. And you should have called me when she told you she wasn’t feeling well.”

Rush was impressed with Braylon’s ability to sound like he was in charge here. That most likely wasn’t even close to being true.

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