Page 61 of Compelled Obedience

“I gathered a sense you think you know why.”

She jerked her head up, her eyes finally piercing mine. “Why don’t you tell me? You seem to have me all figured out.” She sucked in her breath. “I’m sorry. I’m just rattled.”

“Understandable, but you need to realize I’m your friend. Does it really bother you so much that I want to learn more about you?”

“Only if you have a hidden agenda.” She rubbed her face. “And I’m being shitty again.”

“I don’t, Kerri. I want what’s best for you. Remember you were the one who wanted to work inside the club.”

When she jerked up, acting as if she was going to abandon the conversation, I growled. “Sit. Down.”

Her body stiffening, she did reluctantly. “Yes, I remember.”

“Good. Then answer my questions. I’m trying to help you.”

“First of all, I don’t need help. Second…” She laughed.

When she stopped, I tried to keep my patience, but it was waning. “Second?”

She laughed nervously as she flicked a strand of hair behind her ear, the slight movement sexy as hell. “Who am I kidding? I’m drowning in debt. My kid brother was abused for years, and I had to fight in court to be able to take care of him. The prick didn’t feed him properly or clothe him and never took him to a doctor.”

“Is this your stepfather?”

Exhaling, she shook her head. “Rebecca told you.”

“Only after telling me in no uncertain terms I better be nice to you.”

At least she smiled.

“She’s a good friend and yes. After my mother died, he wanted nothing to do with Casey but didn’t want me to see him either. He was… an aggressive asshole who worked for scum of the earth, or at least that’s what I heard. Then he was arrested after committing yet another crime, and I finally thought for certain that at least I could easily take Casey without an issue, but social services had a problem with the fact I was only twenty-four. They fought me getting custody. And honestly, if my deadbeat stepfather hadn’t gone to prison, I don’t think the courts would have allowed me to take him. Can you believe that? Maybe the judge was right when he told me that I was incapable of handling such a difficult child. I don’t know.”

The fact she was admonishing herself bothered me the hell out of me. And I could tell there was a hell of a lot more to the story. Why did my gut tell me it had everything to do with her being threatened? “Stop berating yourself. From what you’ve told me, the judge was a fucking moron.”

She laughed, taking a gulp of her wine and nodding. “You have no idea.”

There was more than just anger for the man regarding his mistreatment of her brother. I could sense whatever relationship they’d had was caustic.

“What was his name?”

“No, you don’t,” she insisted. “He’s in prison.”

“Then why are you being threatened?”

Her eyes fixed on mine for a few seconds before she looked away. “I don’t know. I honestly don’t know, Grant.”

I believed her, but I was certainly going to find out what the hell was going on.

“I need you to hear me. That beautiful little boy in there loves you to death. You’re his entire world. He can’t lose you, which means that you need to trust me enough to try and help you. Okay?”

The name of her stepfather would be easy enough to find. She didn’t need to be tasked with finding out whether the deadbeat remained in prison. I was furious, so much so I wasn’t certain I could hide it from her.

She rubbed her hand down her shorts, the nervous habit endearing. “I’ll try. I’ve been doing this alone for several years. I just need a break. You know?”

“Yeah, I completely understand.”

Kerri seemed relieved, but she was itching to tell me the rest of the story. I sensed it. However, if I prodded her to do so, there was no doubt she’d shut down. “He wasn’t too much trouble for you, was he?”

The thought of his reaction caused me to genuinely smile.

---