Chapter Four
Harlyn was snoring next to me, but I barely even noticed the soft noise, my mind still reeling from the events of today. I sat at the edge of the bed, staring at the light as it began to fade against the curtains before it would cast the room into darkness.
I welcomed it, hoping that by some grace that once darkness fell, I would finally be able to close my eyes and get some sleep without hearing the screams of my frightened child, cringing as they pierced my eardrums. Harlyn’s cries were like something out of a horror movie, and would no doubt, haunt me for a long time to come. I’d never seen or felt her that scared for her entire life. Even when she was three and broke her wrist, not much more than a whimper left her mouth. She was a strong kid, sometimes a little too strong. I wanted her to be confident and independent, but I also needed her to know that she wasn’t invincible.
I reached over and pulled open the drawer beside our bed, fishing around inside until I found a small bag. Slowly I unzipped it, hoping that the quiet noise wouldn’t rouse my light sleeping daughter. Tampons filled the bag, a clever disguise. Digging beneath them, I inhaled a calming breath as my fingers touched the small pill container at the bottom.
You don’t need them.
The voice was soft but stern. Unfortunately, it was overpowered by the thumping in my chest and the haze that was settling in my mind.
I need something.
Upending the bottle, I tipped a tiny pill into my hand before stashing the nearly empty container back into its hiding place. Clutching the blanket in one hand and the pill in the other, I anchored myself down as every part of my mind told me to get the hell out of there. Optimus promised that us coming back meant us being safe, but it felt so far from the truth right now. There were things I needed to consider, not just this danger, but other problems that even Op and the club weren’t aware of. I’d risked a lot by coming back here, but it had come to a point where I needed to consider what was best for Harlyn and stop being so damn selfish.
A soft knock at the door drew me away from my internal battle. My body shook as I scurried to tuck the pill underneath my pillow. It slipped from my fingers and in my haste, it fell down the back of the bed. Tears welled up in my eyes, but instead of chasing after it, I looked over to check Harlyn was still sleeping soundly before I climbed off the bed and made my way toward the door. Pulling it open an inch, I was expecting Optimus but instead found a tired looking Wrench standing on the other side. I licked my lips as I took him in, his cap pulled low on his head so I could barely see his eyes.
“Can I come in?” he asked, his voice gravelly and rough.
Pulling the door open, I stepped aside and allowed him through, softly closing it behind him.
His eyes looked over to Harlyn’s sleeping body, and I saw his shoulder slump slightly as if relieved to see her relaxed and in a deep slumber. “How is she?”
His obvious concern for Harlyn’s well-being warmed my belly and brought a smile to my face. Something I didn’t think I could be capable of, after what had happened. “She’s okay. A little scared, but with all you guys around I don’t think it will last very long. She feels safe around the brothers.”
“She should. You know the extent we’ll go to protect her… and you.” His gaze was intense, it burned through me as though he was trying to deliver me some sort of unspoken message. “How are you feeling?”
The question caught me off guard, and for a second I opened my mouth to spill out every single emotion inside me. My heart told me to share that with him, that I felt safe and comfortable enough to divulge my deepest darkest fears just from a simple question. Maybe it was the way his eyes stared into mine, daring me to tell him a lie and say that I was perfectly fine. For some reason, I knew that he would call me out on it, that he wouldn’t accept anything other than the truth, so that was what I gave him.
“I’m scared,” I said simply, shrugging my shoulders. “I’ve been here before, and I know what it’s like. But Harlyn… she’s never been scared of a damn thing in her life.”
Even in the darkening room, I still caught the way his muscles bulged as he clenched his fists. He was a powerful force, his broad shoulders and thick arms making my body ache as I imagined them wrapped tightly around me, holding me close, sheltering me.
“I’ll fight with every breath I have to make sure nothing happens to her,” he said quietly.
“Why?” The question fell from my mouth before I even had a second to filter it. My curiosity getting the best of me. I understood that the brothers here all felt some kind of responsibility for Harlyn because she was their president’s daughter. It was their duty to make sure that she had everything she needed, and she was kept as safe and as happy as humanly possible. But it was the tone of his voice, and the way his words felt more than just a brother’s vow, and more like an emotional promise that had made me question him.
“Because she’s a part of you,” he answered, taking a step forward.
Unconsciously I reacted, taking a step back as you do when someone else steps inside your personal bubble. It stalled him for a moment, and I could tell he was wondering what his next move should be. Energy fizzed in the air between us, but I still wasn’t quite sure what it meant or why it was there.
Wrench had been sweet to me, caring and supportive over the past few days. I found myself enjoying the way he openly baited me with smart comments and jokes and wasn’t afraid to show his attraction despite Optimus’ obvious hands off warnings.
I guess it was kind of nice to have someone risk an ass beating in order to flirt with me and pay me compliments. It was like he was puttingmefirst, and God, it had been a long time since anyone, including myself, had put me first.
Taking a second within the silence, I allowed my eyes to roam his body, starting at his face. Half of it was covered, and that for some reason annoyed me. “Why do you always wear a cap?”
He raised his hand and grabbed the bill of his cap, lifting it off his head for just a few seconds as he scrubbed his hand over his scruffy blonde hair. It was wild and untamed, like he repeated that same action hundreds of times a day, never allowing it to smooth out. Then he twisted the cap and placed it on backward, so his face was clear and unhidden.
“Better?”
I smiled. “That didn’t exactly answer my question, but yeah… it is better.”
He smirked back at me, the playful look on his face burning through my body and pulling me in. He continued to keep tight-lipped, not offering me any other explanation, so I moved on. With the little light that was left in the room, I could clearly now see the color of his eyes—a soft shade of dark blue with a hint of gray when the light caught them. They were both soft, and fierce, holding me captive for a few extra seconds before I managed to cut the tempting connection.
His jaw was lightly covered in stubble. It had been since we’d been here, and imagining him with a clean-shaven face seemed almost unthinkable. A baby soft face on a man like Wrench just wasn’t something I could imagine, it wouldn’t suit his personality.
Suddenly, I wanted to know what it would feel like when he kissed me. Would it be rough and scratchy, or would it tickle against my lips as I brushed them along his jaw? I wanted to know what it would feel like, dragged along the most sensitive parts of my skin and his soft lips eased the burn it would cause.