Shit. That was super weird to discuss with him. I tried to be clinical about it. “I, I don’t know exactly. I think so.” My chin wobbled a little as I held back more tears. It wasn’t like I had the opportunity to shower properly and check since I fled the hospital. Once I ate and was rested, I would tackle that obstacle. Not now.
“I shouldn’t have asked.” He seemed embarrassed. “Just tell me to shut the fuck up if I talk too much. It’s a personality flaw.” The smile on his face was forced but neither of us voiced it.
“I will,” I promised. It wasn’t the many violations I had experienced over the last couple of years that made my emotions surface. It was the stupid vulnerability I felt. What was the matter with me? I felt completely off kilter. Like someone had shifted every aspect of who I was, and I didn’t know if I could ever recover the parts that made up Naomi Peters.
Would I ever be whole again?
Chapter 17 – Nylah
I heard the roar of the motorcycles long before Rael and Grim pulled into my driveway. It was the middle of the night, but I hadn’t been able to sleep. My thoughts were centered on Naomi. I couldn’t shake the feeling that she was in trouble. By the time Rael was knocking on my door, I was dressed and shoving my feet into boots. Three seconds later my cell phone started ringing. He was so damn impatient.
I swiped across the screen as I ran toward the front door. “I’m coming.”
“Good. Move that delicious ass faster, kitten.” He hung up.
Sexy Bastard.
As soon as I opened the door, Rael and Grim waltzed in. I nodded a greeting to Grim before turning my attention to Rael. “Did you find her?” Until that moment, I didn’t realize how fast my heart was beating. My bottom lip was being torn apart by my teeth. To say I was anxious would be an understatement.
“Hey, stop that,” he ordered. “Not only did I find Trixie, but she’s at the Crossroads.”
What the hell were we waiting for? Why wasn’t he dragging me outside?
I was about to run outdoors when he caught my arm. “Hold on.”
“Rael, I need to see her.”
“We know,” Grim intervened. “And you will.”
“But you should know what happened first,” Rael added.
Fear kicked in hard as I stared into Rael’s hazel eyes, terrified of his next words.
Grim headed toward my front door. “I’ll give you a minute.”
Once he was gone, Rael pulled me into his arms. “Some Russian fucker had her in the back of his car. She was drugged and nearly naked, tied up, and we don’t know how long she was like that.”
“Shit.” I slipped toward the ground when Rael scooped under my knees and caught me. He sat down on the new couch, noticing it briefly before our eyes met.
“Listen, I know this is a shock. She’s been through a lot. I don’t know her mental state. You need to be prepared.” He cleared his throat and I knew there was more. “We have the Russian. He’s in our basement. We’re gonna take care of him, Nylah.”
So? They could kill that asshole and I wouldn’t say a word. I understood that Rael was trying to protect and prepare me for what was coming, but this was my sister. I’d deal with what was going to happen tonight, but I had to get to her as quickly as possible. Naomi needed me. “None of that matters. She’s family. It’s simple.”
He nodded, the respect clear in his gaze. “You’re tough, kitten. That’s sexy as fuck.” Maybe it was the wrong time to admit that, but Rael was straightforward. No bullshit. It was just his personality. I could appreciate that he was trying to keep things from becoming too dark for me. His concern was evident.
/> “Stop trying to distract me,” I joked as I stood, smirking at his amused expression with a wink.
Rael leaned in and his lips hovered over mine as he stood, yanking our bodies together. “You keep teasing me the way you do and I’m not gonna be responsible for my actions.”
My hand immediately found his crotch and the bulge that confirmed exactly what he meant. “I’ll let you know when I’m ready.” He growled low in response. “I’ve always wanted to take a wild ride with a biker.”
Rael’s mouth crashed down on mine and I nearly moaned with the passion contained within his lips alone. “The only biker you’re ridin’ with or fuckin’ is me, little hellcat. Don’t you forget it.”
Batting my eyelashes, I didn’t answer.
His hand landed on my backside and I nearly jumped. “Don’t push it.”
“Rael.”