The problem is that I can’t be seen in that neighborhood. Not with the tattoos I have; I’ll be mistaken for something I’m not, but secretly would get a rush from.
Do I want to put myself in danger for someone other than Snow?
Not particularly.
I just know that I won’t be able to fucking sleep properly if I don’t.
A plan begins to formulate in my mind, and I step out of the car, leaving the engine still running. No one inthisfancy neighborhood would ever dream of stealing a car; especially one that belongs to me.
I’m seen as enigmatic and I revel in the knowledge that most of the people that live on my street are too afraid of me to approach my door, or even wave hello when I step outside.
When I reach the front door, I lean over and pick up a fake stone that holds an extra house key, pry it open, then remove it so I can let myself in.
What I’m planning to do isn’t going to sit well with Snow, but she should be grateful that I’m giving her the chance to go outside. It’s something she hasn’t earned yet, but I have to make sure that my staff are safe at all costs and this is the only way I know how to do it.
I head into the living room quickly and toward the closet where her leash sits on the top shelf. Once I’ve secured that, I leave her in the corner like the good little pup that she is and walk back to my bedroom.
I don’t want her to do this the way I have her dressed in my home because it will just give an excuse to have her taken from me.
Or worse yet; probably raped or killed.
That’s not acceptable.
Not when I’ve been working so hard to keep her in Los Angeles with me.
I pull open the top drawer on my dresser and pull out one of my shirts and a pair of basketball shorts. After that, I go to the closet and drop to my knees to rummage around in the boxes I keep on the floor.
Once I find the box I’m looking for, I shake my head ruefully.
This was supposed to be for a special time. One where she proved to me that she learned every lesson I had wanted to instill in her and that she’d be willing to trounce down a street with me to show off the completion of her lessons.
Instead, I’m breaking my own rules and pushing her to a reward that she still seems miles away from.
I crack my neck as I get to my feet and walk back into the living room. I take the few steps toward Snow and crouch down next to her.
“Get dressed,” I say to her softly as I place the items on the floor. “We have somewhere that we need to be.”
Chapter Ten
I glance over at Snow who’s now in the passenger seat, knees pulled up to her chest, arms wrapped around them, watching the world go by outside of her window.
I can’t remember the last time she was outside, though I hope she appreciates it even though it’s not in the daylight.
Leaning over I place a hand on her kneepads that I had her slip on, to which she lowers her eyes curiously at the gesture, then quickly steals a glance at me. I wait until she looks again before I take my hand away and chuckle.
“Don’t be afraid, okay?” I tell her softly. “I promise that I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
Snow nods as she turns her gaze toward the windshield. She doesn’t know Los Angeles because she’s not from around here.
She’s from somewhere near the Rocky Mountains and she’s mostly used to skiing and country life.
Being in a place like this was a shellshock to her when she arrived, but I think she does better with me than she did on her own.
Freedom was something she gained from her parents when her father beat her one too many times and Child Protective Services took her away. I think she was twelve at the time and she aged out six years later. From our first conversation, if I remember correctly, she told me that she got a part-time job at some ski place near the mountains and lived in a tiny, one-bedroom apartment.
Stumbling around onFacebookone day, she came across the tattoo shop and messaged the page.
Turns out that Snow was a huge fan of our work after seeing a feature inInked Magazineand was hoping to get some work done by Carter.