“Where is he?” I ask, lulled into a weird calm by the man’s lack of violence.
“I planned to kill him clean and hide him somewhere nice and tidy,” the beast says before looking out the shades. “But he hurt the kid. I saw him hit you. When you took her to the clinic, I grabbed the asshole. It wasn’t the plan, but I couldn’t wait any longer.”
The man clenches his fists. Stepping in front of Blair, I wait for him to lash out. He only watches me, radiating hostility. Lowering my gaze submissively, I notice his bruised and busted knuckles.
I consider his words again. Why would a man sent to murder me lie about killing Neal? My gaze lifts to meet his. In the room’s dull light, I can’t tell what color his eyes are, but they stare back at me filled with rage.
“Who are you?” I ask again, still waiting for the trick.
“People call me Nomad. I ride with the Steel Berserkers Motorcycle Club.”
I instantly go cold. Neal Copper and his family wouldn’t have any ties to those bikers. Years ago, my brother-in-law got into a fight with one of the criminals. Chris still doesn’t walk right. No way did the Coppers ask this man to trick me. My husband didn’t hire him, either.
“Is Neal really dead?” I ask, reaching for Blair’s hand.
The beast named Nomad holds my gaze and nods. “I suspected he put his hands on you. You had a fat lip once, but I wasn’t sure. I planned to wait until you had the baby. It was all organized in my head, but I heard him break the girl’s arm. I saw him hit you. I nearly came at him right then. Maybe I should have, but I feared scaring you.”
When we only stare at him, he chuckles. “Guess I’m scaring you plenty now.”
As my chest tightens and I imagine a life without Neal, I ask, “What do you want?”
“You,” he says, holding my gaze. “You need to come with me.”
“Why?”
“Which part?”
“Either one.”
“I saw you at the store,” he says, his gaze getting hazy as if reminiscing. “You were so beautiful. I wanted you then, but you’ve got the baby in you. I figured I’d wait until you were more comfortable. It made sense up here,” he says and taps his head. “When he put his hands on you and hurt the girl, I couldn’t wait.”
I glance at Blair, who stares at him wide-eyed.
“What happens now?” she asks Nomad.
“You have to leave with me.”
“And go where?” she demands while I consider escape plans.
“I childproofed my house for your little ones,” Nomad says, drawing my attention back to him. “You can’t stay here. His family is rotten, too. They’ll think you had something to do with him disappearing. I can’t protect you if you’re in this house. They won’t be able to mess with you at my place.”
“I can’t leave with you,” I say, forcing the words out of my dry mouth. “How can I leave?”
Blair tightens her grip on my hand. She grew up wanting to run. We fled for the first time when she was three. Then again when she was four. I kept trying to break free. My oldest daughter has always understood our situation in a way the younger kids can’t.
Blair wants more out of life. She sees what other kids enjoy. She has dreams like I did at her age. That’s why she pushed back against Neal tonight. It’s also why she grips my hand when this beast offers a fresh start.
However, I know my luck. I left home at fourteen to free myself of my abusive parents. I bounced from one bad situation to another before getting stuck in Beehive Ridge with the Copper clan.
Leaving this prison only means entering a new one. I understand how we might end up dead. I’ve never been really able to protect my children. Each year, I get weaker, slower to react, and more useless.
This beast is bound to be the end of us.What can I possibly do to stop him?
“Landry.”
I’m startled by Nomad using my name with such casual familiarity as if we’re old friends. I look into his eyes and imagine this face being the last thing Neal saw.
“You deserve better than this life. I’m offering that.”