“At what price?” I ask, choking on the words as my emotions blind me to the right choice.
“I want you to love me,” he says in a sickly haunted voice, leading me to step back. “Maybe you can’t. But that’s not a question for right now. It’s too soon. You can answer the question when the baby is born, and you know me.”
Looking at Blair, I wish she wasn’t the only person I trusted with my secrets. I know how it feels to have parents drop their crap on such young shoulders.
My mom would wake me up in the middle of the night to tell me how my father was out with another woman. I’d stay up with her while she cried and ranted.She hated him. We were leaving. The world wasn’t fair. She was moving on. I couldn’t love him anymore. He was the worst.
The next day, I’d sit exhausted at school, thinking we were moving. Yet, when I returned home, nothing ever changed.
I’ve tried to avoid dumping my troubles on Blair, but she’s too smart to remain blind to the dysfunctions around her.
“Is your house big enough for all of us?” Blair asks him when I remain silent.
Nomad stares at her with a fearsome expression before smiling. His face flips upside down from monstrous to handsome and harmless.
“My house is four times the size of this place, and it’s ready for you kids. I even put up a playset with a sandbox like the one Beau enjoys at the park.”
His words echo in my head, begging for a response. Silence is all I can manage.
Years ago, I was like a skittish stray cat, ready to bail at the first sign of trouble. Baby after baby wore me down. These days, I struggle to decide between two brands of spaghetti sauce.How can I decide such a huge thing as walking away with a scary man who claims to have killed my violent husband?
Rather than choosing based on logic, I’m startled by a car’s tires screeching as it takes the corner too fast. I imagine the Copper family showing up here.
They’ll blame me for Neal’s death. I’ve already gotten a text from Sandra Copper, accusing me of attacking Blair and trying to pin her broken arm on Neal. That message came while we were at the clinic. I suspect the family feared I’d fess up to the doctors and get the police involved.
No matter what a member of the Copper family does, the others support them. Years ago, I showed up at a family dinner, sporting two black eyes. The Coppers spent the entire day ragging on me for playing up my injury, accusing me of lying about how it happened, and even claiming I wore makeup to darken the bruises. Every insult ended with the implied threat that I might be too “unstable” to raise the kids.
Taking away my babies is their go-to threat. If I bail on Beehive Ridge, I can only leave alone. If I piss off Neal and he throws me out, the kids can’t go with me.
I feel that worry bearing down on me when the car speeds down the rural road. If I stay here, the Coppers will gang up on me and steal my kids. Over time, they’ll turn my babies against me. I have no allies. No one will help me in this town.
If Neal’s truly dead, I’m in trouble. Not only with this terrifying man in my house, but the Copper family will squeeze me hard until they’ve taken everything.
This dump of a house belongs to Jakob. My rusted-out SUV is in Neal’s name. I don’t have access to a bank account. I pay for everything in cash. I currently have thirty-two dollars hidden around the house.
My gaze focuses on Nomad’s boots. Though not new, they’re high quality. I glance out the shades to find a large, high-end, black SUV in the drive.
Nomad isn’t a degenerate weirdo off the street. This man claims his home has space for us. I know he has more than thirty-two dollars to his name. He’s a member of the motorcycle club that runs McMurdo Valley.
Many men have wanted me in my life. I learned early on how my looks could buy a slightly better life.
Right now, Nomad wants me. I can’t imagine why when I’m nearly nine months pregnant, sweaty, and exhausted. He might have a fetish. Or he might be a sicko, more interested in my babies.
I look at Blair’s arm and think of Nomad’s reaction to her pain. Neal hadn’t cared at all. He showed no fear or remorse. His own flesh and blood suffered under the power of his rage, but he was only pissed about the noise.
Forcing my gaze to meet Nomad’s, I see a man capable of tearing me apart. He’s more frightening than any of my past violent lovers.
However, he talked about a playset for my babies. Does that show he’s got a good heart or is it more reason to worry?
My mind replays Blair screaming in pain and recalls her crying quietly as we waited at the clinic. I swore to myself I would do anything to protect her.
Right now, I can offer an escape. Even if I have to suffer under this biker’s fists, my babies will get another chance.
That’s the price for freedom from the Copper family.
Since I was fourteen, I’ve embraced the devil I didn’t know to free myself from the one currently ruining me. Tonight, with a violent man who wants me to love him, I’ll do it again.