Chapter 12

Istand outside my parents' house with Bambi, and I know my mom is watching us through the slit in the curtains.

"I don't like not going with you." Bambi places her hand on my chest, but she won't look up at me.

We got here a couple of hours ago, and I explained to my parents why she needed to be kept safe. They, of course, didn't blink an eye, and Mom started cooking the second we walked in the door. They had plates of food out and the guest room already set up, and we crashed for a few hours. And for the first time ever, my mom didn't ask too many questions. Although I have a sneaking suspicion that my dad made that happen before we got here.

I'm still a good drive from the city, but I want to get it over with. They said we had until tonight, but the sooner I have Bambi back in my arms, the better.

"Hey." I place both my hands on her shoulders and then rub my thumbs along her neck. "Look at me, babe." She lets out a long breath and when those dark green eyes meet mine, I see tears. "You trust me, right?" She nods. "Then trust that I'll handle this."

"I do. I'm just worried you'll get jumped or something else crazy and then where will that leave me? I can't be without you, Angus. We've only just found each other."

She falls against me, and I hold her close as I kiss the top of her head and tell her not to cry. "You think I'd let anyone or anything separate me from you? The devil himself would be let down because he couldn't drag me away."

Bambi smiles as she looks up at me, and I wipe away her tears. "Hurry back to me."

"Didn't I tell you already? You've given me wings." I lean down and kiss her softly on each cheek and then on her lips. "I wasn't alive until I saw you, Bambi. Now I can do anything."

I kiss her one last time and then step back to get in my SUV. I wave at the curtains and then they part and my mom is standing there waving back at me. My dad walks on the porch, and I wait for Bambi to walk back up to where they are. I take one last look before I pull out of the driveway and head toward the highway.

I make another phone call on the way into the city and put in the escort service Bambi told me about in the GPS. She gave me the address and told me what she could remember about Vivian, the bouncer, and how deep her brother was. I hated having to hear about all the pain she's suffered in her life, but in a way it brought us closer together.

Once I pull up outside the building, I get out of the SUV and make my way inside. There's a lounge in the front with velvet couches, dark drapes, and soft music playing. There's a reception desk with a woman behind it wearing lingerie.

"Hi handsome, have you got an appointment?" She looks me up and down, but I keep my eyes on the camera above where she's sitting.

"Tell Vivian she can let me back," I say without breaking eye contact with the camera because I know she's listening.

I hear the door in front of me buzz and I walk through it. The hallway is dark with doors all the way down. I hear the sounds of people fucking on the other side of those doors, but I ignore it. If I think about it too long, I'll imagine Bambi in there against her will and I'll lose my cool. I need to keep it right now more than ever.

"Where's the girl?" Vivian asks when I walk into her office.

"She's none of your concern." I cross my arms over my chest and glance around the empty office. "Where's Jero?"

She shrugs and leans back in her chair like she's got all day.

"Okay then, you tell me what you want, and we can get this over with."

"I only want what's owed to me." Her smile is stretched tight, and she spreads her hands casually like she's the queen of the kingdom.

"Which is?"

"Bambi was set to make us a fortune. We've already had someone place an order for her virginity."

The words come out of her mouth, and I rush forward to slam my fists down on her desk. "Never." The word is so loud it booms through the room, and I see the door behind her desk open and Robert the bouncer steps through. I see the cast on his wrist and feel a sense of satisfaction.

"I'm sure you can understand our financial predicament." Vivian speaks like we're in a business meeting. "She's indebted to the company, along with the debt her brother Jero leveraged against her."

"Why don't you ask him to join us?" I say as I straighten up.

"I'm afraid that won't be possible. He's being detained as collateral until she's paid back what's owed."

"If this was about money, you'd just ask me to write a check," I seethe, waiting for her to get to the fucking point. "So why don't you tell me what it's going to cost to cut ties or give me the real reason you want her so badly."

"It's not about you giving us the money back; it's about our clients getting what they want. And they've paid handsomely for her innocence."

"Too fucking late," I say through gritted teeth.

"Told you he'd fuck her," Robert says, and I glare at him.

"Enough!" I roar. "Jero, get your fucking ass out of that room and face me."

Vivian narrows her eyes on me and after a long second the door opens once more and Jero steps out. He's thin, with dark circles under his eyes, but otherwise looks totally fine. Just as I knew he would be.

"There was never a loan shark," I tell him, and he looks away, not meeting my eyes. "You lied to your sister so she'd get you money to fund your lifestyle of drinking and drugs. You've got some debts around town but nothing that couldn"t be worked out."

Vivian sits up in her chair, and the smug look on her face is gone.

"I might be from out of town, but I've got my own connections. And what I found out was that you sold your sister to Vivian. You knew she was a virgin, and you came to Vivian with a deal. When Bambi took off you realized your money train had skipped town, so you made it seem like you'd been kidnapped for the debt."

When no one answers me, I know that the information Rogue gave me was spot on. I was sick to my stomach hearing it and had to pull over and throw up when he told me. The thought of someone, anyone, putting their hands on my Bambi made me physically ill.

"All right, let's make a deal then," Vivian says, back to business. "We move the debt to Jero and cut ties with Bambi."

"Hey, wait, that's not part of the deal," Jero protests.

"How much?" I ask, and the room turns to face me. Vivian slides a piece of paper across her desk. On it is the sum of what she stood to make on Bambi. I stare at it and then let out a humorless laugh. "You don't even know her true worth."

I reach in my back pocket and pull out the zipper bank bag I brought with me. I take out the stack of cash that's twice what they thought they"d make on the love of my life and place it on the desk between us.

"This is a severance package." I look at Vivian. "We are done with all business concerning Bambi." She nods, and I look at Jero. "And you will never see or speak to your sister again. There is no room for negotiation."

"But—"

"No," I bark, and he shuts his mouth. "Never. Ever."

He huffs as he looks away, and I straighten. Vivian grabs the money and quickly puts it away.

I take the empty zipper bag and turn around to leave the office, but I feel movement behind me.

"You're not keeping me from my sister."

When I turn around, he's right behind me, but he's at least a foot shorter and isn't half my weight soaking wet.

"Yes, that's exactly what I'm doing." He opens his mouth to protest again, and I've had enough. I grab him by the throat and march him backwards until his head cracks against the wall.

I can see out of the corner of my eye that Vivian gets out of her chair and backs up while Robert stands in front of her.

"You are dead to her." I raise him off the ground so his feet dangle for purchase. "And if you come around her ever again, I'll make sure you're literally six feet under. I've got a shovel and a lot of land to hide a body." His eyes are bloodshot, and his face is purple, but I squeeze harder as rage overtakes me. "Make a sound if you understand me."

His choking gurgle is enough for me, and I drop him to the floor in a crumpled heap. I turn and face Robert and Vivian and point my finger in their direction.

"I won't lose a second of sleep putting you two in the ground beside him." Vivian nods as she moves from behind Robert and smooths down her business suit. "And by the way—" I take my phone out and hold it up for them to see. "This is being recorded by some close friends of mine that have all the right connections. So in case you have any smart ideas about coming back for more money, know that I've got friends that will make sure you're taken care of."

Jero coughs on the floor as he tries to catch his breath, and I kick him in the balls on the way out. I hear his choked cries and Vivian berating Robert as the door closes behind me.

I'm done fucking around with this shit, but I've made sure to lock up this part of Bambi's past and throw away the key. Never again will their filth touch her, and I'm going to make damn sure the rest of her life is spent living for our future. Together.

Chapter 13 Bambi

"You sweet girl." Julie engulfs me in a hug. A real one where you hold on tight and don't let go. I hug her back the same and realize I'm already a little in love with Angus's mom.

"Let the girl breathe, honey," I hear Mitch say.

"Mind your business," she sasses back at him, making me laugh. She lets me go, her hands coming to my cheeks. "This world has not been kind to you, but you're still as sweet as can be."

I smile back at her, my eyes filling with tears. "Thank you."

"No, thank you." She steps back, sitting down at the table with me. We've been here for a while. With the amount of food she keeps trying to get me to eat, I think she might be trying to fatten me up.

"Why are you thanking me? It"s all of you who helped me. I don't want to know where I'd be right now if it wasn"t for Angus." It's such a terrifying thought and one I never want to think about again. Angus is mine now. He's in my life, and he'll never let anyone hurt me.

"And I'm not sure where our Angus would have been five years from now without you."

"He'd be a lumberjack," Mitch answers, walking by to go into the kitchen.

"Likely. He'd be up in that cabin all the time alone. It's a beautiful cabin, but no one should be alone that much. Angus never could find a girl that turned his eye though." I feel my face warm. "I'd always poke him because, well, that's what moms do. He said he wasn"t settling. So when you picked up the phone the other night, I knew he'd found her. You." Julie's smile is infectious. She couldn"t be happier that Angus and I are together. Even with everything that has happened.

"That's really nice of you to say. I do love him."

"I know. It's all over your face." Julie picks up the teapot and fills my cup. Mitch walks back in and hands his wife a cardigan that she slips on without either of them saying a word.

"He knew you were cold?"

"Yes, he can read me better than I can read myself." Angus's parents are too good to be true. I've never met a family like theirs before. It's clear where Angus gets his looks since he and his dad could almost be twins. Although Angus is a touch bigger than his father.

"That's really sweet."

"All my boys are well trained." She winks at me.

I think Angus grew up with parents that truly love each other. I'm sure it made them want the same thing, and that's why he wasn"t willing to settle. It warms me to think I give that to him since he's given me so much already.

"I believe it. It took you all of five minutes to get my life story out of me."

She smirks. "We all have our talents."

I glance toward the front door again.

"He's fine, sweetheart. Angus always knows what he's doing." She reaches out and grabs my hand. Julie is everything a mom should be. "He's going to come back here, and then we'll see about planning this wedding."

My mouth falls open. "We're not engaged." We only said I love you hours ago, and just thinking about it makes my heart flutter. Marriage was never something I thought about until Angus.

"It's better to get a start on these things. Unless you're okay with a baby bump in the wedding pictures. I've always thought that was kind of cute." She leans over. "And sexy." I burst out laughing. "All I'm saying is think about it."

Oh, now I am thinking about it. Angus hasn"t asked me to marry him, but things have been crazy. We did have unprotected sex, so I guess I could be pregnant right this moment. The thought isn"t as scary as I thought it would be. I can see living out in the cabin with a few little ones. It sounds like a dream.

I jerk around when headlights flash across the house, and I'm out of my seat, racing for the door. I fling it open and run towards the truck. He barely hops out, and I'm on him, jumping into his arms and kissing him.

"You're back." Before he can respond, I'm kissing him again. I don't want to stop but I need to look at him. I lean back and take him in. He looks fine, and I don't think he's been in any kind of fight. "You're okay?"

"My girl just ran and jumped in my arms. Yeah, I'm okay."

I brush my fingers across his cheek, and I can't stop smiling. Then I remember my brother. I was so wrapped up in Angus being back, I wasn"t thinking about why he was gone to begin with.

"He's alive," is all Angus says and it's cryptic. "And he'll be staying away from you."

I nod because that's for the best. It isn"t just me anymore, and I have to think about the other people in my life who Jero could affect. I will not let that happen. I want a real family, and he's not it, not anymore.

Angus gives my ass a squeeze, and I smile. "What about everything else?"

"Babe, I handled everything. You stick with me, and I'll always handle everything. You never even have to ask because I'll already be doing it."

I kiss him again, and I can't stop. I don't think I've been this happy in my whole life. For once it feels like I have a chance at a real future.

"I take it everything went okay." I freeze and then slowly pull my mouth away from Angus's. I should have known his mom followed me out.

"Yep." He gives my ass another squeeze. I try to give him a look, but he only smirks.

"Don't think you're leaving here tonight. It's late and you haven't slept," his dad says, and I realize he's right. I wanted some alone time with Angus, but I need to remember that now I'm going to have Angus every day. Waiting one more won"t hurt.

"Good call, Pops, I'm beat," Angus agrees. "We'll go home tomorrow."

"Home?"

"Yeah, home."

"I really like the sound of that." I wiggle so he'll put me down, but he doesn"t. Instead he starts walking toward the house with me in his arms.

"Angus, put me down," I hiss and try to wiggle more. That only gets me tossed over his shoulder. "Angus!" I cry out when he smacks my ass. I hear his mom laugh, and I blush.

"These boys are just like you, Mitch." Angus stops walking, and I think he's going to put me down, but I'm wrong.

"Thanks. I love you guys," he tells his parents.

I get all warm inside at how close he is to them. It shows me what kind of husband and father he'll be one day.

"You don't ever have to thank us. This is what family does," Julie tells him.

"Take your woman to bed before all the blood goes to her head," Mitch chuckles.

"Thank you!" I tell them, which gets me another slap on the ass, but at least he's moving. He doesn"t stop until we're back in the spare bedroom, and he's dropping me on the bed. "You're terrible."

"Yeah." He reaches behind and pulls his shirt off before kicking his shoes off too.

"Well, I didn"t think you would just agree."

He gives me a wicked smirk. "I'm about to do all kinds of terrible things to you in this bed with my parents down the hall." I shake my head, but he just goes for his pants. "It's happening."

He's beautifully naked in front of me, and I stare at his cock. "I don't even know what to charge for this." I pull my shirt over my head, excited to be skin on skin.

"I don't care. You can have everything I've got. Now take the rest off," he orders, and I do what he says. The look in his eyes is almost feral, and I realize he's been holding back. I scoot to the middle of the bed and spread my legs. His eyes drop to my sex, and he licks his lips. "You"re wet."

"You're naked, can you blame me?" My clit is already throbbing.

"I'm sorry, babe."

Before I can ask why, he's on me. He pushes me down onto the mattress as his mouth takes mine. The kiss is hard and possessive. I don't know if he's trying to reassure himself I'm still here or if he's trying to mark me. I'd guess a little of both, and I'm more than happy to help.

He jerks his mouth from mine as he licks and sucks my neck. I bite my lip, trying not to moan. "Fuck, I love you so damn much." His knees push my legs farther apart, and his cock rubs against my clit. His hands and mouth are everywhere, and I feel like he's devouring me in the most primal way.

"I love you too." My hands go to his ass when the tip of his cock starts to press inside of me.

"So wet for me," he groans. "I'll do better next time." He thrusts all the way inside of me, and I gasp at how full I am. "But I need you hard and fast right now."

"Then take it." I reach up and wrap my fingers around one of the metal bars on the headboard.

"Fuck." He sits up on his knees and pulls me up his thighs as he starts to thrust in and out of me. I moan at how deep it feels like this. His fingers dig into my hips as he pumps while in total control of my body. He can go as fast or slow as he wants, and he knows it too.

His eyes are everywhere, like he doesn't know where to look. He can't decide between watching his cock thrust in and out of me or watching my breasts bounce with each thrust. I stare at his face, getting off on how turned on he is right now. And the fact that he's a little out of control.

One of his hands leaves my hips, and his thumb presses on my clit in firm circles. This time I can't hold back, and I moan his name.

"Come for me quick, Bambi. I'm not going to last," he grits out, and my pussy clenches around his cock.

I cum and take him right along with me. His release makes me so full, I'm overspilling onto my thighs. He stares at it for a second before he falls forward and onto me. We're both trying to catch our breath as his sweat-slicked skin slides over mine.

"I love you," I say, wrapping my arms around him.

"Love you too." He kisses me, and I feel his cock twitch with the aftereffects of his orgasm. He's still rock-hard, and I realize Angus is nowhere near done. Neither am I, but I have a feeling we'll never be.

Who knew taking a job as an erotic dancer would have been the best decision of my life?