Chapter Twenty One

S hady banged on the door. Ruger let the curtain fall into place and looked at Rachel, sleeping in the bed.

She stirred, rolling over and blinking awake, instantly looking for him. He stepped over to the bed and smoothed her hair off her face.

"What was that noise?" She sank back into the pillow.

He'd gotten up when he heard a car approach the house and put on his jeans. A motorcycle wouldn't have gotten him out of the warm bed and away from Rachel. But a car had caught his attention.

"It looks like your brother has paid a visit." He straightened. "Stay in bed. I'll go see what he wants."

"No, I'll deal with him." She groaned, throwing off the comforter. "How did he know where to find me?"

He kept his opinion to himself. Anyone looking at Rachel could see how she felt about him. She wore her heart on her sleeve.

He stopped her before she could grab her clothes. "You still want to stay?"

She sagged against him. "Yes. I'll never change my mind."

He kissed her forehead. They hadn't talked much after having sex last night. It was the best he'd slept in a long time.

Bang. Bang. Bang.

He let her go and walked out of the room. Shady would have to learn that Rachel was with him now.

He double tapped the pistol under his belt. Today would be the last time Shady came to his house. He wasn't going to have trouble following Rachel's brother here.

Opening the door, he blocked the entrance. Shady stood with his hands shoved in his front pockets, looking over his shoulder. He was nervous or jacked up on something.

"Hey, man. Is my sister here?"

"She's here."

"Get her, brah. I need to talk to her."

He never budged. In the condition Shady was in, he wasn't getting near Rachel.

A soft hand landed on his bare back, and Rachel stepped beside him. "What do you want?"

"You need to stay away from the house for a while." Shady's gaze flickered everywhere but on Rachel. "I'll contact you when it's okay to come back."

Rachel stepped in front of Ruger. He grabbed her shoulders and pulled her back beside him. He wasn't going to allow Shady direct contact with her.

"What have you done this time?" she asked.

"It ain't me." Shady looked at Ruger. "You got any cash I can borrow? I swear on my life, I'll pay you back."

Rachel put her hand on Ruger's arm. "He's not giving you anything."

"Sis." Shady swayed from left foot to right foot, growing more agitated. "They're gonna kill me if I don't pay them back."

"How much?" she asked.

"Ten grand."

"Are you kidding me?" Rachel scoffed. "How did you think you'd come up with that much money."

"Are you going to help a brother out?" Shady ignored his sister.

"Don't give him anything. He got himself into trouble. He can find his way out." Rachel walked back into the house.

Ruger never wavered. He had the money. But he wasn't stupid.

"She'll be staying with me." He stepped outside and closed the door. "If I hear you've told anyone where she's staying, I'll kill you."

"Brah, it's me." Shady patted his chest. "I'm good. You can trust me."

"I trust no one." He went back inside and shut the door.

He knew Shady better than Shady knew himself. Briefly sharing a cell showed him enough to know that desperate men would promise their souls to the devil.

Going to the window, he made sure Shady got in his car and left the property. Shady had helped him once. He'd paid him back. There would not be a second time.

A cabinet door slammed in the kitchen. "Damnit."

Ruger entered the other room and found Rachel using her hand to sweep up spilled sugar on the counter. He grabbed a few sheets of paper towels and a paper plate. Instead of handing them to her, he moved her away from the mess and cleaned up the granules remaining on the counter.

"I don't know what's going on with my brother." Rachel blew out her breath. "Ever since my dad died, he's been running around—"

"He's desperate and running hot." He put the towels in the garbage. "It's what scared men do. It makes his life dangerous." He met her gaze. "I'm not going to let his trouble touch you."

She moistened her lips. "That's not fair to you."

"Fair or not, I'm taking it on."

Her brows furrowed, and she looked away. He waited for her to spit out her thoughts. The longer he waited, the tighter she pursed her lips.

How long had she kept her opinion to herself? She'd told him enough for him to understand that growing up in her family hadn't been a walk in the park. Was there ever a time when her family listened to her?

"God, I hate him," she exclaimed.

He reached for her. She threw up her hands.

"He never thinks of anyone but himself." She stabbed her finger in the air. "It took me a week to learn he was in prison because I was used to him staying away from the house." She scoffed. "It wasn't until one of his friends came over drunk, pushing his way into the house, that he told me Shady was arrested. I took the bat behind the door and kept swinging to get him out of the house so I could lock the door."

She shook in anger. He took every detail and would remember them because the next time he saw Shady, he was a dead man.

"I'll never go back home." Her wild gaze connected with his.

"You won't have to go back." He framed her face with his hands. "This is your home now."

She grabbed his vest. "Promise?"

He brought her to his chest and wrapped his arms around her. "On my life."

"I don't deserve you."

He cupped her head. She felt that way today, but he'd only disappoint her in time. Her opinion of him would change. There was nothing he could do to stop time.

Until she decided it was time to leave him, he'd do everything he could to make her feel safe.