Chapter Six

R achel opened the door before Ruger could knock. She wasn't giving up hope that he'd change his mind about leaving her in the apartment once he returned.

He held out a phone. "It's paid for three months."

Relief flooded her. It was a simple thing. A pay-as-you-go phone. But it could connect her to others.

"Thank you." She held the cell to her chest. "Do you know if there's a way I can get a message to Shady, and he can call me on this phone?"

"Not through me."

"But, you found me." She hugged herself. "Shady told you, right? You must be in contact with him."

"It's not how you think."

"Then, you can get ahold of him."

"Rach..." He exhaled heavily. "He'd have to call me, and I no longer owe him any favors. Ask that guy that brought you here. He'll have a better chance at talking to your brother. You can use the phone and put a visitation request in at the prison and wait for approval."

"No." Her dad never allowed her near the prison when he served time. He always said it was no place for his daughter. "Shady wouldn't want me to come there."

"That's one smart thing he's done," muttered Ruger.

Behind him, the sky was pink. Soon, it would be dark, and she'd be alone.

She shivered. The last thing she wanted to do was stay by herself. The night hours stretched forever until the walls closed in, and she panicked.

"Take care of yourself, Rach." He turned away from her.

"Wait." She dropped the phone and took off her T-shirt. "Please, stay."

Before he could tell her no, she stripped off her jeans. Putting her hands behind her back, she unfastened her bra. Ruger's gaze flashed over her body. She could see the interest. It was the only chance she had. If she had to use her body to keep him here, she would.

She owed him her life. There was nothing she wouldn't deny him.

He stepped forward, blocking her from the view of others outside, and shut the door. She fell into his arms.

"What the fuck are you doing?" He pushed her off him and held her in front of him.

"Stay with me." She ran her hands down his chest. "You can do whatever you want with me if you don't leave. Please, don't leave me."

"Jesus Christ." He pulled her deeper into the apartment, looking around. "Where do you sit in this hellhole?"

"There's a mattress in the bedroom." She hugged his middle.

He practically lifted her off her feet with each step. In the bedroom, he pointed to the mattress on the floor. "Lay down."

She crawled across the surface on her hands and knees, peering back at him. Wound tight, she was afraid he'd walk out and leave her. Instead, he followed her to the mattress and laid down.

He hooked her waist and dragged her against the front of him until his body covered her backside. His arm pinned her to the mattress, and his hand cupped her breast. His heavy breathing fanned the top of her head.

A quiver rolled through her. It was the same way he'd kept her warm when they were held captive in the basement.

"Don't you ever fucking offer yourself to anyone." He paused. "Understand?"

She nodded, shaking all over.

"You're better than that, Rach," he whispered.

The tension in her muscles eased. Her eyes drifted closed as mental exhaustion hit her hard. She hadn't slept more than a minute or two in batches since leaving him. Not even the horrors of what the men had done to her could invade her thoughts when he was with her.

Ruger's size surrounded her. He held her securely. Not one inch of her was vulnerable because he protected her. Even during those days when he never spoke a word, he always protected her.