Chapter 12

CHAPTER TWELVE

Maddox

Holding her tight, I smoothed my hand down her back. "No, you are mistaking what I meant, Helena. You won't be going anywhere." Her face turned towards me, her eyes narrowing at my tone.

"They are selling people, Maddox. I am pretty sure I am a liability to the club." Wiggling out of my grasp, she got to her feet, breathing hard.

Makarovich was an animal of the worst kind.He was well-known on the West Coast as a flesh peddler but had never been listed as connected to Concorde.I knew because I had checked when shewas hiredthere.Thiswas acolossalfuck-up on my part. Leaning forward on my knees, I watched her pace, her earrings bobbing as she walked.

"Tell me why you thought they'd come after you. You were on this project, right?" Maybe she had been wrong, and it wasn't as bad as she thought. Her look was apologetic as she started talking, fiddling with the tips of her ponytail.

My heart sank. It was even worse the longer shetalked. Holy fuck. They would never let this go.

"You sent the drives?" I asked.

"Yes." Her answer was defiant. "FBI field office, I even sent one to the FBI human trafficking unit." She eyeballed me. "Was that a bad idea? I couldn't just not do anything." She threw up her hands in the air. All those people, Maddox. It's awful."

"Did you keep a copy?" My mind was racing. We had some time, but Makarovich would come for her just for revenge.

"Definitely." Her chin rose, and I was reminded again of her father. He would be so proud of her.

"Okay. Make me a copy. I think it'll take a few days for the ones you made to make it through the system, but you did good, princess," I affirmed.Unableto stop myself, I pulled her back, settling her where I wanted her, straddling my lap. Soon, I'd have her bare and riding me like this. My dick was hard just thinking about it.

"I'm scared," she confessed. "And more than a little confused by what's happening right now." She waved a hand towards me."

"You came to the right place. You came to me. Home. Don't worry about anything else for right now. You're in the right place. Where you belong." I held her close, feeling the tension in her body slowly ebb away as she melted against me. "I'll keep you safe, Helena. I promise." My voice waslowbut firm. It wasn't just a promise; it was a vow.

"Okay." She nodded against my chest, her breaths coming out in shaky exhales.

"Thank you, Maddox."

"No need to thank me, princess.Thisis what family does for each other."I gently brushed a stray lock of hair away from her face, tucking it behind her ear."We take care of our own."

It wasn't alie;the MC had always taken care of their own, but to me, Helena wasn't just a piece of the MC family. She belonged to me, had always belonged to me, andI was going to keep her.

For a moment, we sat in silence, the weight of the situation heavy in the air. But I couldn't help but be a selfish prick, knowing that I hadhernow. She had come to me for help, and I was not letting her go. Ever.

"I'll make that copy," Helena said finally, determination evident in her voice.

"And then we can figure it out."

"Together," I added, emphasizing the word. "We'll face this together." Iwouldaffirm with her every chance I got that there was no running from me.

"Alright." Her words were quiet. "You're not worried about them finding me here?"

I wondered if she realized that her fingertips were tracing the edges of my t-shirt, that she was rocking down on my dick in small needy motions. It was almost dizzying that hersmallfingers were touching the edges of the frayed material. Her eyes seemed to be focused over my shoulder as if she couldn't quite look me in the eye.

"No, I'm not worried," I answered, letting my hands slide down to cup the curve of her ass. "I'll call Church, though, and let the guys know. We hate those fuckers."

It wasn't a lie that the Brotherhood doesn't like flesh peddlers.If we had a chance to take any of themout, we'ddo it, but that didn't mean we would go to war against the Bratva unless we had to.I had a few chips to call in with some other MCs we could gather up if needed, and I had Dimitri. That was going to be a sticky conversation.

"I'm going to get you a new ID, though, just in case," I said, thinkingout loud. Looking at all her blondhair,I thought about asking her to dye it, but I couldn't. Let the assholes come. I couldn't bear to think about her dying her hair.

"Go get some breakfast, princess,before I lose control and fuck you on this bed."

Her eyes lit with interest., but I lifted her off my lap and set her on her feet, adjusting my dick as I stood.There was a lot to get done today; unfortunately, not much of it would be pleasant.

"But … I wouldn't mind," she started.

"When I fuck you, it isn't going to be a fifteen-minute affair," I told her darkly. "You'll feel me so deeply that you'll question how I got there. I'm going to need hours." The promise hung in the air until she spun on her heel and practically ran from the room.

Last night, I crept into her room and watched her sleep, leaning close to watch the rise and fall of each breath, marveling at the opportunity to get so close. Now, I wouldn't do her the disservice of rushing. I would savor her. Fuck her like the queen she was.