CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Baja—

That night, after the guys board up my door and leave, I stand with Elaina in the kitchen. She holds a cold washcloth with ice pressed to her face. When initially, she wanted me close, wanted my arms around her, now she's keeping space between us.

"The license… Is that all he wanted?" I press, knowing there's something she's not telling me.

"When he realized you weren't here, he…" She breaks off, and my heart stops.

The worst things imaginable flash before my eyes.

She sucks her lips into her mouth as if trying to hold the words back. But I have to know, even if she doesn't want to tell me.

"What did he do? What aren't you telling me?"

She shakes her head. "He's gone now. It doesn't matter."

"Yes, it does." My words are calm, soft, but on the inside, I'm screaming. On the inside, I'm punching a hole in the wall. But I can't do that. I can't traumatize her any more than what's happened here today. "Please, Elaina. I need to know."

She shakes her head, her lip trembling.

My gaze drops to her shirt, and I realize with a frown that it's not the one she had on this morning, but it is one of mine. My brain is trying to explain it, but the words just fall out of my mouth. "That's not the t-shirt I lent you."

Her eyes flare briefly, and her body stiffens, her gaze dropping to the shirt.

My chin pulls to the side; I'm on to something, I just don't know what.

"I, um, the other one was ripped." Her face wilts. "He tore it."

I suck in a breath. "I need you to tell me everything, Elaina. Start from the beginning."

"He showed up at the front door. I opened it a crack, but he pushed his way in. Then he threatened to kill Rosie if I didn't put her outside. Rosie would have defended me. He knew that."

I'm frozen in place, hanging on her next words. I want to push, but I need to let her take her time. I know this is hard for her. In my mind, I'm already in my room, pulling the case from under my bed, jerking it open, choosing the right weapon, and slamming a clip inside.

"He wanted the marriage license. When I told him I didn't have it, he didn't believe me. He got me to the floor. Rosie was barking and pawing at the glass, trying to get to me. I fought him, Baja. I did."

I'm sure she reads the fury in my eyes. I lick my lips and look away, taking a deep breath to moderate my racing pulse. "The overturned chair, the broken lamp…"

"I managed to hit him hard with a candlestick. I got free and scrambled away, but he was on me again in seconds. And then he was really angry. He tore my shirt open. Said we needed to consummate our marriage. I think he just wanted to teach me a lesson for running from him. Show me who was boss."

I set a shaking hand on the counter and slump my hip against it, feeling my stomach drop. My own fucking brother did this. "Did he do it? Tell me the truth, Elaina. Please."

"No. He hit me, and everything went fuzzy. Then the club roared up the street. I don't think he realized you were in the MC, until I told him that was you coming and the bikes turned in the driveway. He called me a fucking biker whore, then took off out the front door. That's when the club busted in."

"I swear to God, Elaina, my brother is a dead man walking."

"No." She rushes to me, her hands settling on my chest. "You can't do that."

My eyes bore into hers. "The hell I can't."

"Please don't do this. Please. I don't want you to throw your life away for me. I know you want to get revenge, but your life is more important. He ruined your childhood. If he ruins the rest of your life, he wins. And I don't want him to win. I don't want you to go to prison. I don't want him to take you from me. Please."

She's almost hysterical, so I appease her. "Okay."

"Promise me."

"Babe—"

"Promise me right now. Please, Baja."

"I can't do that."

"Then I'll go back to him."

" No ," I shout, and grab her arms, shaking her.

" Promise me ," she shouts.

"Okay. I promise you." Everything in me sinks. I give her the words, but I'm not even sure I can keep them. And lying to her is the last thing I want to do.

She collapses in my arms, clutching me tight and sobbing.

I stroke her head and press my cheek to the crown of her head. "Shh. It's okay. I won't let him touch you again."

"Will he stop?" she asks, wiping her eyes. "Will he give up?"

"I don't know, babe. I don't know. What I do know is he backs down when he's confronted, so my guess is he's left town." I don't have my brother's phone number, because other than the wedding, I haven't had contact with him since I left for the military. But I do have my parents' number. Digging in my pocket, I pull my phone out and call my father.

He doesn't answer, so I leave a message.

"Elliott was at my house. He attacked Elaina. If I see him again, I won't give a fuck he's my brother, I'll kill the son-of-a-bitch." I disconnect and shove my phone in my pocket.

"You promised me."

"I won't go after him. But if he comes around again, he's a dead man, Elaina. Plain and simple."

She shakes her head. "He won't come back."

I stare into her eyes and nod. Part of me wants very much for him to come back, because I really want to put a bullet in his head. I look toward the boarded up backdoor. "Do you feel safe here? If not, we can stay at the clubhouse like Rock offered."

"Let's go to the clubhouse. Elliott won't know where that is, right?"

"No." I search her eyes. "Are you afraid of him?"

"Not if you're with me."

"But you are afraid that if he comes back, I'll kill him. Is that it?"

"Maybe."

"All right. Let's get your things, grab the dog's food and whatever else you need."

"Okay." I can see her body visible relax in relief.

An hour later, I turn my pickup truck into the gravel lot of the clubhouse. Smoke rises from two of the stone chimneys, so I know Rock's got one going in his office, as well as one burning in the main room. There are several bikes parked out front.

I shoulder my door open, and Elaina stops me with a question.

"Where will we stay?"

"I've got a room. We all do. You can have it to yourself, and I can find another room to crash if you want." She doesn't reply, so I climb out and help her down, then get her suitcase, while she takes Rosie.

I lead her inside to my room, throwing the door open. The club has a woman who comes in and cleans for us, so the bed is made, and the room is neat.

"Wow," Elaina says. "I figured there'd be empty beer bottles piled up and such. Not that you're a slob or anything."

I huff a laugh. "Right. It's a double bed, and the room is small, but at least there's an attached bath, so that will give you some privacy."

"It'll be just fine. Thanks." She turns to look at me. "Where will you stay?"

I nod down the hall. "I'll see if one of my brother's rooms are available. Not a lot of them stay at the clubhouse anymore, what with Trez and Utah both being married. If not, then we've got a bunk room for when out-of-town chapters come to visit."

"I hate to put everyone to such trouble."

"Don't worry about it." I take her hands. "I just want to know you're okay."

"I'm fine."

I tap her forehead. "What about in here? I'm sure you were terrified."

She leans against me. "He can't cause us any trouble here."

"I want you to feel safe. More than anything, babe." I kiss the top of her head. "It kills me that he got to you in my own damn place."

Elaina meets my gaze. "None of this is your fault."

I nod. Still, I feel like I failed to keep her safe, and that's really getting to me.

"I'll be fine."

"Get some rest. I'm gonna go talk to the Rock."

She suddenly tenses. "You're not making plans to go after Elliott, are you?"

"No. I made you a promise, remember?"

"You did."

I kiss her lips. "Then stop worrying."

I slip out and wander to Rock's office, tapping on the door.

"Come in."

Entering, I find Darko sitting across from Rock. My president's eyes sweep over me, and he leans back in his chair.

"So, you took me up on the offer. How is she?"

"Fine. She's in my room. I'm gonna find another one to crash in."

"Oh, it's like that, is it?" Darko asks.

I ignore him.

Rock picks up a bottle of tequila and fills a shot glass, then passes it to me. "Here, kid. You look like you need this."

I down it.

"What's bothering you?" he asks.

I shake my head. "I fucking hate the fact that I couldn't keep her safe, ya know?"

He nods. "I get that. Isn't a brother in the club who hasn't failed his ol' lady at some point."

"Even you?" I ask.

"Even me." He cocks his head, studying me. "So, are we going after the son-of-a-bitch or what? He's your brother, so that makes it hard."

"I want to kill him, but I promised Elaina I'd let it go."

"Promises to women." Darko shakes his head. "They'll get you in more trouble than anything."

"I've never known you to have an ol' lady, Darko."

"I've got a past, just like every man." He meets my eyes.

"You're a man of many secrets, Darko."

Rock chuckles. "How do you think he got his name? That man's a vault. Ain't nobody keeps secrets better than Darko."

"That's the thing," I say, "I don't want to keep secrets from Elaina."

"This girl's really starting to mean something to you, isn't she, brother?" Rock asks.

"She is."

"That happened fast, especially for you," Darko acknowledges.

"I know. Kind of scares the crap out of me. I've always steered clear of letting any woman in. I just haven't wanted to risk the pain."

"But now that's changed," Rock surmises.

"Yeah. Now that's changed. I just don't know what to do with it."

Darko chuckles. "Hell, life's a ride, boy. Ride it to the fullest. We only get one go around."

"People keep telling me shit like that."

"Maybe because it's true," Rock says. "Look at me. I thought my life was over when I lost Gillian. I thought there'd never be anyone else for me. Now here I am with Evelyn, and a pretty two-year-old daughter." He points to a picture on his desk of his daughter, Rachel.

I nod, but don't know how to answer.

He leans forward. "Look, Baja. It's been years since Hannah died. At some point you've got to move on."

That's easier said than done, when the fear of that terrible pain lives inside me every day.