“Okay, I can understand why you came . . . but the club’s been through some heavy shit, Shi. We could’ve handled this.” I have no doubts in my mind the club would’ve made this go away. We’ve handled a lot and we all know we’re gonna handle things worse than her momma.
“I f-felt cornered i-into saying y-yes.” I can understand that. Fuck, her brother said the only reason he came tonight is so he didn’t have to see them for four years. I don’t know shit about their childhood, though I’m getting the feelin’ it wasn’t the best.
I rub my thumbs over the tops of her hands, looking into her eyes, assuring her things are going to be okay. “I know you did. I know.”
“C-coming here, s-seeing him . . . it’s b-bringing everything b-back and I d-don’t know w-what I’m going t-to do a-anymore. I’m so s-scared. I t-think you w-won’t w-want to b-be with m-me a-anymore when you f-find out.” Her sobs grow heavier and I pull her into my arms.
“Nothin’ would ever make me wanna not be with you, Shiloh. Not a damn thing. We fought against this for far too long and I’m not goin’ anywhere. We got a lot of things to explore when it comes to us, and I, for one, can’t imagine livin’ my life without you. You’re my woman. You got me? You’re mine and it’s my job to protect you.” I press a chaste kiss to her forehead and hold her against me as she sobs against my chest.
“He u-used to t-touch me after he m-married my m-mom.”
It doesn’t take a genius to figure out who she’s talking about. I inhale deeply through my nose, trying my best to be here for her right now, even while the devil deep inside me wants to head back into that fuckin’ dining room and snap his shitty chicken neck.
“I t-told my u-uncle Chris and he t-tried to get my m-mom to h-help me, b-but she d-didn’t b-believe me. S-said I was lying. It g-got worse and I t-told my u-uncle Chris a-again, but n-nothing could be done. They painted it like he was an i-irate man who had something a-against my stepfather.”
All I see is rage. Fury that she told someone, and while he tried to help, her fuckin’ mom didn’t take it seriously. What kind of parent doesn’t listen to their child when they need help?
“We’re leaving right now. You don’t need to stay here, Shi, and we’re sure as hell not stayin’ through this damn dinner.” I try to keep my voice as calm as possible, but I’d be lyin’ if I said it was easy. I don’t want to scare her more than she is already, and I will if I’m not careful.
Standing up, I pull her up with me and we walk out of the stall, exit the bathroom, and just as we’re starting to turn left, the door to the private room opens. Who comes out? Well, her mother and stepdaddy dearest.
“Where do you think you’re going? We have a photo op that needs to be finished. It’s important for the campaign,” her stepfather sneers in her direction.
All he needed to do was open his fuckin’ mouth for me to lose all control, and I do. I release Shi’s hand and run right up to the slimy political piece of shit. I grab the collar of his shirt and shove him up against the wall. I want to fuckin’ kill him for what he did, for the way he’s makin’ her feel right now.
“I know what you did and you’re nothin’ but a pathetic excuse of a man,” I throw him onto the ground and glare at him with all my might. If I get put in jail, I can’t protect Shi and that’s what she needs from me right now.
“Who do you think you are?!” he screams in my face, nostrils flaring as he gets back up on his feet and glares in my direction. “What’re you gonna do, big guy, hit me? I’ll put you in jail. I’ll make sure you never see the light of day ever again!”
“Hammer,” Shiloh rasps out my name, her fear growing by the second.
I look back at her for a moment, “It’s alright, sweetie. We’re leaving,” I glance back to her stepfather and mother. “I know what he did, and I will make it my life’s mission to ensure he never steps foot in office. A vile, disgusting abuser like this shouldn’t be in charge of anything.”
Putting some space between us, I snake a hand around Shi’s waist and lead her out of the restaurant. I flag a taxi and we get in the backseat, where she continues to cry her eyes out. I hold her close against me and know while right now it’s hard, this is the last day she’ll ever be shedding tears over the agony he caused her.
I’ll never let him hurt her ever again.
Chapter Thirteen
Physical attraction is beautiful but it’s the intimate mental attraction that is rare, highly intoxicating, and powerfully addictive.
~ Prince Madness
Shiloh
My eyes burn as badly as they did last night. Only now, they ache from how much wetness came from them. My skin burns, too, only in a different way. Hammer got me back to the hotel and drew me a hot bubble bath. He ordered champagne and tried to make the night as special as he could for me, but it didn’t help. I still feel broken, damaged, used. It’s what I always feel whenever I get too close to my mother and stepfather.
I haven’t even looked at my phone, but I’m afraid to. Knowing my brother, he’s been blowing me up all night.
I lean my head back and stare at the soft gray ceiling, breathing in and out slowly, hoping it’ll help soothe my pain. It won’t, but this type of pain isn’t
