Desolation

I lean forward, pressing my lips to his. “You’ve always had that, Tyke. Even if you didn’t realize it until now.”

He kisses me softly and then pulls back, his face twisted in pain. “You got painkillers?”

My brows furrow. “Your legs?”

He nods.

“Was it the riding?”

He shakes his head, running his hands through his hair. “No, it wasn’t just that. It contributed, even though I spent most of my time with my legs up. We started and stopped a lot, which took a lot. It was when the fight broke out. Adrenaline took over and I forgot about the pain until I stopped.”

“Tyke, you shouldn’t have ridden home. You’ve probably done damage.”

“Don’t doubt it,” he says, stretching his legs out with a grimace. “It feels like all my bones are shattered.”

“Have you showered? Do you want me to rub your muscles?”

He looks to me, his eyes soft. “You wanna do that for me, after I was an ass to you?”

I smile softly and nod. “Yeah, I do.”

“Fuck me,” he murmurs. “What did I do to deserve you?”

“That’s a simple answer, Tyke.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Yeah,” I whisper. “You are you. That’s all the reason you need.”

He smiles.

My heart falls even more in love with him.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

THEN - Pippa

My stomach is cramping. I get this when my period comes along, but today it’s worse. I’ve run out of the scarce protection we are offered, so I wander out of the room and down the hall to ask the guard for some more. I run into Artreau there. I’m surprised to see him; he’s been hidden more often than not.

I stiffen when he turns my way, and reconsider if I truly need protection. Toilet paper will work, won’t it?

“What are you doing in here and not working?” Artreau barks.

“I’m, ah, I needed the bathroom.”

His face scrunches and he walks towards me. I back up, all the way down the hall, not stopping until I’m back in the room. Artreau kicks the door closed and stalks towards me. I tumble and land on the bed, gasping as he stops at the end of it with a smirk on his face.

“Scared of me, precious?”

“No,” I whisper.

He laughs. “No? Have you forgotten you owe me for saving that pathetic excuse of a man’s life?”

“No, but—”

“Did you think I wouldn’t come, just because it’s been a long time? I lost the last girl satisfying me just yesterday. I’m bored. You owe me. It makes perfect sense. Don’t worry, it’ll feel real nice.”

I want to vomit, and fear claws its way into my chest. Why didn’t I just stay downstairs? Why did I come back up here? Artreau steps forward, and I yell out, “I’ve got my period.”

He stops and his face scrunches up. “Filthy woman. I don’t need to know those kinds of things.”

“You can’t . . . take me while I’ve got my period.”

He narrows his eyes. “You’re lying.”

“Check,” I say boldly.

He scoffs. “If this is a way of getting away from me, it won’t work. Those things only last a few days. I’ll come back for you, Pippa. You owe me.” He leans down, putting his hands on the bed either side of my body. “And I will take it. Next time it’ll be more than my fingers plunging inside you. I hope you’re looking forward to it as much as I am.”

With that, he turns and walks out. I breathe a sigh of relief. There’s fear still lodged firmly in my heart, though. Artreau will be back; I know he will be. He gets what he wants. I don’t know how I’ll get past him when the time comes, but I have Rainer, and if I have to stick by his side every second of every day I will.

I push to my feet and head back out down the hallway, grateful that for one more day, I can still protect the one thing no one has been able to take from me.

~*~*~*~

NOW - Pippa

My front door swings open and half the Joker’s Wrath boys come tearing in. Well, when I say half, I mean Maddox, Krypt, Mack and their ladies. They all stop when they see Tyke and I sitting on the couch. Tyke is still half-naked, and I have no doubt my hair is a mess. I’m currently sprawled over Tyke’s bare chest after rubbing his legs and giving him some pain medication.

Maddox steps forward as I scramble up and unsteadily get to my feet. “What the hell is goin’ on?” he demands.

“None of your business,” Tyke says, sitting up and groaning as he does.

“None of my business? She’s my sister-in-law and you’re here half-naked with her after I’ve given you direct orders to stay the fuck away from her.”

He what?

I turn to him and his eyes flash to mine.

“Maddox,” I whisper. “You told him to stay away from me?”

“Course I fuckin’ did, Pippa. He’s no good for you.”

“Don’t you think that’s my choice to make?” I say, finding my voice.

“No, I don’t. I know them better than you ever will. You’re too good for this rough life.”

“And my sister isn’t?”

He flinches and his eyes grow cold. “She hasn’t lived the life you have.”

Here. We. Go. Again.

I’m so tired of this. I feel Tyke come up behind me, but I don’t stop. I step forward and look up at Maddox, glaring into his eyes. “Because of my life, you’re saying I don’t get a say so in who I get to be with?”