Club Ties (3 page)

The ice cracked under his feet. Squatting, he swept the light under the dumpster, watching for the glint of eyes. Seeing nothing, he circled around the metal monstrosity. Catching his boot, he stumbled. The soft cry was louder this time and distinctive. Whirling, he shone his light on the huddled body.

She covered her head. Thin arms were a pitiful shield against attack or the biting cold. Sleet stood out like diamonds in the dark waves of her hair. A soft ivory sweater and leggings molded to her slender curves. Her body shook with the force of her fear and chill. Reality smacked him in the back of the head. She was freezing while he gawked. Heat flooded his face.

“Shh…it’s going to be okay. I’m not going to hurt you. We just need to get you inside where it’s warm,” he murmured, easing into a crouch beside her. She shrank from him, but he kept talking in a low, reassuring tone. Gathering her in his arms, he ignored her weak struggles and hurried for the door. 

Cradling her against his chest, he fumbled with the outside door. Yanking on the plastic bag, he tore it from the handle and jogged up the dark steps, hearing the door slam shut behind him. He cursed, struggling to hit the key hole on the apartment door. Finally shouldering his way inside, he settled her on the plastic covered couch.

She curled into the fetal position, her blue eyes wide with fear. Bruises stood out starkly against her pale face. Her teeth chattered behind a split lip. His stomach churned. The plastic rustled as shivers wracked her tiny form. Shrugging out of his coat, he laid it over her. His hand shook as he swiped it over his head. He had to get her warm.

Wetting his lips, he looked around. Other than the new furniture, they hadn’t moved much because of the drywall dust. The water was on, but he didn’t have dry clothes to change her into. His gaze landed on the space heater he had been using before they’d had the heat turned on. Dragging it over, he put it as close as he dared and cranked it up.

Her lips were blue. Kneeling beside the couch, he eased her heeled boots off. Her socks were wet. Peeling them off, he rubbed her dainty feet between his hands. She hitched his coat higher under her chin, but didn’t protest. Shucking out of his hooded-sweatshirt, he wrapped it around her icy feet. 

“I have an emergency blanket in the truck. I’ll be right back.”

Eyes closed, the girl’s only answer was the chatter of her teeth. Her pallor worried him. Heading for the stairs, Mox dug for his phone. This was beyond him.

Voices woke her. Her heart hammered. She flinched away as a woman leaned into her field of vision. A gentle touch stroked hair off her forehead. Tightening her grip on the blanket, she tried to sit up. The room spun. Fighting the tug of darkness, her eyes darted from one stranger to another. Eva shrank back in the cushions as the woman tried to soothe her.

The gentle giant from her dreams moved to stand at the foot of the couch. Worry lined his handsome face. An older man stepped up beside him. The resemblance was strong. Instead of the younger man’s smooth shaved scalp, he sported a sharp, silver flat-top. His craggy features and bullish build exuded an air of authority. Suspicion lurked in narrowed blue eyes. She shivered.

“We need to get you in a bath to bring your body temperature up, honey. Can you walk?”

The endearment, as much as the question, caught her off guard, and her attention swung back to the statuesque beauty beside her. Understanding and a shimmer of tears lit hazel eyes. Eva bit her lip in confusion. Why would this woman cry for a stranger? 

“You’re safe here. Come on. Let’s get you warmed up.”

Something in the woman’s voice made Eva trust her. There was a strength about her that belied the flicker of pain in her eyes. Nodding, Eva tried to sit up again. Something tangled around her feet, and she remembered the gentle giant rubbing her cold feet and wrapping them in his body warmed sweatshirt. She blushed, hastily retrieving it from the floor.

“I’m sor-sorry,” she whispered, her chattering teeth making her stammer.

He smiled, a hint of a blush coloring his ears as he accepted the sweatshirt from her hand. Standing, she swayed. The woman caught her. 

“Mox.”

The young man stepped forward and Eva found herself swept up into his arms again and carried to the bathroom. Mox? Was that his name? She pressed closer to his chest. Another man stood next to the tub. How many of them were there?

Of a much slimmer build than the other two men, the latest bordered on beautiful. Eva could picture his angelic countenance and lanky form on a jeans billboard. His gaze was friendly and curious. The woman stroked his blond hair in thanks as he stepped out of her way. She leaned down to trail her fingers in the running water.

“Just set her down on the toilet lid, baby. I’ll get it from here.”

The door closed behind them. Eva missed his warmth.

“I’m Ginny. What’s your name, honey?”

“Eva.”

“Let’s get you out of those wet clothes, Eva.”

A moment later, Eva found herself obediently raising her arms. It seemed everyone did what this woman told them to do.

“Beautiful cashmere sweater.”

Eva swallowed hard. The simple comment opened up a world of questions she wasn’t prepared to answer.

“It was a gift.”

The older woman merely nodded and took her elbow as she stood to strip out of the rest. Eva sucked her breath in with a hiss when she stepped into the water. It felt like a million tiny needles pierced her frozen skin.

“Take it slow,” Ginny murmured, wincing in sympathy.

When she finally lay submerged to her shoulders in the deep tub, Eva let out a little sigh. She could feel Ginny’s eyes on her, hear the wheels turning as she tried to figure out her story. It said something that she didn’t ask. Eva scooped handfuls of bubbles from the steaming surface, pulling the suds over her breasts. 

“Whose place is this?” she asked softly.

“It and the pub below belong to my husband and me, but our sons, Mox and Rhys, are getting ready to move in here,” Ginny said, still watching her. She must have seen the questions lurking because a smile curved her lips. “The bubble bath I brought with me along with a few other toiletries and some dry clothes for you.”

“Wh-why would you do that?” A tremble marked Eva’s voice.

“Because I’ve been where you’re at.”  

The knowing look in the older woman’s eyes panicked her. “You don’t know anything about me.”

“I might not know you, honey, but here’s what I’ve gathered so far. You tell me if I’m wrong. You’re running. He has money. His obsession was flattering at the beginning, and now it’s smothering and scaring the shit out of you. The beatings are escalating, and you’re afraid he’s going to kill you if you don’t get out.”

Eva closed her eyes, swallowing against the lump in her throat. What chance did she have? Fear wrapped around her chest like steel bands. Was she that transparent? “How?” she whispered.

Ginny grimaced. “I wish I could chalk it up to twenty years of being married to a detective. The sad truth is I recognize the bruises and the haunted look that comes from fearing someone you love.”

Eva sank lower in the tub. She ran her hands over her biceps, subconsciously trying to wash away the finger-tip bruises she knew marred her pale skin. She bit her lip. Her eyes darted to the closed door.

Following her gaze, Ginny shook her head.

“My old man has had to knock some sense into me a time or two, but he’s a good man. My father was abusive.”

The woman’s matter-of-fact tone didn’t fool Eva. There was an undercurrent of pain. Worrying her bottom lip with her teeth, she studied the suds. What did she say to such a confession? I’m sorry? Why would Ginny share something so personal with a stranger? For that matter, who scooped trash up from beside a dumpster and took it into their home?

“Will he look for you?”

Eva’s head jerked up at the soft question. Fear stole her breath. Searching Ginny’s face, she fought to form an answer that wouldn’t result in being tossed back out in the snow.

“You don’t have to answer that. Just know that you’re safe here.”

Silence hung between them. Finally Ginny stood.

“I’m going to check on the food. Here’s shampoo and conditioner. There are warm pajamas and fuzzy socks in the bag there for you to change into when you’re done. Take your time.”

Eva nodded. She hoped the small smile she mustered expressed even an iota of the gratitude she was feeling. Doubt gnawed at her.

“Can this stay between us?” she asked softly.

Ginny paused with her hand on the doorknob. “All they need to know is the obvious. You left an abusive relationship. Other than that, they aren’t interested in the details. They’re men.”

“Thank you.”

The rich smell of beef filtered through the door. Eva’s stomach growled. Trying to finger-comb her wild mane into some semblance of control, she grimaced in the mirror. Without the camouflage of makeup, dark smudges cupped her blue eyes, and bruises stood out with sickening clarity.

She was thankful for the covering offered by the long-sleeved t-shirt. Her stomach growled again. Rolling the waistband on the soft pajama bottoms to account for her shorter stature, she hesitated at the door. She took a deep breath.

Four pair of eyes turned on her. Jesus! There was another one. She squirmed. Ginny took pity on her.

“Do you like beef and noodles?”

Eva nodded mutely, drawn to the mouthwatering aroma.

“How did you…”

“I can extra stew beef and dry batches of noodles. It makes for quick and easy meals when I’m in a hurry.”

“You make your own noodles?”

“It’s Zeke’s mother’s recipe. He’s spoiled,” Ginny said, stroking her husband’s nape.

Shaking her head in wonder, Eva wrapped her hands around the warm bowl and allowed Ginny to direct her to a seat on the sectional couch. She didn’t envy the women that married these boys. Their mother was going to be a tough act to follow.

“What were you doing out in the snow without a coat on?”

A warmth flooded Eva’s cheeks as she avoided the teenager’s inquisitive gaze. He had his father’s intense stare. What, indeed. How did she explain being afraid enough to run without a penny to her name, or even a coat?

“She was hiding, dolt. Leave her alone,” Rhys said, cuffing his younger brother in the back of the head.

Eva smiled in thanks, and the handsome blond gave her a wink. Dipping her head, she hid behind the veil of her hair.

“Does he know you’re in Trinity Falls?”

Her heart pounded at the simple question. Her eyes darted up to meet the family Patriarch’s. The big man met her gaze squarely.

“Zeke…” Ginny said softly, but her husband shook her off.

“We need to know what we’re dealing with, as much for her sake as ours.”

Eva couldn’t argue that. This family was putting themselves in danger by harboring her. “No,” she whispered, struggling with what and how much to tell him. “I lost them in Cleveland.”

“Did you take a straight shot here?”

Eva looked down at her lap, twirling the fork in her beef and noodles, and shook her head. He was too smart. “I was on the turnpike for a few exits. Then the trucker I hitched a ride with got off the turnpike and ended up here. I don’t even know where here is.”

“What was the trucker’s name?”

“I don’t know. I was scared. I didn’t ask his name, or even exactly where he was going. I just wanted away from Cleveland. Maybe I should go,” she said uncertainly.

“You’re not going anywhere,” Ginny said, shooting her husband a pointed look.

“Did the driver say he was from Trinity? Was it a red and silver truck?” Mox asked softly.

Eva nodded, unsure if that was good or bad. “Like I said, I never asked him where we were going. I told him anywhere was good. We got here and he just said that this was the end of the line, that he lived outside of town. He offered to take me to his place, but…” 

Mox smiled, giving her hand a squeeze before looking to his father. “Sounds like Randal.”

The older man nodded and seemed to relax. Eva’s shoulders slumped. Ginny chose that moment to dish up seconds of the savory beef and noodles, and, thankfully, the discussion turned to the storm still raging outside. By the time Eva finished eating, the warmth and full belly were making her eyelids droop again. She stifled a yawn.

“Let’s get you settled,” Ginny said, slipping the bowl from Eva’s fingers. “Since the beds aren’t here yet, that leaves the couch. The sectional has a queen fold-out two of you can share and the third can sleep on the other leg. Garrett brought sleeping bags and pillows over from the clubhouse.”

Eva made note of the new name, tentatively assigning it to the large teenager, but her sleepy brain refused to follow the rest of the conversation. Ginny had missed her calling. She would’ve made a fine field general, as organized as she was. The next thing Eva knew, she was tucked into a sleeping bag with the throw blanket she’d been cuddling in wadded up next to her cheek. She tried to smile up at Ginny, her lashes falling shut against her will. Ginny stroked her hair and whispered,

“You’re safe here. Sleep well.”        

Eva woke with a scream. Struggling against the dead weight pinning her to the bed, she panicked. Her feet bound, she kicked franticly. Someone leaned over her and she lashed out blindly. There was a muffled curse as her fist connected.

“What the fuck!”

The words came out more an exclamation than a question. Strong hands seized her wrists, effectively subduing her. A worried face appeared in her field of vision. Her terrified mind latched onto the presence of the gentle giant like a life preserver.

“Shhh. It’s okay. Everything’s okay. No one’s going to hurt you,” Mox whispered. His low baritone was soothing.

Slowly she floated back to reality.

“Please,” she whispered.

Mox released her. Concern and confusion lined his broad face. A movement to her right drew a flinch. The handsome blond was gently probing around his eye and blinking at the pain. Horror flooded her.

“I’m s-so sorry,” she stuttered.

Rhys waved her apologies off, still assessing the damage to his classic features.