Rafe (Inked Brotherhood 5)

I feel responsible for the kid’s safety. Apples can take care of herself, she has a strength forged on the ugly streets, but if, as she claims, this ex-con is following Megan, then I want to make sure both girls are all right. Maybe e

ven catch a glimpse of the fucker stalking Megan, before I go home and settle in for another sleepless night.

As I drive in front of the coffee shop, I slow down, scanning every possible hiding spot. Not many around here—just a couple alley mouths, a building entrance or two, and a bus stop.

I see a guy I don’t recognize smoking. There’s a dog scratching his ear behind a trash container. Can’t see Apples, but then I notice Mage, her friend, skulking into a side street.

Covered. They’re keeping watch.

Heaving a sigh of relief, I’m about to hit the gas and head the hell home. This day has sucked ass.

Then I see her. Megan. She’s sitting on the snow-covered steps, her face in her hands.

What in the holy fuck? I hit the brakes so hard the car skids, and I jerk the wheel to bring it back under control. I roll to a stop just a few feet away, throw the door open and jump out.

She’s still there, dark head bent, her knee-high boots scuffed, her pants dusted with snow. Not an illusion. She really is sitting there, in the snow. What the hell is going on?

I stride up to her. “Meg. Megan. Hey.”

She jerks at the sound of my voice, and the last thing I wanna do right now is frighten her.

So I go down on my knees in front of her, in the snow, so that our eyes are level. Hers are red and puffy, and my chest tightens so bad it hurts.

My hands clench, powerless, and the snow falls around us in silent flakes. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” Her voice catches, and she looks away.

I lift my hand, grip her chin and gently turn her face back toward me. “Just tell me. I only want to help.”

Her lower lip trembles, that full, soft flesh I want to sink my teeth into, it looks so sweet. “It’s just today.”

I blink. “What is today?”

She exhales, swallows hard, her eyes filling up again, and damn, it’s tearing me inside. “Raylin vanished without giving me money for the rent, leaving Raf behind for me to take care of, and Mike just called to tell me I don’t have a job anymore except for that part-time one on Sundays, and Mom hasn’t called because I bet she forgot about it, like every year.”

I blink again. “Slow down. Your mom forgot about what?”

She wipes a hand over her mouth and lifts her chin. “My birthday.”

Oh shit. I want to enclose her in my arms, protect her from the world and its ugliness, but I don’t think she’ll let me. It’s not like I’ve been the most approachable of guys until now, and she has no reason to let me comfort her, or trust me in any way.

“What about your boyfriend?” I ask, even if the question tastes like ashes in my mouth. “Have you called him?”

She shakes her head.

Okay. I shouldn’t be glad he isn’t here, that I’m here instead, and I force myself to think. I have to do something. She looks so sad, it’s hurting me just as much as Zane’s anger did. I want to take the sadness away, make her smile.

“Are you done with work?”

She nods. “I’m going home.”

“I’m going home, too. Would you come with me?”

Her dark brows lift in shock, and I rush on, before she can think of reasons to refuse. “Just to take a quick shower and change into clean clothes, I’m all sweaty from the gym. It’s your birthday, and we should celebrate. We could go out to eat something, or for a drink, or—”

“Yes,” she whispers, her voice raw.

Yes? My breath catches when she gives me a watery smile. It lights up her face, brightens those amazing dark-lashed eyes, turning her from a pretty girl to a damn gorgeous woman.