3
Ben
Asick, twisted part of me is almost thankful Bunny can’t remember shit right now. God knows what she’s been through. No one knows who she is or who she might belong to. Now she’s mine.
I know it’s fucked up to think that way with what she’s been through, but I don’t give a fuck. I’ll keep her safe. Because I have a gut feeling this isn’t over with. Not by a long shot. If Bunny had been mine and slipped through my fingers, I would destroy this world to find her and get her back. Someone out there is looking for her. Of that I have no doubt.
Waiting as she got checked over when we first arrived at the hospital was hell. At first, she wouldn’t let anyone touch her, clinging to me as if I was her lifeline. I hate that it took a sedative to finally get her to relax. I knew the doctors needed to do their jobs.
I was so relieved when she was given a clean bill of health. She’d been knocked around some and undernourished, but other than that, she was fine. She never let go of my hand the entire time they checked her over. I was surprised when she wanted me to stay for the whole thing, but I wasn’t going anywhere if she didn’t want me to.
I saw the look of shock on her face when the doctor told her no one had violated her. That she was actually a virgin. I had a feeling that would be the case. Virgins are a gold mine on the black market. Especially ones that are as breathtakingly beautiful as she is. The thought alone of what could’ve happened to her if I hadn’t found her is enough to bring me to my knees.
There had been a reason why Flex had taken her when he went on the run. The night before, the warehouse where he was staying had been raided. They found nineteen other girls, but Flex had slipped through their fingers. No one knew that when he’d taken off, he did so with one of the girls.
I came to learn that it was because of Carter, Pink’s little brother, that the raid had taken place to begin with. He’d gotten himself in with the wrong crowd and started selling drugs, trying to make extra money. That had led to him overhearing some shit.
One of the detectives that was already working the case had been using Carter to get information. That was until my brother Kane stepped in and put an end to that shit. As pissed as everyone was about what Carter got himself mixed up in, the kid ended up saving twenty women. It’s hard to stay mad at him after that.
Bunny sits in the passenger seat of my truck with her fingers wrung together in her lap. I reach over and rest my hand on top of hers. As soon as I do, she releases her fingers to lock both her hands around mine. I watch out of the corner of my eye as she visibly relaxes. I know the feeling; her touch does the same for me.
It kills me she’s so full of anxiety, but it makes me feel like a king that I can calm her. With a touch or a few words, she melts for me. Only me. It’s addictive.
When the nurse at the hospital first said that she should look into a shelter, panic started to build up in me. I knew I couldn’t choose for her, but there was also no way I’d be able to let her go to some shelter. I’d stepped out of her hospital room a few times when she was sleeping to have some conversations with my family and the police, not wanting her to hear them.
One of those times she’d woken and freaked the hell out. Her scream had been like a punch to my gut. I’m hoping once I get her into my place she might relax to a degree. Less people coming and going might put her at ease. Give her a chance to get some rest and settle in. Maybe once she isn’t so stressed, she’ll start remembering things about her life.
“Oh wow. This is your house?” she asks as I turn into the long driveway. My place sits back a good fifty yards from the road.
“Yeah, my brother’s place is over there through the trees.” I nod over toward my left. “He got me to invest in some real estate years ago. This whole street is part of one of the developments. After he snagged one, I bought one too. Deal was too good to pass up.”
The first few developments we invested in hadn’t interested me. The homes were all right next to each other. These, however, are spread out. Plus, with being an initial investor, I got a hell of a deal and got to make changes and such so mine isn’t so cookie cutter.
“It’s beautiful,” she says in a bit of awe that makes me want to puff out my chest. I want her to like it. Maybe then she’ll want to stay. Forever.
I know I shouldn’t be thinking of things like this with all that she’s been through. But I can’t help but be drawn to her. I don’t even know her that well, but I somehow know she was meant for me.
The house is modern with a rustic country style feel. At least that’s what my sister called it. It’s big, more than I would ever need with five bedrooms and a handful of bathrooms, but it was the location that got me. Half the bedrooms sit empty at the moment. Mainly the upstairs since the master is on the main level. I hardly ever go upstairs.
When I first bought the place, I never really thought about bringing a woman home to it one day. I liked the idea of my brother being close. Now my sister Ollie is actually building out here too. I thought it would be more convenient than anything but still have some privacy.
Plus, my siblings Ollie and Kane often help me with Buttons and Dino when I’m out of town. They’ve been popping in to check on them while I’ve been at the hospital with Bunny.
“Stay put,” I tell her before I hop out and round the truck to open the door for her. I offer her my hand. She takes it. I help her down, guiding her toward the front door.
“Code is 3525,” I tell her, punching it into the keyless lock.
“That’s neat.” She gives me a smile as I open the door and go for the alarm next.
“I can disengage the alarm with my phone, but if you need to use the pad you can do that too. It’s 5253.”
“The key code but backwards?”
“Yep.” I show her a few more things on the alarm, wanting her to know how to fully use it in case she needs to. Anything that protects her better I want to put into place. Her feeling safe here is my top priority. With all the uncertainness in her life, I want this to be her safe place.
“I think I got it.” When she bites her bottom lip, I know she’s not a hundred percent sure.
“We’ll go over it again. That was just a quick run-down.” She nods. “Let me give you a tour. There’s not much upstairs but extra bedrooms.” I motion toward the stairs before I lead her around the main floor.
“This place is as pretty on the inside as the outside.”
“Glad you like it, but we have one more stop.” I open the door to lead to the garage, where the washing machine and dryer are, along with an area I made just for Dino. “Stay down,'' I tell Dino when I get the door fully open.
He jumps to his feet. His tail is going a mile a minute. “Oh gosh, he’s giant!” Bunny pushes her body into mine. Her softness melts into me like she belongs there. I wrap my arm around her.
“This is Dino. He’s a St. Bernard. He’s a big boy, but he’s a sweetheart. It’s Buttons you have to worry about. He can be an asshole.”
“Buttons?” I pull her into the room a few steps for her to see the massive fluffy gray cat lounging on the top of his tower. He doesn’t look the least bit excited to see that I'm home. He doesn’t even bother to open his eyes. When it comes to his naps, Buttons doesn’t fuck around.
“He’s giant too! For a cat at least.”
“I have no clue where Buttons came from, but he showed up and moved himself right in. Dino loves him even though Buttons bullies him most of the time.”
“Really?” She giggles. “That cat bullies this hundred-pound dog?”
“Dino was a buck seventy-five last time I checked.” Bunny’s eyes widen. Dino whimpers at me saying his name, wanting his pets. He hasn’t moved from his spot since I ordered him not to.
“Can I pet him?” she asks.
“Better. He’s about to start crying if you don’t.”
“Don’t cry.” She shuffles over toward him. I want to reach out and snag her and pull her back. My body immediately misses her being pressed against it, but I don’t.
After she pets Dino a few times, seeing he’s sweet, she drops to her knees and gives him even more love. Buttons sits up, watching for a moment before he too is jumping down, wanting her attention. I can’t believe he woke from his nap for her to pet him.
Well, damn. Can’t say I blame the brat. There isn’t much I wouldn’t do to have all of her attention focused on me.
I lean up against the door frame and watch Bunny sit on the floor giving both of them a healthy dose of love. I can’t help my jealousy, but I do keep it in check. Bunny’s whole face is lit up with a smile as she talks sweet to them. She looks like she belongs.
Bunny might not remember her past, but I know for certain that her future is here.