Filled

“That’s so much for a child to go through.”

“I could have ended up in the system, but Jero fought to keep me with him. By this time, I was sixteen, and they let him. I was about to age out of foster care anyways, and he was over eighteen.” The car grows silent. “So you see why I feel like I owe him?”

There’s a long moment of silence before he answers me.

“No.” I turn my head to stare at him. “Just because someone does the right thing, the human thing, doesn’t give them a pass to then treat you like shit. You could have died if I hadn’t shown up.” He stops talking and clears his throat as he tries to get his emotions under control. “Your death would have been on him and in no way is that the price you pay for anything.”

I lean back in my chair, looking out the window.

“Bambi, I know that was blunt but—”

“You’re right,” I interrupt. “I needed to hear it, but I can’t sit around and do nothing. I don’t have to go running in and offer to hand myself over, but what are my options? Do we call the cops? We have to do something.”

“We’ll figure all that out when we get to Mom and Dad’s.”

I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding and grab his hand. It feels good to tell him everything and to have someone to lean on.

“Oh god,” I groan. “Is your mom going to know I was a stripper?” This day just keeps getting better and better.

Chapter Twelve

Angus

I stand outside my parents’ house with Bambi, and I know my mom is watching us through the slit in the curtains.

“I don’t like not going with you.” Bambi places her hand on my chest, but she won’t look up at me.

We got here a couple of hours ago, and I explained to my parents why she needed to be kept safe. They, of course, didn’t blink an eye, and Mom started cooking the second we walked in the door. They had plates of food out and the guest room already set up, and we crashed for a few hours. And for the first time ever, my mom didn’t ask too many questions. Although I have a sneaking suspicion that my dad made that happen before we got here.

I’m still a good drive from the city, but I want to get it over with. They said we had until tonight, but the sooner I have Bambi back in my arms, the better.

“Hey.” I place both my hands on her shoulders and then rub my thumbs along her neck. “Look at me, babe.” She lets out a long breath and when those dark green eyes meet mine, I see tears. “You trust me, right?” She nods. “Then trust that I’ll handle this.”

“I do. I’m just worried you’ll get jumped or something else crazy and then where will that leave me? I can’t be without you, Angus. We’ve only just found each other.”

She falls against me, and I hold her close as I kiss the top of her head and tell her not to cry. “You think I’d let anyone or anything separate me from you? The devil himself would be let down because he couldn’t drag me away.”

Bambi smiles as she looks up at me, and I wipe away her tears. “Hurry back to me.”

“Didn’t I tell you already? You’ve given me wings.” I lean down and kiss her softly on each cheek and then on her lips. “I wasn’t alive until I saw you, Bambi. Now I can do anything.”

I kiss her one last time and then step back to get in my SUV. I wave at the curtains and then they part and my mom is standing there waving back at me. My dad walks on the porch, and I wait for Bambi to walk back up to where they are. I take one last look before I pull out of the driveway and head toward the highway.

I make another phone call on the way into the city and put in the escort service Bambi told me about in the GPS. She gave me the address and told me what she could remember about Vivian, the bouncer, and how deep her brother was. I hated having to hear about all the pain she’s suffered in her life, but in a way it brought us closer together.

Once I pull up outside the building, I get out of the SUV and make my way inside. There’s a lounge in the front with velvet couches, dark drapes, and soft music playing. There’s a reception desk with a woman behind it wearing lingerie.

“Hi handsome, have you got an appointment?” She looks me up and down, but I keep my eyes on the camera above where she’s sitting.