Always Be His Baby

Chapter Eight

Shelby

Shane and the boys spend the next hour talking me through the details of my mother's passing and explaining how the threat that took her life is now a risk to mine.

I don't know what to think, I can hardly breathe. It's like losing her all over again, the wounds still fresh in my heart, still bleeding. I'm angry at them for not telling me before, but as soon as I stare up into Shane's dark irises, I know why he did it. I probably would've done the same thing in an effort to protect the fragile fourteen-year-old girl that I was. But I am not her anymore. I'm practically a college graduate and a grown woman who can handle herself.

I squirm back-and-forth in my chair, wondering what my next move should be. They've told me it's safest if I stay here, locked down in this penthouse suite like a princess in her tower. But that doesn't sit well with me. The stubborn vein that was threaded through my mother connects me to her, and now all I want is a long walk in the park to clear my mind and consider my options. I think about moving to a new city, maybe Boston or Los Angeles or Seattle, somewhere I can really get lost. But Shane's business is rooted here in Chicago and I don't think I have it in me to ask him to leave. I know I don't have it in me to leave without him.

I sigh deeply. "Can't we all leave together?"

Shane shakes his head, looking over at me with pain etching his features. "It wouldn't help, they will always find us."

"But…" I have no words. I feel like how my mother must have felt so many years ago. And then I realize it's her stubborn vein that most likely ended her life. I always wondered why she was taking the L train that day, when Shane or one of my uncles would have driven her anywhere she wanted to go. But now I realize why; she wanted her freedom from this life, from these men.

The freedom from them is the last thing I want after the last few nights of bliss.

Shane, sensing my unease, cups both of my cheeks in his palms and drops a slow sensual kiss on my lips. His eyes linger on me for a long beat until he pulls away and looks at both of his brothers. "I'm gonna go out for a while, I've got some business to take care of. Keep an eye on her please."

I straighten my spine, uncomfortable with the way he's just tasked them with a babysitting job. I can take care of myself and I can't stay locked up here forever.

I suck my bottom lip between my teeth, trying to hold back tears as the love of my life walks out the door.

I stand then, not bothering to look at Gio and Rafe, and head back to my room, closing the door when I get there. The apartment is silent for a long time and I know they haven't followed me, and it doesn't sound like they're hovering around my door. After wiping out a few stubborn tears, I rub circles on my belly, cramps pulling me under with pain as I think how nice a few tabs of Midol and a hot bath would feel. Going through my desk in search of the medicine to take away the pain, I realize I took the last of it last month and I'll need to go get more if I'm going to have any relief today. Maybe I'll also pick up a bottle of wine to cry into.

Opening my bedroom door, I slip on my sandals, toss my purse over one arm and leave the apartment without another sound. It takes me only a minute to reach the lobby, and I make eye contact with the new concierge for a moment. He's closer to my age and friendly. We’ve spoken in the past, so I send him a short wave before I head out of the lobby doors and onto the street.

I walk the two blocks around the corner to the small bodega I've been going to since I was a kid. I used to feel so safe in this neighborhood, the evils of the world hidden behind my naïve eyes. I miss those days, and as ruthless as Shane and Gio and Rafe are, I wouldn't trade them for anything, not even the presumed innocence I once thought I had.

My body still aches from their touch last night, and I even noticed a few bruises in the mirror this morning before I got into the shower. They put a smile on my face then, and they still do. Funny how Damien was only a gentleman to me and I've never been interested in anything more with him, but these three savage men make me feel alive and keep me awake for nights on end with thoughts of their hands leaving marks on my skin in the name of pleasure.

Just as I step out of the bodega, tucking the medication into my purse and carrying a bottle of wine under one arm, out of nowhere a hand covers my nose and mouth and yanks me from behind into an alleyway. I try to scream as I'm thrown against a dumpster, but it's useless.

This is it. This is what they always warned me about, and I've been a stupid foolish girl to ignore them. Just like my mother.

But I'm not her, I'm a fighter. I refuse to go down without a fight. Shane taught me better than that, and I think back on my early years learning to box and do jiu-jitsu with him when I was a teenager. It was probably the start of my yearnings for him and now it will come in handy. Now it might save my life.

"You're even prettier than your mother. We're gonna have so much fun with you."

I can't speak with the hand still covering my mouth, but my own hand is free and I grab the neck of the wine bottle and quickly smash it on the dumpster at my side until the jagged edges can draw blood. I swing at my attacker, who's wearing a ski mask, aiming for his head. I leave him dazed, the bright blue eyes shining through the two circles of the dark mask wobbling and closing for a minute, and I take the extra breath to decide if I'm ready to have another man's blood on my hands.

Without waiting to decide, I act on instinct and slice at his neck with the jagged edges of the wine bottle. Crimson Merlot mixes with the fresh blood dripping down his neck and all over my hands. My attacker lets go instantly, but I'm not finished with him. He drops to his knees and I think I've already landed my mark, but I kick him to the ground and continue to slash at his neck with the jagged pieces of glass until his blood gushes and flows onto the sidewalk at my feet.

I drop the wine bottle, my muscles trembling with fear, my mind begging me to run, but all I can do is drop to my knees and sob. I've just saved my own life but I'm not dumb. I know there will be more after him. I know someone will be looking for this man who is tasked with abducting me or worse, killing me today.

I crush my face in my hands, filling my palms with salty tears and smearing myself in my attacker's blood. I can smell the copper liquid mixed with the sweet red wine and I think I'll never be able to drink wine again. My mind turns hazy and I can no longer process what just happened.

Until another man's hands are circling my shoulders and pulling me to my feet.

I grasp for the bottle on the sidewalk, ready to cock it back and slice another man's throat, when a familiar voice pulls me back to reality. "Shelby, it's me. It's uncle Gio. You're safe now."

"Gio?" I open my eyes, thankful to find his piercing dark brown ones looking down at me with warmth and concern. I've never felt safer.

"Thank God I thought to check the battery on your GPS charger. When I noticed you were down the street I thought it must be wrong, I thought you were still in your bedroom reading a book or taking a bath."

A broken sob escapes me and then my entire body breaks down into tremors as I go into a state of shock.

"Jesus. You killed him, Shelby. You really killed him. I'm so fucking proud of you."