Delilah didn’t want him to see the anger growing in her belly.Especially not when he was so close and it would be so easy for him to remind her of her place.She lowered her gaze so she focused on his chest only inches from her face.
“I don’t like being laughed at,” she said, her voice soft as she hoped he wouldn’t betray what little trust he’d built, despite the walls she had built to keep anyone from hurting her again.
“I’m sorry,” Hawkeye used the hand not holding her against him to smooth a loose strand of hair out of her face and tuck it under the hood.Then he tugged at the back of the hood she still wore until it slipped off and fell against her back.“I wasn’t really laughing at you, little dove, I was laughing because I’d forgotten how it feels to ride so long your legs and ass go numb.If we hadn’t been in such a hurry to get here, I would have pulled off a couple of times to give you a chance to walk around for a few minutes.That helps.”
Her legs had gone from numb to tingling.It felt like a billion needles were jabbing every inch of her skin from her hips down.She tried to remain still, but she couldn’t keep her feet from shuffling around.one muscle in her right thigh felt like it was about to jump out of her body.The arm around her middle tightened.
“I’m sorry.I’m not doing it on purpose.”
“I know, baby.This is the part I warned you about.”He gave her a soft smile.The expression changed his looks dramatically.He no longer looked like a large threatening ogre, not that she minded since he made her feel safe.But with a smile he appeared more friendly, more approachable.
Not prepared for Hawkeye’s scrutiny, she decided her only option was to relax and wait it out.She’d been pressed against him for at least the last hour, she had no clue how long it had been, only that he’d been there, so she let her head fall forward until her forehead rested against his chest and closed her eyes.
Chapter Thirteen
Hawkeye looked downat the woman in his arms, wondering if his holding her so close was bothering her, but he couldn’t let her fall.His brothers had nodded at him then headed inside, Diesel being the last one in after he’d made sure there was no one outside watching them and closed the garage door.He would follow them in with Delilah as soon as she could walk again.
A small sound caught his attention.He looked around, wondering if some small animal had gotten in and made a nest, then he realized the sound was coming from the woman in his arms.She’d dropped her forehead against his chest and fallen asleep!
Not knowing what else to do, Hawkeye shook his head, then reached down and scooped her into his arms.Carrying her inside, he glanced around the main room.There were a couple couches and a recliner, and every one of them had at least one person sprawled out.He turned and headed down the hall.This wasn’t the first time they’d used this place, and the bedrooms had beds.He could lay her down there, then they’d figure out what to do next.
“She all right?”Raven asked as Hawkeye stepped back into the living room.
“Yeah, just tired.I get the feeling she was worked like a slave.Not like the others—they were used like whores.I think what she went through was different.We didn’t talk about much, we didn’t have time, but I get the feeling something was different about her.”He glanced around the room then went into the kitchen.Without bothering to turn on the lights, he opened the refrigerator.There wasn’t much there, but there was a case of water bottles.He pulled one from the plastic and then closed the fridge.He cracked open the bottle and downed it in one long drink.
“I sent Smokey and Hardtack to get us some food.Not sure what’s open this time of night or how good it will be, but we need something.”
Hawkeye didn’t say anything.He didn’t care as long as it was food.“Any idea how long we’re here?”
“Several hours at least.With dropping off the women, the others won’t be here for at least another six hours, longer if they run into any trouble.”The president turned and looked out the kitchen window into the darkness.“We need to find out more about your girl.”He scrubbed one hand over his face then looked up at Hawkeye.“Is she even legal?”
“She says she is.Says she’s nineteen and that she was married.”
“Divorced?So young?”Raven lifted one brow as he turned toward the bedroom where Hawkeye had laid Delilah down, as if he could see her through the walls.
“That’s what I thought, but when I asked, she said you don’t need to get divorced if you’re never legally married.She said it like it had been a surprise to her and not a happy one.She said her husband ‘set her aside.’Her words.”
