Does it matter why they’re helping me?
The end result is still being under their protection. It’s not like I have anyone else to turn to.
As long as they don’t sell me out, I think the best thing I can do is be polite and grateful. To ride the train for as long as it lasts and regroup once the threat passes.
I rack my brain for any other options but come up with nothing.
My choices are: run now or run later.
These guys are bachelors, at least from what I can see. It won’t take long for them to get tired of dealing with a kid thatisn’t theirs. The most I can hope for is that they hold out long enough for whatever threat to be handled.
I need to keep Lucky out of their way and be as nice as possible while doing it. If they didn’t have kitchen staff, I could help cook and do dishes.
Maybe I can play up the wholedamsel in distressthing?
They seem like decent enough guys, and alphas are drawn to care for and protect omegas. If I can lean into that, hopefully they’ll have more patience with having a hyper kid running around their house.
I don’t even know for sure that the biker who circled my apartment is one of the MC members, but my gut is telling me that my time has run out.
It’s time to pay the piper for my sins.
“You smell so stressed,” Cormac says, smoothing his palm up and down my spine. “It’s killing me. I promise you, Charlotte. We will keep the two of you safe.”
I don’t say anything.
I’m afraid if I speak, I’ll start crying.
My biggest fear is something happening to me. Lucky would have no one. He’d have to go into foster care, and that’s if Blade’s guys weren’t the ones to kill me.
If they took him…
It would almost be worse.
I saw how those MC members treated their old ladies and kids. He would grow up being indoctrinated to the belief the club is everything.
Women are disposable, their brothers are all that matters, and the club comes above all else. I don’t think all motorcycle clubs run that way, but the Jacksonville Demons did.
“Unless…” Cormac pulls back, tilting his face down to mine. “Are you afraid of me? Is that what’s causing your scent to smell so sour?”
“No, I’m just stressed.” I swallow thickly. “I appreciate you and your family going out of your way to keep us safe.” I stretch up on my tiptoes, pecking a quick kiss on the apple of his cheek. “I’ll do everything I can to keep Lucky out of your way. He’s loud by nature, but he goes to bed pretty early, and we can hang out in the room I was given?—”
“The house isn’t childproofed, but Miriam should be in this afternoon to fix that.” Cormac laughs awkwardly. “Well, to do as much as she can, but having you here isn’t a burden. Just relax. Have a cup of coffee and some breakfast. Take a shower, if you’d like. I’m happy to keep Lucky company so you can have some time to yourself.”
I blink at him, unsure what to say.
Well, now I feel like an asshole for considering playing up the damsel in distress card.
Lucky’s Pull-Up was about to explode, so I put him in underwear and got him out of his pajamas, but it might have been a mistake. He’s daytime potty trained, but sometimes when he’s excited or distracted, he forgets to tell me he has to go. It’s going to be extra complicated because I don’t have stairs or a toddler seat to go on their toilets.
I’ll have to remember to ask him every hour or so.
He sits on my lap, enjoying his second breakfast of the day. The thought of taking a shower by myself is almost too tempting, but I don’t want to take advantage of Cormac’s kindness. He’s already being sweet by keeping me company while Lucky and I eat.
He was right when he mentioned this place isn’t set up for kids.
In my haste, I forgot to pack Lucky’s cups. He loves the ones with the straws, except when it’s time for bed. If it’s dark or he’s about to nap, he’ll only take the sippy spout kind.
Dammit.
