"I was just making flowers," I whisper, handing him the paper rose.
He looks at the delicate thing in his massive, scarred hand, and his expression softens into something so tender it makes my eyes sting. "It’s beautiful," he murmurs, looking at me instead of the flower. "Just like you."
His phone suddenly blares a loud, aggressive ringtone. I jump, my shoulders hitting my ears. Rogue growls at the device but stands up, keeping my hand tucked firmly in his.
"I have to go to the club," he says after checking the screen.
Panic flares in my chest.The club.I think of Heath and the motorcycle club he was trying to get into by offering me as a sacrifice. I think of the men who bought and sold lives like they were cattle. "The... the Sons of Destruction? The auction?"
Rogue stops, turning to face me fully. He takes my other hand, holding them both over the thumping rhythm of his heart. "I don't know what you've heard or what you've been through, Melodie, but we aren't them. My club, Wicked Riders, has beenworking to destroy everyone involved in that horrible, disgusting operation.” My eyes dart between his, wanting desperately to believe him. “I had a suspicion last night that you were the missing woman we haven’t been able to locate. We’re the ones who stormed the auction house to free those women, including you."
I freeze. "You were there?"
He nods. “I wish I would have found you that night,” he says softly, the regret in his eyes breaking my heart.
“Me, too,” I say with a little hint of a smile. Rogue brushes the corner of my lips with his thumb, like he appreciated seeing me happy.
“How did you escape?”
I chew on my bottom lip, sifting through the flashes of consciousness from that night. “I almost didn’t,” I start. “I was being threatened by one of the men there. He had me pressed against a wall, and…”
Rogue’s jaw tightens as he continues to listen.
“And before anything else could happen, someone jumped on stage and then all hell broke loose. The man who was so determined to make me his, grabbed me and hauled me into an office at the end of the hall. He was swearing under his breath while opening and closing drawers and cabinets. I think he was looking for some kind of ledger. He kept muttering something about transactions and contracts. Whatever it was, he found it and locked it in a safe under his desk, then locked me in the room with the safe.”
“Jesus,” Rogue curses, his hand coming up to tuck a few strands of hair behind my ear. “What happened next?”
“There was so much chaos and destruction happening outside the office, no one noticed when I used the massive swivel chair to break the window and crawl out.” I can’t help the tinyfraction of a satisfied smile curling up my lips. Rogue notices and smiles back.
“My brave girl,” he whispers. “Were you really hiding out in the woods these last few days?”
I nod. “I was able to grab a shirt to cover up with before leaving, but yeah… I pretty much ran until I couldn’t breath or think or feel, then collapsed. It’s all a blur. I remember coming across an empty campsite on day two, and I…” I look away from my savoir, ashamed of my actions. “I stole some bottled water and protein bars. I know I shouldn’t have–”
“Sweet girl,” he soothes. “You did what you had to do to survive. No one can blame you for that. I’m so fucking proud of you, Melodie.”
“No one has ever said that to me,” I murmur before I can stop myself.
Rogue rubs his nose against mine, then places a small kiss there. “I’ll remind you every single day how strong you are and how much you have to be proud of.”
I swallow past the lump in my throat, not sure what to do with all of his attention. Rogue picks up on my discomfort and continues his part of the story.
"My brothers and I found all the women they were keeping at the auction, aside from you. Your friend, Mika, was taken to safety along with Athena. The others have been given temporary housing, groceries, and we’re working on finding legit jobs for those seeking employment." He steps closer, heat radiating off him. "I’m not leaving you alone while I’m gone. I can call Mika and Athena. They can come here and stay with you while I’m at the clubhouse. Would you like that?"
Mika and Athena. I do remember them now that Rogue says their names. We were all in the padded room together. They were the only ones who had been kind to me. "They're okay?"
"They're more than okay," Rogue says with a soft smile. "They're part of the family now. Just like you're going to be." He pulls me in, his forehead resting against mine. “I know this is all really intense between you and me. If you want me to back off, I… I will.” It sounds like it pains him to say it.
“Don’t back off,” I whisper. “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.” I melt into his embrace, trusting this stranger with my life, my secrets, and, though I’m too scared to admit it yet, my heart.
3
ROGUE
Leaving Melodie is like ripping a piece of my own skin off, but I can’t have her anywhere near the clubhouse until I know exactly what kind of heat is coming our way. I check the perimeter of my property one last time, my eyes scanning the tree line. My house is isolated, tucked away where the neighbors are few and the privacy is absolute. However, ‘isolated’ can quickly turn into ‘trapped’ if you aren’t careful.
"Locked and loaded, angel," I say, leaning through the cracked front door. Melodie is sitting on the edge of the sofa, looking tiny in my oversized clothes. Mika and Athena came over as soon as they heard their friend was found. They are seated on either side of my girl, like two fierce Valkyries guarding a fallen angel. "Don't open this door for anyone but me. You hear me?"
Melodie nods, her blue eyes wide but steady. "I hear you, Rogue."
