“Aurora,” a deep voice says.
I don’t say it. The man in the doorway remembered.
“Aurora.” Poppy echoes it, looking back at him, and then turns to me and nods. “My God, she’s gorgeous. My daughters are going to flip when they meet her.” She looks to me quickly. “I’m not saying you have to let them babysit. They are going to beg, though. They’re teenagers—fourteen and seventeen—and they are dying for this baby.” She pats her belly. “So, no pressure to let them practice on Aurora.”
“Knock-knock.” There is another voice at the door. I turn and see the woman from behind the bar resting herchin on Savage’s shoulder. She’s peeking over him and grinning at us. “Hey, Poppy babe. There’s no way I’m letting some prospect make a run for baby shit. I’m going to do it myself. Do Mama and Baby want to come along?”
Poppy looks at me and lifts her brow. “I think Stella’s right. You want to come? We’ll make a trip out together?”
I swallow hard and look down at myself. I shake my head. I don’t want to go, but I also don’t really want Poppy to leave me alone. Suddenly, having her nearby feels safe.
As if she can read my thoughts, Poppy shakes her head. “You know what, Stel, why don’t you take Savage? There’s no bathtub in Claire’s bathroom, so maybe she’ll want me to help with Aurora while they clean up and get changed.”
“Cool. Should we buy a tub, then? Is that a thing? Like a baby pool for inside? I don’t know shit about kids.” Stella is cracking up, and Poppy laughs with her.
“Get whatever you think she needs.” Savage’s voice is low. “Get it all.”
“I got your list, Poppy. I’m on it.” Stella holds up her cell phone, then spins and heads back down the hallway, leaving me alone with Savage and Poppy.
He turns to leave but then stops and looks at Poppy.
“Can I have a minute with Claire?”
Poppy starts to leave, but I shake my head. I don’t even mean to. It’s like my body is reacting before my brain can process. I don’t want to be alone with him.Not yet. I’m not ready. And even if he makes me pay for saying no to him, I’ll deal with it later when I’ve got some fight back in me. Right now, I’m feeling too fragile. I don’t trust myself to fight back, and I sure as hell don’t trust him.
Do I trust Poppy? Maybe.
She shoots a look at Savage, and he nods. They had a whole conversation about me, I’m sure, without saying a word.
“It’s all good,” Savage says. “We’ll talk right here.”
He comes into the room but stands a healthy distance away from me. He keeps his eyes on Poppy, as if making sure she’s close enough to ensure I don’t feel threatened by him.
“Hey, listen,” he says gently. “You going to be okay? Poppy will stay with you until you settle in.”
I nod, avoiding his eyes.
“I meant what I said out here.” He walks backward toward the door. “You’re completely safe here. Lock up when I leave, and I’ll knock when I’m back. You don’t want to open this door, you don’t, you hear me?”
I can’t look at him. But his voice… The way he doesn’t sound angry. Doesn’t sound mad. He sounds sincere.
If I didn’t know better, if I didn’t believe it was impossible, I’d think he wants to help me.
I can’t process that. I never had a moment’s privacy at the Hellfires’ compound.
“All right, then.” He looks me over, and I look up at him for the first time since I got out of the truck.
My skin tingles, and I’m shaking inside, my belly weak and knees feeling like jelly because for the first time in as long as I can remember, a man is looking at me with something I am sure I recognize. Kindness. There is nothing else there that I can see. Despite the circumstances, he is nothing short of kind.
Then just like that, he gives me a tight smile. He looks at Aurora and says, “Be back soon, kid.” And then, he’s gone.
My shoulders sag in relief the minute he’s gone. But I won’t get too comfortable. Because like he said, he’ll be back, and then I’ll find out what he has planned for me.
3
SAVAGE
If I thought rescuinga woman from the Hellfires was expensive, buying shit for a baby makes what I’ve already spent look like chump change. Stella and I have our arms full as we head back into the club. When we reach the bar, Stella drops her bags.
