FAITH E-Book

Mary E. Thompson

• Herausgeber: BluEyed Press
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2024

Beschreibung

She never planned to go back. He never thought he’d see her again. Not everyone is happy about their reunion. 
Twelve years was a long time to be a ghost. Nina thought leaving home would alleviate her grief and guilt, but she had no idea the hell she was running toward. Twelve years of trusting a person who would turn on Nina in a heartbeat if she ever pushed back. Staying put wasn’t an option. Not if Nina was ever going to look herself in the mirror again. 
Zeke never forgave himself for letting his best friend’s little sister sneak away from him that night twelve years ago. Even worse than her leaving was her never coming back. He’d given up hope of finding her, even though he checked the morgue on a regular basis. Until his phone rang and the voice he never thought he’d hear again whispered his name. 
The only thing Zeke wants to do is protect Nina. But keeping her captive in his home is no better than what she went through for the last twelve years. Nina is determined to end the reign of terror that kept her away from her loved ones. She’s going to need all her strength, and all of Zeke’s, to take down the organization she swore her life to. Even that might not be enough.

Leseprobe

FAITH

A CURVY GIRL ROMANTIC SUSPENSE

F-BOMB: CURVY VIGILANTES

BOOK 9

MARY E THOMPSON

FAITH

F-BOMB: Curvy Vigilantes, book nine

Copyright © 2024 Mary E Thompson

Cover Copyright © 2023 Mary E Thompson

Cover Photo from depositphotos, Copyright © fxquadro

Break (Mask) from depositphotos, Copyright © K3star

Published by BluEyed Press, All Rights Reserved

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

This is a work of fiction. All characters, businesses, locations, and events are either products of the author’s creative imagination or are used in a fictitious sense. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Ebook ISBN: 978-1-953879-50-9

Print ISBN: 978-1-953879-51-6

Audiobook ISBN: 978-1-953879-52-3

Created with Vellum

F-BOMB: CURVY VIGILANTES

Say hello to the Curvy Vigilantes, a group of plus-size women who protect their city. They have no training, but they don’t need it. All they need is the desire to right wrongs and to protect the ones they love… and maybe some help from the men strong (and smart) enough to fall for these kick-ass curvy women.

F-BOMB: CURVY VIGILANTES

Forsaken (subscriber exclusive)

Fury

Framed

Feign

Fierce

Fatal

Fear

Flee

Fracture

Faith

SUBSCRIBE NOW AT MARYETHOMPSON.COM

CONTENTS

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

About the Author

To trusting your gut, trusting yourself, and trusting in love…

And taking a leap of faith.

1

Nina Rose sat in the chair she was assigned to and glared at the sleeping bitch across the room. Gwendolyn Lennox was evil. She was mean and dangerous and not worthy of the air she breathed.

Nina imagined what it would feel like the plunge a knife into the heart of the heartless bitch who took her in twelve years ago and never let her leave. If Nina had known what she was running toward all those years ago, she never would have left home.

She stood and walked across the room. Gwendolyn almost looked human as she slept. Her blonde hair stretched over the pillows. Her mouth opened slightly. Her pink lips parted with each breath she took.

She would never stop hurting people. Nina touched the black eye Gwendolyn gave her just a few hours earlier. When she decided Nina’s suggestion to turn herself in was unacceptable.

Nina was going to die in Gwendolyn’s house, like so many other women. Women Gwendolyn lied about and told Nina were going to live better lives. Women Gwendolyn sold into slavery and traded for favors. Women who would never be seen again because of the monster that Gwendolyn was.

Nina shook her head, fighting tears. She was so stupid. She believed all the lies Gwendolyn told her. Thought Gwendolyn was looking out for her like the sister she claimed to think of Nina as. But Gwendolyn just wanted a pet. Someone to complain to when she was in a mood and a punching bag when she was angry.

It was the last time Nina was going to be anyone’s punching bag. And if there was a weapon in the room, it would be the last time Gwendolyn used anyone for a punching bag.

Instead, it was the night Nina finally decided to reclaim her life.

She was getting the hell out of there.

She walked to the door that led to the hallway. They weren’t in Gwendolyn’s favorite house since the police and FBI raided it, but Nina had been with Gwendolyn long enough to know all the houses. All the routines and habits and ways out.

Nina sucked in a breath and erased all the thoughts in her mind. The guards Gwendolyn hired were as ruthless as she was, and they could sniff out a lie in a second. If they didn’t believe Nina’s story, they’d wake Gwendolyn up and Nina would be dead.

Her life depended on her being able to convince them she was running an errand for Gwendolyn. It wasn’t the first time, so Nina hoped it worked. It had to.

She opened the door quietly, spotting Fernando immediately. He gazed past Nina to the bedroom, nodding when he saw Gwendolyn sleeping.

Nina closed the door as quietly as she’d opened it and turned to Fernando. “Is there a driver who can take me on an errand?”

Fernando glared at her. “What errand?”

Nina pointed to her eye and grimaced. “I upset her. I was going to get her some of those candies she likes so much.”

Fernando glared harder. “You know better than to challenge her.”

Nina nodded, letting her tears well up. It would sell the lie. “I know. And I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking. I wanted to protect her.”

“What did you do?”

“I said she should think about turning herself in. Blaming Damon and Trevor and Benjamin. Tell the police she didn’t know what they were doing with her company money.”

Fernando’s small smile was one of approval instead of dismissal. “Not a bad idea, but she’d never do it. She didn’t get to where she is to play the dumb blonde.”

Nina swallowed roughly, her throat sore from Gwendolyn choking her. “I know. I shouldn’t have suggested it. I was worried. We were in the house when they came in. She could have been caught.”

Fernando shook his head, the dark stringy ponytail he wore flopping over his shoulder. “She’ll never be caught. We won’t let it happen.”

Nina nodded, hoping he thought it was in agreement.

“Let me see who’s available. You go to that convenience store in the city, right? Close to that F-BOMB place?”

Nina nodded. It was working.

Fernando called someone and told them to get the car ready. When they questioned him, he said, “If I have to come down there, you won’t be able to drive anything.”

Fernando hung up and nodded to Nina. “They’ll be ready.”

“Thanks, Fernando,” Nina said, pressing her lips into a smile. She walked away and hoped like hell she’d never see him again.

The SUV was waiting for her when she arrived. Parked under the structure, a dozen vehicles waited for whatever Gwendolyn needed them for. Decoy, transport, anything. She was the queen of her domain, and she made sure everyone knew it.

Nina didn’t recognize the driver, which wasn’t a bad thing. She climbed into the backseat and ignored him, watching the house disappear into the darkness as he drove away.

Fifteen minutes later, he pulled into the parking lot for the convenience store. He slid the vehicle into park and met her gaze in the rearview mirror. He jerked his head to the building.

Guess he wasn’t going in. Worked for her.

Nina climbed out of the SUV and wrapped the shawl around her neck, looping it up over her face to hide as much of her appearance as possible. Gwendolyn hated when Nina let anyone see her hair. The red color was distinctive and drew attention. Attention Gwendolyn never wanted on Nina.

It took Nina way too many years to understand why.

Nina walked inside, nodding at the clerk. The man barely acknowledged her, which was just as good. If he wasn’t paying attention, he wouldn’t be able to tell Gwendolyn anything when Nina didn’t go back out.

Nina worked her way through the store, choosing an aisle toward the back of the store so the driver wouldn’t be able to see her. She got to the end and knew there was a gap. If he looked up at the right time, he would spot her, but if she was lucky…

Nina sprinted across the half-dozen feet of space, letting out a breath when she made it to the other side and saw the driver with his nose in his phone.

The rest was easy. Get to the office in the back, the one that was never locked, and call the one man she knew would save her.

* * *

Zeke Donovan stood in the bullpen at work and listened to his boss share the rest of the rundown from the last few days. It was a fuck-ton of information. FBI Agent Lorelei Sloane had pieced together more than every other person out there.

And the fuckers who took her almost killed it all with her.

But they didn’t. Lorelei was safe, and she gave them what they needed to invade the stronghold of Gwendolyn Lennox’s organization.

The next step was dismantling the entire fucking thing, but that wasn’t what Rose Protection Agency was doing. Their involvement was limited.

Which suited Zeke just fine.

“What’s up next for us?” Austin Ward asked. Austin and his partner, Samuel MacNeil, were an odd couple that worked like ice cream and brownies. Good on their own, but better together.

“We have cases we’ve been working on, and a new one that just came in. Local PD might want us to protect some witnesses, especially if there are a few women who want to stick together. Most of them will go through rehab, so it might be a few months of steady work helping them out.” Montgomery Rose was Zeke’s oldest and closest friend. Also the man Zeke owed his life to, many times over.

Zeke knew that score was balanced, though. Zeke had saved Mont just as many times. But their scoresheet would never be even. Zeke would spend the rest of his life making up for the mistakes of his past. Working with his best friend and keeping Montgomery safe was Zeke’s penance.

Mont hadn’t been the same since his sister disappeared. Nina was Montgomery’s favorite person in the world, and Zeke let her vanish.

He’d never forgiven himself for it. And never would.

“We’re good for whatever you need. Just happy we finally know who everyone is chasing,” Samuel said.

The others in the room murmured their agreement.

“When all this is done, everyone should take a few days off,” Montgomery told the room. “Go to the beach or something.”

Zeke snorted. “Are you taking time off?”

“He never takes time off,” Berkeley said, walking into the bullpen like she owned the place. As the executive assistant, and all-around alpha male wrangler, she had every right to act the way she did.

“That’s why I’m asking,” Zeke said. “Come on, Mont. We all need a break. Even you.”

“I’m not interested in a beach bunny or any other kind of bunny.”

“Fuck, man, I didn’t say that. Go skydiving or SCUBA diving or something. Get the hell out of here for a little while.”

Montgomery cast a side-eye at Berkeley, who only raised one dark eyebrow at him. She was always telling him the same thing.

Zeke’s phone rang, interrupting whatever Montgomery was about to say.

They all stopped, waiting for Zeke to answer the phone. In their business, when someone called, they answered. No matter what.

“Donovan,” Zeke barked into the phone, locking his gaze on Montgomery’s. He didn’t need words to communicate with his boss.

“Zeke?” a voice whispered.

Every inch of Zeke responded to that voice. One word, and he knew exactly who it was, even if it had been twelve years since he heard her. He glanced at Montgomery. Why was she calling Zeke instead of her brother?

Zeke tore his gaze from Montgomery’s. He was wrong. He had to be. It couldn’t be her. And he couldn’t tell his best friend it was or Mont would be crushed all over again.

They’d all lost hope, and having it back, even for a few seconds, was worse than never having it at all.

“Yeah?”

“I don’t have long. I need you.”

“Where are you?” Zeke was halfway to the door, moving toward the front of the building and ready to go.

“The convenience store we always hung out at when we were kids. Do you remember?”

“I’m on my way. Don’t move.”

“Please hurry. Park in the back.”

“I’ll be there in two minutes,” Zeke said.

She hung up.

Zeke felt like he’d been punched. Twelve years. It had been twelve years since he heard her voice. Twelve years since the woman he loved walked out of the house and never came back. Twelve years.

His heart pounded. His palms were sweaty. Every inch of him said he would never see her again if he didn’t get there soon.

He couldn’t let her disappear again. He couldn’t.

“Who was that?” Montgomery asked, surprising Zeke.

“Just a client. Needs me to go get her.” Zeke never kept anything from Montgomery. Brothers in every possible way. The look in his best friend’s eyes said he knew there was more to the story, but he also knew if Zeke wasn’t sharing, there was a reason for it.

“Are you okay to go alone?”

Zeke nodded, trying to calm his racing heart. If it really was Nina, he would bring her to Montgomery so he could see his sister. Know she was alive. Twelve years was a long time to assume she wasn’t, and false hope would crush him.

Which was why Zeke said, “All good. I’ll check in later. How long are you here?”

Montgomery looked at his watch and shrugged. “Another hour, at least. Are you coming back?”

“Possibly.”

Montgomery tilted his head. When they picked up a client, they took them somewhere safe. That rarely meant the office. “Are you sure everything’s okay?”

Zeke nodded. “I think so. I’ll try to be back soon.”

Montgomery nodded, even as his face betrayed his confusion.

Zeke was cutting it close and had to go. He wasn’t far from the convenience store, but he didn’t want to risk her leaving. He raced to his SUV and cranked it up, pulling out of the lot without bothering with a seatbelt. She was more important.

A black SUV idled in front of the store. The man behind the wheel glanced up, then returned his focus to his phone. The rest of the parking lot was empty. The store appeared to be as well, except for the clerk behind the counter.

Zeke pulled in from the other side, where the man in the SUV and the clerk wouldn’t see him. He eased his SUV to a stop next to the door that said Employees Only.

Leaving the engine running, Zeke got out. He went to the door, pulling the handle. Hope was a motherfucker, but Zeke was full of it.

The door creaked open, and there she was in the dark hallway. Standing in front of him like she’d been twelve years ago. She was older, but no less gorgeous. Her figure had filled out, giving her curves, curves, and more curves. The possessive alpha in him roared with desire, wanting to throw her over his shoulder and never let her out of his sight again.

“You came,” she whispered, looking up at him. Until he saw her eyes, he had his doubts, but that gaze was seared into his brain. It was the gaze he saw in his dreams, the one he’d been chasing for most of his life. The one he never thought he’d see again.

“Holy fuck, it is you.” Zeke reached for her, ignoring the flash of panic in her eyes. He couldn’t wait another second to have her in his arms. He lifted her off her feet, holding her to him until she melted in his embrace and sank into him.

She sighed, then inhaled a shaky breath.

He pressed his nose to her neck and whispered, “Don’t you ever fucking walk out on me again.”

“Okay,” she whispered.

Zeke let out a breath and stepped outside, checking that no one else was there. “We need to go.”

She nodded and followed him, startling when she saw his SUV. It was shockingly similar to the one parked in front of the building.

“It’s mine. Get in. Lie down in the back so no one sees you.” He opened the door for her and waited, praying she hurried up but knowing he couldn’t rush her.

She took two steps forward, then threw her arms around his neck.

He inhaled deep, closing his eyes and ignoring her body odor. She was alive. Not just that, but she was back. She called him. She was going to be okay.

“Thank you for coming to get me, Zeke.”

Zeke cupped her cheeks and got a closer look at her in the bright light of the parking lot. She’d lost her childish features and grown into a beautiful woman. Curves in all the right places and that same red hair that always hinted at the spark she hid from most people.

But that wasn’t all that was new. She had a black eye, handprints around her throat, and more bruises on the skin exposed by her way too small dress.

Zeke’s blood boiled. Someone put their fucking hands on her. Beat her and hurt her and she was so scared, she called him in the middle of the fucking night.

He had half a mind to pull around to the front of the store and put a knife in the throat of the man who was waiting for her. But one look in her eyes, that gray-green that mesmerized him when he wasn’t supposed to be in love with his best friend’s little sister, and he knew that wasn’t the answer.

“Let’s go,” he whispered.

Nina nodded and crawled into his backseat. She laid down on the floor, curling herself up tight and making it impossible for her to be seen.

Zeke closed the door, then slid behind the wheel. He watched his mirrors as he navigated the city, making more turns than necessary to confirm no one was following them. When he was confident, he breathed a little easier.

“Who was that?”

She was quiet, but he knew she understood what he was asking. “He was the driver. I don’t know his name.”

“Is he the one who did that to you?”

“No.”

Zeke wanted to ask more. To demand she tell him everything, but the quiet answers she gave him said she wasn’t ready to talk yet.

“Where are you taking me?”

“To my house. Let you shower and change, then we’re going to see your brother.”

“He’s here?” she gasped, as though she expected something different.

Zeke glanced in the mirror, but he couldn’t see her. He looked at the floor where she laid and hated he hadn’t been able to provide her with more than the floor of his SUV to hide.

But she was alive.

“He never stopped looking for you.”

“He didn’t?” she breathed.

Zeke shook his head, then focused on the road. He drove to his home, assuming she’d want a shower and new clothes. He had something she could wear, nothing like what she was wearing, but he didn’t think that dress was her choice.

He pulled into the driveway of his duplex and sighed when he saw Montgomery wasn’t home yet. They didn’t like the idea of having places far apart, and when the duplex was listed years ago, they jumped on the idea of having each other next door but still maintaining privacy and independence.

Something neither of them wanted for a long time after Nina vanished.

Zeke closed the garage door and let Nina out of the backseat. He helped her out, noting how fragile she seemed. He led the way around his SUV and opened the door into his house.

And was immediately met by a less than happy meow.

Nina gasped. “You have a cat?”

Zeke bent down to pick up Gene, a black and white cat with only three paws. “I have two, actually. This is Gene. He was hit by a car and lost his leg, but don’t tell him because he has no idea there’s anything different about him.”

“He’s precious,” Nina whispered, petting Gene’s head. She laughed, a husky, rusty sound, when Gene purred loudly.

“He’s needy.”

Another meow, softer and more patient, tentative followed.

Zeke turned and spotted Franklin on the kitchen counter. He nodded toward him so Nina would see the tabby. “That’s Franklin. He thinks rules don’t apply to him and never listens.”

Nina went to Franklin and let him sniff her hand. He bumped her knuckles with his forehead, then rubbed his head under her hand, flopping on his back and exposing himself on the counter.

“Jesus, man, have some decency. She just got here,” Zeke said, shaking his head at his cat.

Gene meowed, as though agreeing with Zeke.

Nina laughed again. “They’re wonderful.”

“They’re pretty great, yeah.”

The silence stretched between them. Zeke had a million questions, but he didn’t think he could ask her any of them.

“So, um, the bathroom is upstairs. I’ll show you where everything is and get you some clothes to change into. Montgomery lives next door, but he’s not home, so when you’re cleaned up, I’ll find out where he is and we can go see him.”

Nina nodded, patting Franklin on the head, then following Zeke up the stairs.

The cats followed along, winding between Zeke and Nina’s feet and making her laugh. Zeke fought all the emotions rising up, knowing he had to keep it together until he handed her over to her brother. Zeke didn’t know why she called him and not Montgomery, but it didn’t matter.

She was back.

He went to his bedroom and grabbed the smallest pair of shorts he had, ones with a drawstring, and a dark tee. He didn’t have underwear that would fit her, but he hoped the clothes would be enough for now. He’d buy her an entire fucking store tomorrow. Anything she needed.

She followed behind him, barely two feet away the whole time. When he showed her the bathroom off his bedroom, she sucked in a breath. “Wow.”

“Take your time. I’ll be downstairs. Whenever you’re ready to come back down, you can, but there’s no rush.”

“Zeke?” she whispered.

“Yeah, Nina?”

“Thank you for getting me.”

“Thank you for calling me.”

Nina smiled, then turned.

Zeke left the bathroom and closed the door. He closed the bedroom door, too. He wanted to sit in the room and wait for her, but she needed space.

And so did he.

Zeke went to his kitchen and poured himself a glass of water. He downed it, wishing it was something stronger. But until he talked to Montgomery, he had to make sure his mind was clear.

Zeke alternated between staring at the ceiling and wondering if she was okay and staring at his phone and trying to figure out what the fuck to say to Montgomery.

Hey, Mont, your sister’s here. In my house. No big deal. She just called me instead of you after twelve years.

Not an option.

But Zeke was going to have to figure something out.

The shower turned off, and his heart thudded hard. She would be back downstairs soon. And he would have to take her to Montgomery.

Zeke couldn’t sit still. He paced the house, listening for Nina.

But he didn’t hear Nina. He heard Montgomery.

The garage next door opened, but it didn’t close right away.

A door opened upstairs.

Someone knocked on the front door, then a key slid into the lock.

Zeke stood still, watching as brother and sister both moved into the room.

“Hey, Zeke. What was that call you got…?” Montgomery froze.

Nina stopped halfway down the stairs.

“Nina?”

“Hi, big brother,” Nina said.

Montgomery’s jaw dropped. His gaze scanned his sister. Then swung to Zeke. “What the fuck did you do to her?”

Zeke didn’t have time to defend himself before Montgomery charged him. Fists first.

2

“Monty!” Nina shrieked. She rushed down the stairs and tried to get between the two men she loved more than anything or anyone else. Ever. “Stop!”

Montgomery took a step back, his gaze flipping from her to Zeke. “Why are you here? How are you here? Why the fuck is she here?”

Zeke looked at her, but Nina didn’t speak. She wasn’t sure how to explain anything to either of them.

Zeke wiped his lip, blood appearing on his hand. Nina hadn’t noticed the split lip, but once she saw the blood, her head spun.

She was gathered up in the next moment, her feet swept out from under her. She floated to the couch, the fresh and masculine scent of Zeke waking her up and nearly making her weep. She smelled like him, choosing the same shampoo in his shower that she’d inhaled in his SUV.

She landed on the couch softly. Zeke was right there, his face a mask of concern, before a growl permeated the air.

Zeke looked up and nodded, stepping away.

Montgomery replaced Zeke in front of her. “Did he do this?” Monty tucked her hair behind her ear, his fingers drifting over the bruises around her neck.

“No,” Nina said sharply. “No. Never. You know he’d never hurt me.”

Montgomery inhaled a shaky breath and closed his eyes. “I thought you were dead.”

Nina nodded. “I know.”

“Where the hell have you been?”

His tone was biting, but the care beneath the fear reminded Nina that she didn’t need to be afraid of her brother. “I… It’s a long story.”

“One you’re not ready to share. Are you safe?”

Nina looked at Zeke and smiled. “Yes. I am now.”

“With him.” Montgomery’s words were punctuated with a glare at the man who’d spent as much time at their house as Nina and Montgomery when they were young.

“I didn’t think you’d be here. You were supposed to go into the military,” Nina said.

“I did. But I didn’t stay. I came back to look for you. I searched. Twelve years, Nina. Twelve years. Where the hell have you been?” His face crumpled, the fear and pain he felt erupting from him.

“I’ve been in Niagara Falls,” she whispered.

“What?” Monty barked. His gaze snapped to Zeke’s, then slammed against Nina again. “You’ve been right here. Someone had you. Wouldn’t let you out.”

She nodded, hoping it was enough for now. There were good times with Gwendolyn. Fewer and fewer over the years, but at first, Nina almost felt like she was lucky. She had someone who cared about her. Someone who didn’t have to give up anything for her.

A dozen years brought clarity and clarity brought pain and pain brought acceptance. Nina couldn’t let it continue.

“I can’t…” Monty jumped to his feet and stalked away from her.

Nina stood, watching the lines of tension cross his features. His back bunched up so tight his shoulders rounded. His face looked a decade older than when he’d walked in the door. Everything about him read regret and anger.

“I have to go. I can’t… I’m so happy you’re here. You’re home. I… Please don’t leave again. Never again.” Monty rushed to her and pulled her in tight for a hug. “Promise me you won’t ever leave me again, Nina. I love you.”

Nina smiled and nodded, her throat tight with emotion she hadn’t allowed herself to feel in a very long time. “I love you, big brother.”

Montgomery nodded and held her back from him. He cupped her jaw and stared into her eyes. He closed his, then he turned away from her and walked straight out the door.

Nina waited, wondering if she should go after him. A few seconds later, an engine started up and tires squealed as Montgomery left.

Nina stared after him, lost in her memories until a soft meow and an even softer touch broke through her haze.

She dropped onto the couch, smiling when Franklin jumped up next to her and crawled onto her lap. She rubbed his head, and he nuzzled against her chest.

The snick of a lock met her ears and made her jump. She knew that sound well.

Franklin jumped down as Nina bolted to her feet, panic flooding her system as she looked at Zeke walking back from the front door.

Zeke held up his hands. “I don’t want anyone walking in without an invitation. Montgomery has a key. He can come back any time he wants.”

Nina struggled to ease her panic. She called Zeke because she trusted him. She knew he would never hurt her. He was one of the few reasons she survived as long as she did. The hope she would see him again. Him and her brother. Seeing both of them healed a broken piece of her, but the other broken pieces were much more damaged and would take a lot more to heal.

“This is your show, Nina. Do you want me to unlock the door?”

“No,” she blurted. “No. It’s just…”

“You’re safe here, Nina. Always safe with me. I will never hurt you.”

She nodded, knowing they weren’t just words. It was a promise. And Zeke Donovan didn’t make promises he didn’t keep.

* * *

So many of Zeke’s fears were confirmed by the look on her face when he locked the door. He didn’t think anything of it until she stared at him, eyes wide and panicked, waiting for the inevitable attack.

She was abused. Likely assaulted. Beaten and tortured and used for whatever the bastard who held her wanted.

Zeke struggled to keep his anger at bay, wanting to go out and find the man who had her for twelve years and beat him until he couldn’t breathe and would know the pain he caused.

But first, Zeke needed to know who he was going after. And make sure Nina was safe.

“Are you hungry?” Zeke asked instead of probing into the past.

Nina nodded, the motion jerky and unsure.

“If my memory is any good, your favorite food was always mac-and-cheese.”

Nina’s eyes welled up, her smile small and sad. “I haven’t had mac-and-cheese in forever.”

“Is that a yes?” Zeke asked.

Nina nodded, moving closer to him. He stood still, not wanting to scare her and not wanting to stop whatever she was doing. He needed her to trust him.

Nina didn’t stop when she got close to him, just wrapped her arms around his middle and held on tight.

Zeke released the breath he’d been holding since he heard her voice on the phone and gave in to the need to hold her tight and bury his face in her hair. He inhaled deep, drawing the scent of his shampoo into his lungs and knowing he’d never want to wash with anything else ever again. The scent would forever remind him of Nina.

“Thank you for coming to get me.”

“Thank you for calling me.”

Nina let out a shaky breath, then eased her arms from his middle. She took a step back and smiled up at him.

“I’ll start on food and you can relax and watch something if you want.”

She shook her head and followed him. “I’d rather… I’d rather stay close to you if that’s okay.”

Zeke nodded, unable to find the words he needed to express his relief.

His kitchen was a good size for one person, but with a second, it quickly became tight. Zeke moved around the space with the comfort he’d always had in the kitchen, but the awareness that Nina was in his space. He kept his house stocked with more than enough food at all times, and had water boiling for the fusilli pasta within ten minutes.

He went through the motions automatically, shredding three cheeses by hand and stirring the pasta until it was half-cooked. He drained the pasta, then added it to the cheese, egg, and milk mixture. With seasoning added, he scooped all of it into the glass pan and slid it into the oven.

“Thirty minutes and I’ll take it out,” he said, as though Nina didn’t know.

She nodded, but didn’t move out of his way.

“Drink? Water? Shit, wine or beer? I guess you’re old enough for alcohol now.”

“I don’t like it. Not… I like to have a clear head.”

Zeke nodded, another thing that angered him. Another clue to what she’d been through. Fuck, he was going to murder someone. How the hell could someone do those things to a person like Nina? Any person, but especially her? She was sweet and innocent. She was a kid when she disappeared.

She wasn’t anymore, but she hadn’t had a chance to be an adult either. She was captive. A prisoner in some sick bastard’s house.

But she was out. She was safe. She was there with him. And he would never let her out of his sight again.

He led the way to the couch and grabbed the remote. Zeke turned on a comedy he remembered Nina enjoying, a show that had been off the air for a decade, but he gambled she wouldn’t know that.

“I love this show. Do they ever get together in the end?” She lifted her eyes to Zeke, and he struggled to breathe.

A nod was all he could manage.

She returned her focus to the TV, unaware of the effect she had on him. Gage and Franklin jumped up next to her, making themselves comfortable with their new human. She absently rubbed both their heads at the same time.

A million questions ran through his mind as she laughed at the antics of the group of friends on the show.

Where was she all this time?

Who had her?

How did she get away?

Were they going to come after her?

What would he do if someone did?

Zeke knew the answer to the last one without thinking about it. He would kill anyone who tried to hurt Nina ever again. She was back. She was home. She was safe. And he’d never let her walk away again.

The show ended, and Zeke went back to the kitchen to check on dinner. It was almost done, so he grabbed a bag of frozen vegetables and tossed it into the microwave. He turned back to the living room and his breath stopped at the picture before him.

Nina on his couch, laughing at the TV, his cats curled up with her like she belonged to them.

Zeke had to look away before he lost it. When she was with Montgomery, he could break down. Until then, he had to keep his shit together. Take care of her, keep her safe.

The microwave beeped, and Zeke retrieved the bag of broccoli. He dumped it into a bowl and added butter, salt, and pepper, stirring it up as though it was something special.

He pushed it to the side and opened the oven. The cheese was golden brown. The smell of the food was almost as intoxicating as the woman he made it for.

Zeke couldn’t remember the last time he had mac-and-cheese. Once, after she left, he cooked it, and he threw the whole thing away. It reminded him too much of her, and his guilt and pain were too heavy to let him enjoy the meal.

Since then, he hadn’t considered cooking it. The memories of Nina were too strong, too painful.

He set the dish on his stovetop and closed the oven, letting the sharpness of the cheese and the memories fill him.

She was home.

“Is it done?” she asked from right behind him.

“Yeah,” Zeke said, his voice cracking on the word. He cleared his throat and busied himself with searching for a serving spoon and plates for them. He dished her out a sizable portion, then gave himself an even bigger one.

She didn’t move.

“Is everything okay?” he asked, his gaze going from her plate to her face.

She set her plate down and reached up for him. Her hands pressed against his cheeks softly, tentative like she thought he’d stop her.

He nuzzled against her hands, his greedy body unable to hold back any longer.

“I never thought I’d see you again, but I hoped I would. It kept me going.”

Zeke closed his eyes and swallowed roughly. “I never stopped looking for you.”

“I’m sorry I asked you to let me go that night. That I argued and told you I could take care of myself.”

Zeke shook his head. “All that matters is you’re here now. We’ll get you whatever help you need. Therapy, rehab, anything. I don’t care what it costs or anything. You’re home.”

Nina’s eyes welled up. She nodded. “I’m home. With you.”

Zeke couldn’t take it anymore. He hauled her into his arms, holding her so tight he could feel every inch of her body against his. He struggled to keep his emotions at bay, but let them out when she sniffled against his neck.

Tears fell freely from his eyes, relief and joy blending together. “I missed you so fucking much.”

“I missed you, too.”

He held her until her body relaxed against his and his reaction to holding her couldn’t be withheld. He pushed her away from his body, not wanting to scare her with the erection he couldn’t stop. She was still Montgomery’s little sister. And he was supposed to be protecting her, not imagining what was beneath the clothes he gave her to borrow.

“We’ll get you some new clothes tomorrow. Whatever you want. And anything else. Food, a car? A new place? You can stay here, of course. Or with Mont. Whatever you want. Money is no object. We’ll take care of you, Nina. Always.”

She nodded. “I know you will. For tonight, I just want to enjoy being here with you.”

Zeke drew a breath and nodded. There was nothing that sounded better than that.

* * *

Gwendolyn Lennox glared at the man who interrupted her sleep. She didn’t like being woken up, but it was even worse when the man shared his news.

“What the fuck do you mean, she’s gone? Where the hell is she?”

“I don’t know, ma’am. She went into the convenience store, and she never came back out.”

“Did you go in and look for her?”

“Yeah. Of course. But she wasn’t there.”

The fucking idiot acted like Gwendolyn was asking stupid questions. He needed to learn a lesson.

Gwendolyn grabbed the gun from Fernando’s holster and pointed it at the fucking driver who lost Nina.

The man’s face changed then. “I asked the clerk. I looked for her. She must have snuck out the back door.”

“Then fucking find her. She couldn’t have gone far.”

“Unless she had someone pick her up,” the asshole dared to say.

“And how would she have arranged that? Did she call someone?”

“No. Not that I know of.”

“Then who would have picked her up? Was there another car there?”

The driver shook his head, then stopped. “Someone drove by. Slow, like they were looking for something. Went past, so I didn’t think anything of it.”

“Well, maybe you should have. I let Nina go there because they don’t have cameras. It was supposed to keep her safe. Keep anyone from seeing her who wasn’t supposed to.”

“Who would be looking for her?” the driver asked, turning up his nose.

Gwendolyn raised an eyebrow. “Right now, I am. My sister is gone, and you’re the one who let her get away.”

“I didn’t realize she was your sister. I’ll go⁠—”

Gwendolyn pulled the trigger before the man could finish his sentence. She smiled at the moment of awareness on his face before he collapsed into a puddle of his own brains.

“Huh, so he did have a fucking brain,” Gwendolyn snarled, glaring at the corpse. “Get someone to clean this up. Then find Nina.”

“What if she went back?” Fernando asked.

Gwendolyn glared at him. She couldn’t think about Nina going back to her family. She spent years training her, raising her, caring for her. Gwendolyn was Nina’s family, not the brother who let her walk away.

“She wouldn’t. But check just in case.”

Fernando nodded, then left the room.

Gwendolyn looked down at the mess of a man who let her favorite pet get away. Nina didn’t run. She knew better.

But she was making noise lately.

Could she have run? Gotten away?

Panic clawed at Gwendolyn’s throat. Nina knew too much. She knew everything. If she left, or if she was taken by one of their enemies, everything Gwendolyn worked for would be gone.

She couldn’t let that happen. No one had ever stood in her way before. She would not let anyone now.

3

Nina still couldn’t believe she was free. She was safe. She knew it wasn’t so easy, but she tried not to think about that.

By now Gwendolyn knew she was gone. Had likely already sent people looking for her. And killed the driver. Nina had a moment of regret knowing the driver was likely dead because of her, but the man chose his fate in life by working for Gwendolyn. It would have happened eventually.

Just like everyone else who trusted her.

Nina stared at the mirror and the bruises that marred her pale skin. She couldn’t remember the last time she was allowed to look in a mirror, and the reflection staring back at her was only vaguely familiar. Same red hair, same muted green eyes, same woman. But different.

She tried to remember what she looked like before she left. The night she snuck out of the house. Twelve years was a long time, but it was so much more than the time. It was what she’d been through.