“I mean it,” she rambled as she turned back into the kitchen. “Now are we going to eat or what? I invited your brother and sister, but both have plans tonight, so it’s just us.”
“As long as it’s as good as the pot roast that was the special at the café tonight,” I teased as I finished straightening the pillows on the couch then took Kayden’s hand to follow her.
She tossed me a big smirk as she stirred something that smelled delicious on the stove. “And who was it who helped you create that recipe? Now sit your cute butt down and let your mom take care of her little girl.”
Moving to her side, I wound my arm around her waist and set my head on her shoulder. “Thank you. I hope you know how much I truly appreciate you.”
She pressed her cheek to mine. “I know that, Dakota. And I hope you know how much I love you and want the best for you. The only thing I ask in return is that you keep chasing after joy, and don’t you dare ever stop. And I’ll be right here with you every step of the way.”
I gulped around the knot that suddenly felt heavy at the base of my throat. “I won’t.”
THREE
RYDER
I eased my bike into the parking lot of my shop. Night had taken hold, the sky strewn with a smattering of stars, the moon barely climbing from the horizon and casting a faint glow over the earth.
The industrial building was set back from the road, nothing but a big metal box backed by trees that extended beyond the property line.
Black windows fronted it, and a large sign hung above the double doors that led into the front office.
Nash Metalwork Designs.
Disgust pulled so hard at my ribs it was a wonder I didn’t bust apart.
I was so fucking proud of what I’d built.
Of the beauty I created with my hands.
But it was the underbelly of it that made me sick.
The chains that held me hostage.
Chest feeling like it might cave, I wound my bike around the right side of the building. The grumbling engine broke through the quiet that clung to the dense air, this side of town that housed manufacturing shops and warehouses pretty much shut down for the night.
Three massive garage doors lined this side, and the pavement extended out so trailers could be backed into the bays so customers could pick up whatever custom pieces they’d ordered if I wasn’t the one delivering it.
Anything metal was my specialty.
Mostly I made custom doors, gates, and fences plus different types of displays, shelves, and counters for local businesses. Every once in a while, I designed special pieces for cars and motorcycles, and it wasn’t rare that I worked on horse trailers and the like, designing something to turn heads for the horse dealers and rodeo stars to haul their prized possessions around in.
Tonight, a pickup truck and trailer waited near the far door at the end of the side lot.
Blood pounded through my veins as I eased my bike to a stop beside it. The spray of my headlight tossed a murky light over the man who was leaning against the building next to the door.
Dressed in dark jeans and a tee-shirt like he was a legit customer here to do business.
Hands stuffed casually in his pockets and head rested back on the metal.
But there was nothing about him that was legitimate.
Hatred lined his face and greed was set deep in the brown of his eyes.
Animosity thumped through my bloodstream. Adrenaline that surged and rushed as I nudged out the kickstand and killed the engine of my bike.
Silence swept in behind it, eerie and thick while the two of us stared each other down through the wisping shadows that played across the lot, the falling darkness barely cut by the dingy light that hung at the side of the door.
It lit one side of Dare’s face, his jaw grinding as he chewed at the edge of his lip where he remained kicked back against the wall like a bad fucking memory.
The asshole was massive, tossing a vibe of burly intimidation. No doubt, it worked on plenty of people. Dude looked deadly, and he had the history to back it.
But I was having a hard time continuing to give a fuck.
“You’re late,” he said, vibrating with irritation.
I swung myself off my bike and canted him a grin like the sight of him didn’t leave me shaking with hostility. “Had something I needed to do.”
Like I’d just leave Dakota stranded on the side of the road.
A scoff rolled up his throat. “Is that so?”
I strode up slow, voice dripping with bitterness as I angled toward him. “You think I sit around waiting for your texts?”
He lifted his chin, eyes flashing with a warning. “Think you know they’re the only ones that matter.”
I wanted to tell him to fuck off.
Push back.
But how the hell did I do that when this bastard had me in chains? When I knew what he would do if I didn’t comply.
Visions flashed.
Cold. Limp. Lips blue.
Sucking down the rage, I forced myself to move, edging around him to punch in the code next to the door.
Stepping inside, I tapped the button to open the farthest garage door. The engine whirred as the massive metal door rolled up.
Dare hopped into his truck and backed the trailer inside, and I was already undoing the latch and opening the tailgate before he’d gotten back out.
Whatever it took to get this fucker out of here faster.
Did it even matter, though? Once he was gone, he still might as well be standing in front of me with his hands wrapped around my throat, squeezing the life out of me.
Slowly bleeding me dry.
He climbed into the trailer and carefully backed out the car sitting inside.
It was on me to modify it, load it at the safehouse, and get it to its drop-off point.
I watched him as he eased it down the ramp. He left it sitting facing out in the middle of my shop, and he climbed out and tossed me the keys. “Ty will meet you at the safehouse at ten on Tuesday. Have it ready and don’t fucking be late.”
Old rage stormed, shockwaves of bitterness and hate. I looked at his face. At the man who had me by more than the balls, because it was my fucking life in his hands.
My shame and the chains and this debt that had stolen every good thing from me.
Fuck, I wanted it back, and if I ever was going to, I was going to have to fight for it.
“About finished with this,” I told him, lifting my chin.
He chuckled a dark sound as he closed the tailgate and locked it, then moved to the driver’s side of his truck. He looked back at me, a warning lining his face. “Think you know what happened the last time you started spouting shit like that.”
Without saying anything else, he climbed in and slammed the door.
I watched him pull out.
A gnarl of fury burned my insides.
A blaze of spite.
The second he was gone, I pressed my palms to the table next to me, struggling to take in a breath around the mayhem that battered my insides.
Because I meant what I’d said.
I was about finished with this bullshit.
And it was on me to figure out how to get myself free.
FOUR
DAKOTA
I tucked Kayden’s glowing nightlight bear under his arm and tiptoed out of his room. The child went and went until he basically passed out. Tonight, he’d ended up facedown, spread-eagle in the middle of our living room floor surrounded by every piece of his train set.
He hadn’t budged when I’d carried him upstairs.
Blowing out a contented, albeit exhausted sigh, I crept downstairs to the first floor of my house. It was attached to the back of Time River Market & Café and had once been a warehouse from when the café used to be a traditional diner.
Upstairs, the storage rooms had been converted into two bedrooms and a small loft that overlooked the big, open space below.
It was as quaint and cozy as my café.
The walls exposed brick that I’d whitewashed, the floors the original wood and concrete, stained different shades of gray and cream.
The fabrics were soft and lush, the furniture comfortable and unique.
My best friend Paisley had dubbed it country luxury.