I blinked back tears. “Yes, I think so. What about Freddie?”
“Freddie was dropped off at his home, wasted and passed out, right before the cops were called. He killed his mother, so his wounds look like defensive ones. He will most likely be on the hook for your studio fire as well.”
“When did he kill his mother?”
“The same day he took you.”
“Where did it happen?” I asked.
“Upstairs.”
“She was in the house?” I squeaked.
“Yeah, baby, she was.”
I rushed for the sink, unable to stop myself from dry heaving into it.
“That’s enough,” he growled, settling his hand on my back. “Story time is over.”
I took deep, gulping breaths. “Yes. That’s enough.”
“Do you need a Sprite or something?”
“He was going to kill me,” I whispered.
“No, there was no way in hell that going to happen.” He pulled me against him. “Come here, baby. I had you. The second you hit that panic button, we were on the way.”
“What if I couldn’t get my hands free?”
“Rabbit was working on reverse pinging your necklace. I would have found you.”
“What if you hadn’t?”
“I did, Posey.” He gave me a squeeze. “He can’t and won’t hurt you ever again.”
“You found me.”
“I did.”
“He’s going to jail.”
“Prison, honey. He’s gonna go to prison.”
“You could get in trouble—”
“Nope. It’s all good. Trust me.”
“What do I say if the police want to talk to me?”
“Nothing. You say nothing. You don’t know anything, so you can’t really give them much.”
“I can tell them that Freddie kidnapped me, tied me up, and hit me. I can tell them you rescued—”
“He hit you?”
“A couple of times. Those are the bruises on my thigh.”
“Jesus,” he breathed out.
“I think he wanted to do more, but I convinced him that Jane would never take him back if he hurt me.”
He cupped my face gently. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t there sooner.”
“If you’d been any earlier, he might have been there and killed me just to piss you off, so I think I was actually safer with you getting there when you did.”
He kissed my forehead, then my nose, moving to my mouth, and I slipped my tongue between the seam of his lips as I fisted my hands in his shirt.
He broke the kiss and wrapped his arms around me. “We need to wait.”
“Until when?”
“You’re all healed.”
“Fuck that,” I snapped.
“Baby—”
“No. You’ll be gentle, and I need to feel you inside of me.” I grabbed his hand and tugged him toward the bedroom, pulling off my cami once inside.
“Posey, are you sure?”
“Yes. Do you need me to beg?” I teased.
He slid his hands to my neck and kissed me gently. “If you even have a twinge, we’re stoppin’.”
“I already have a twinge… in my pants.” I slid my panties down my hips and kicked them to where I dropped my cami, then tugged on his shorts. “And I’d like to create one in yours.”
He chuckled, reaching behind his back, and pulling his shirt over his head, as I pushed his shorts down his legs. He was already hard and as much as I wanted to taste him, my mouth was far too sore to manage his size.
“On your back, spread those beautiful legs for me. I’m not gonna touch them, so spread wide.”
I nodded and stretched out on my back, drawing my knees up, and spreading my legs. Shadow knelt between them, running his tongue through my folds before sucking gently on my clit. I settled a foot on his shoulder, giving me the leverage to arch into him.
“Careful,” he warned, hovering over me.
“I’m fine,” I assured him and reached a hand to his jaw. “You gonna fuck me now?”
His hand went to my pussy, his fingers pressing gently inside of me, and he smiled. “Yeah, baby, I’m totally gonna fuck you now.”
He guided his dick to my entrance, pushing in slowly and I wrapped my legs around his waist as he settled his hands on either side of me.
“I love you,” I breathed out as he began to move.
“Love you too, baby.” He kissed me, running his nose against mine, and rocking into me slowly.
I whimpered with need and he finally started to move faster. Slamming into me, harder and harder, before slipping a hand between us and fingering my clit. I cried out as I went over the edge, and orgasm rolling through me with delicious sweetness.
Shadow wasn’t far behind me, his cock pulsing inside of me as he let out a quiet grunt. He kissed me again and smiled. “I’m gonna go clean up. Don’t move.”
“Couldn’t if I tried,” I retorted.
He returned with a warm washcloth, cleaning me up, then we went about our day.
* * *
We had about two days of peace before Jane was pulled into drama in the form of her soon-to-be ex-husband.
“I’m being called into the station,” she said, rushing around my house, dragging shit out of her suitcase.
“What do you mean you’re being called into the station?” I asked. “Why?”
She stopped her frantic movement and fisted her hands at her side. “Frederick has accused me of being an accomplice. They are treating me as a person of interest.”
“Oh, my god, what?”
She burst into tears. “They gave me the ‘courtesy’ of coming in and talking with them, but if I don’t show up by three today, they will issue a warrant for my arrest.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
I heard the key in the front door and turned to see Shadow walk in. “Hey.”
“Hi.”
He stalled. “What’s wrong?”
“Jane’s being called down to the station. Frederick’s basically saying she’s his accomplice.”
“Bullshit,” Shadow growled.
Jane threw her hands in the air. “I don’t know what to do. I’ve never even had a speeding ticket.”
Shadow pulled his phone out. “I’m calling Lyric.”
“Who’s Lyric?” Jane asked.
“She’s the club lawyer,” I said as Shadow stepped out the back door with his phone to his ear.
Jane faced me. “Do you think she can help?”
“She can help,” Shadow said, walking back inside. “She’s gonna meet you at the station in one hour.”
Jane checked her watch. “Seriously?”
“Yeah.”
She burst into tears again and I pulled her in for a hug. “We’re going to figure this out.”
“What if they believe him?”
“They’re not going to believe him, honey. You have alibis for everything. You were never alone, remember? Dylan… or me and Shadow have pretty much been by your side for the last two weeks.”
“And your mom,” she rasped.
“Exactly.” I smiled. “You got this.”