I pause, turning to face her. “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“Why are you here?”
“My son, Julian, and Rodrigo grew up together. They were the best of friends. Julian died protecting him not long after they joined the Cartel. Rodrigo has taken care of me ever since,” she explains.
“I’m sorry for your loss.”
“I knew when they first got involved with the Cartel his life would always be in danger. I have never been able to fully get over his death, but Rodrigo has taken such good care of me. I am forever grateful to him,” she says.
Before I can respond, there’s a familiar popping sound. Gun shots.
“Rascal,” I mutter.
Paula runs into the kitchen, shouting something to Maria in Spanish. Maria grabs my arm, ushering me to the pantry. She pulls on a set of shelves and it opens to a set of stairs.
“Hurry up!” Paula pushes me to move quicker. She follows me, closing the door behind herself.
“You stupid, bitch! This is all your fault,” she hisses out at me. “I told Eduardo we shouldn’t bother with you. He should have killed you when he had the chance.”
Maria says something to her in Spanish, causing Paula to back hand her. Something inside me snaps and I shove Paula.
“Leave her the hell alone,” I spit out.
Paula swings on me, but I manage to duck, only pissing her off more. She charges at me, so I swing a right hook, connecting with her jaw. She falls to the floor and I climb on top of her, slamming my fists into her face. Blood splatters everywhere.
The door at the top of the stairs opens and I jump off her, expecting Eduardo to walk down the stairs. When Rascal appears, I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.
“Rascal!” I run to him, throwing my arms around him. He wraps his arms around me, squeezing me in a hug.
“Princess,” he breathes out. He pulls back enough to see my face. “What happened down here?”
“Paula was talking shit and smacked Maria for sticking up for me. I kind of snapped and went to town on her face,” I explain. A laugh from behind Rascal catches my attention and I notice Saint came with.
“That’s my girl.” Rascal smiles. “Saint, check if she’s still breathing.”
Saint walks over to Paula and kneels next to her, putting his fingers to her throat. “Yeah, she’s alive.”
“We’ll send her to Catriona, Saoirse and Fiona. They can have some fun with her and maybe get some information out of her,” Rascal says.
“Who are they,” I ask.
“Some badass women,” Saint says.
“The Murphy girls. Catriona and Saoirse’s brothers help save women who have been sold through human trafficking,” Rascal explains. “Fiona is their cousin. You’ll meet Catriona back at the house.”
“What are we gonna do with her?” Saint gestures to Maria.
“She comes with us. Maria has been the one taking care of me since I got here. She’s only here because her son died protecting Rodrigo when they were younger,” I explain.
“I’ll talk to Lochlan. He’ll be able to help her get set up somewhere safe,” Rascal says. “For now, let’s get y’all outta here.”
“Are we going home,” I ask.
“Not tonight,” he tells me. “Tonight, we’ll stay at Lochlan and Finn’s house.”
Thirty minutes later, we’re pulling up to a mini mansion. It’s so different than the cabin we were staying at last week. I climb out of the car and walk with Rascal into the house.
“Are you hungry or anything?” Rascal wraps his arm around my shoulders.
“No, Maria made sure I ate. If I didn’t have her, who knows what Eduardo and Paula would have done with me,” I say.
“I’m glad you had her. I’ll have to thank her for keeping you safe,” he states.
“Romeo, are you going soft on me?” I wink at him.
“Princess, I’m never soft where you’re concerned.”
A smile stretches across my face and Rascal’s lips tip up in his sexy smirk. Groaning comes from the other room, grabbing my attention.
“Who was that?” I walk toward the sound. Walking into the dining room, I freeze. Diesel is laying on the dining room table, a woman standing over him with her back facing me. “What’s going on in here? What’s wrong with Diesel?”
“He was shot. Catriona is removing the bullets.” Rascal is standing directly behind me. He wraps his arm around me.
“Is he going to be okay? He’s not going to die is he?” I turn around in his arms.
“Baby, calm down,” he says softly. “It’ll take some time but he’ll make a full recovery.”
I let out a heavy sigh. “I don’t need anyone else dying because of me.”
“Hey, now.” Rascal walks me into the living room. “Chains’s death wasn’t because of you. We got the men responsible for that and they’ll get what’s comin’ to them, believe that.”
“If I had not been at the clubhouse, they wouldn’t have come looking for me,” I tell him.
“Marley, he was prospecting for the Savage Menaces MC. We’re constantly in dangerous situations. It’s part of the life and he knew that,” Rascal points out.
“He was such a good guy,” I whisper.
“I know. He was a great friend and he would have done whatever he could to keep you safe,” he says.
“Hey, Ras,” Saint grabs his attention. “Why don’t y’all take my room. I’ll take the couch.”
“Thanks, man,” Rascal replies. We move from the living room to the bedroom. I’m thankful for Saint doing that. Being alone with Rascal is exactly what I need right now.
“How are you doin’?” He walks us to the bed and we sit. “Did they do anything to you?”
“No, they didn’t. But, if I had been there any longer, they would have,” I tell him.
“Did any of them say anything to you?”
“Rodrigo told me he was using me to lure my father out. That it was time for payback for my mom choosing my father over him.” I stare straight ahead.
Rascal grabs my hand, pulling me from my thoughts. “Did he say who your father is?”
“He never said a name. He said he made sure she paid for picking the Russian over him,” I state. “It didn’t click until now, but he confirmed what Niko already suspected. Niko is my father.”
38
Rascal
We weren’t up for long before Marley fell asleep tucked under my arm with her legs tangled up with mine. When I wake up, we are in the same position. I don’t move, in fear of waking her up. Instead, I soak up the moment, loving every second of her being back in my arms. We were apart for a short time, but it felt so much longer.
As if she senses me watching her, Marley stirs in her sleep. Her arm around my waist tightens, her eyes fluttering open.
“Good mornin’, Princess.” I kiss her forehead.
“Mornin’, Romeo.” She smiles.
“How’d you sleep?”