Breathing His Air (30 page)

He swung his gaze at her. “You deny knowing Sanchez, but it’s obvious from tonight you know the man well.”

“That’s not true.” The little lines between her brows deepened. “The only men I’ve talked to tonight were members of your own club and Raul. I don’t know why you keep accusing me of knowing Sanchez. I don’t.”

“Sanchez’s first name is Raul.” He waited for her reaction.

She moved to the bar. He watched her carefully, but all she did was study the wood and slip into her head. Impatient, he wanted answers. “Well?”

She looked right into his eyes. “I didn’t know his full name. He’s a customer, and he always came through the line in a beat-up old car. He was friendly … even flirted with me, but he knew I belonged to you. The only thing I did was tease him — she closed her eyes — oh, God.”

“What?” he snapped.

“Raul always wore a baseball cap. He was always fiddling with it, and I thought he was shy,” she said. “Between always wearing his hat and his dirty, old car, I doubt if you or any of the guys could even see his face or recognized him when he went through the line at the Coffee Shack.”

“Right,” he muttered. Bantorus had the whole area covered, and there were at least four members outside the bar when Tori served coffee. Someone would’ve spotted Sanchez.

Dammit, he saw Tori with Sanchez. He’d caught Crystal with Sanchez.

“First Crystal — who I couldn’t have given a shit about — and now you. Do you think I’m the kind of man who will put up with a woman who can’t remain loyal to me?” He moved fast and got in her face. “Do you?”

She raised her chin. “No, and I’m not the kind of woman who will be made a fool of in front of everyone in town.”

“You have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“I walked into your mess. You have a war against Sanchez and his riders, and somehow I got caught in the middle. If you want to fault someone, then fault Raul — who I thought was a customer. Nothing happened.”

“He touched you.”

“I was crying over you,” she bit off.

“He touched you.”

“You were with Crystal,” she yelled.

“So she could tell me about the game you’re playing.” He banged his fist against the counter. “She was warning me about you and Sanchez.”

She shook her head. “It’s not true.”

“Yet I caught you with him.”

“It’s not true,” she said.

He closed his eyes briefly. “You know how much I want you to be telling me the truth,” he whispered.

“I am.”

He clenched his teeth together. They expected to see Sanchez on a motorcycle, not a car disguising himself. Every member of Bantorus screwed up. Especially him.
Fuck!

Heaven help him. He believed her. They’d been through too much for him to think she’d continue hiding something from him. Social and giving, it would be just like her to friend one of her customers, not understanding that Sanchez would use her to get to him.

Most of all, he’d let his guard down. Something serious could’ve happened to her, and he had no one else to blame but himself. He should’ve taken into account Sanchez would do anything, including putting his bike down and coming in a car. And, he’d let Tori down when he went to deal with Crystal and put his trust in someone else to watch out for her.

“You’re killing me,” he murmured.

She nodded, her eyes welling with tears. “I know.”

Her soft voice, her soft touch, and the softness in her eyes were his undoing.

“Damn me … ” He hooked her neck, and she dived into his chest. “I don’t want you sticking around the bar any longer. I don’t know what is going on with the Lagsturns, and they’ve pushed me too far. I’ll walk you to my truck. Go straight home, and call me when you get there. We’ll talk later.”

“How are you getting home?” She smoothed the front of his vest.

“Bike.” He blew out his breath. “I’ll be fine after a couple of cups of coffee. I probably won’t be there for two or three hours yet. I need to stay until the crowd starts to break up.”

“Rain … we need to talk about this.” She shook her head. “Never mind, it’ll wait.”

He leaned over and kissed her. “Come on. Let’s get you to the truck. I need to go have a talk with Crystal and see if I can find Sanchez. I’ll put two riders on you. Call me once you’re in the house, and make sure you set the alarm.”

“Honey — ”

“Don’t ask.” He opened the door. “It’s who I am. I take care of my own.”

Several minutes later, he watched her reverse out of the parking lot and drive through the crowd. He slipped his hands into his front pockets and stared at the taillights. Then he pivoted and went looking for Jedman, hoping to hell he could put tonight to bed.

Chapter Thirty-Six

Inside the house, Tori locked the door, set the alarm, and called Rain. Then she dragged herself up the stairs. All she could think about was getting off her feet and closing her eyes.

Unsettled by what had happened tonight, she wanted to escape the nausea and desperation gripping her. The thought of Rain turning against her, believing she’d jumped into Sanchez’s business with him and would go after Rain, sickened her.

Earlier, she’d sat on top of the world, thinking nothing could be better and having hope for the future. She’d seen a side of Rain she’d never thought to see in a big, bad biker dude. He supported families, children, and cared about every single person he knew. It was more than that. He felt responsible for them.

Then the nightmare with Crystal started, and she found herself tossed into the cold, dark world she’d visited before and hated. She’d wanted to run, and Rain wasn’t there to stop her.

She changed out of her clothes and slipped on Rain’s sweatshirt and a pair of spandex shorts. Then she crawled under the covers, letting the air conditioner hum comfort her. She wanted him home.

Aware of what she’d put him through, guilt gnawed her insides. She shouldn’t have sent Jedman to Rain, and she should’ve stayed in the beer garden.

Somehow, she’d convince him how sorry she was for not following his orders. She closed her eyes, but all she saw was the disappointment and hurt in Rain’s eyes when he found her with Raul.

Damn Raul. He’d known all along that, if she knew who he was, she’d refuse to serve him his coffee in the mornings. She’d never once believed he was serious when he flirted with her, and she’d made it no secret that she belonged to Rain.

She hated that she’d fallen for his lines and believed he cared about her. He’d called her a friend, but friends don’t lie to each other.

The doorbell rang. She sat up and, thinking Rain had come home early, ran down the stairs. She flipped on the outside light and used the peephole in the new door.
Shit.

A man with scraggily hair, a week’s worth of whiskers on his face, and dressed in an old T-shirt and ripped jeans stood on the other side of the door. He looked everywhere but at the door. She rolled back on her bare heels and bit down on her lip, trying to think if he was one of the Bantorus members, or if she’d seen him tonight at the Summer-Palooza.

The bell rang again. She glanced at the alarm panel to the right of the door. The green light flashed.

“Who is it?” She leaned forward and put her hands on the door.

“Uh, I’m looking for Tori Baldwin.”

She peeked outside again. No, she definitely didn’t know him. She turned around, thinking it was a good idea to call Rain and tell him there was a stranger at the door.

The doorbell rang again. “Do I have the right place? I stopped in town and asked directions.”

She hurried back to the door and peered through the eyehole. Why would someone be asking about her?

“What’s your name?” she said.

He leaned closer and stared at the door. She flinched, forgetting the wood kept them apart. Could he see her?

“Ethan Cramwell.” He tilted his head. “I’m looking for my half sister, Tori Baldwin.”

Ethan?
She stepped away from the door. She hadn’t seen him since she was young. The last time, she was only seven or eight years old, and he was practically an adult with a bad attitude. He’d made Mom cry and disappear into her room when he stormed out of the house.

“Can you tell me if I have the right house? It’s important that I talk with my sister. I’ve only recently found out she was in the area, and I’d like to catch up with her and explain a few things,” he said.

Afraid to trust a stranger, whether he was her brother or not, she asked, “What’s your mother’s name?”

“Barbara, but everyone called her BB.”

Oh, my God. It is Ethan.

She shut off the alarm. Her fingers shook, and she ran her hands down the front of her sweatshirt before unlocking the door. Curious why Ethan would search for her now, she turned the handle.

He raised his brows. “Tori?”

His blond hair, too long for how thin it was, hung in his face. She searched his eyes, trying to draw up anything familiar about him, and came up empty. His fingers fidgeted with the front of his shirt, distracting her.

The state had promised they’d contact him the night she’d lost her parents. She’d waited weeks, months, for him to claim her as family. But he never came.

She shouldn’t have expected him to come to her rescue. He’d thrown away any chance to contact her family when everyone was alive. Bitter about his parents’ divorce before she was even born, he’d used the breakup as ammunition against her mom any time she’d tried to make contact with him.

Alone and scared, and with her parents ripped from her, she’d yearned for anyone or anything to connect with. She would’ve even taken an estranged half brother over staying in foster care.

“I’m Tori.” She crossed her arms, not willing to throw herself into his arms just because he’d he found the guts to find her.

“Damn, it’s good to see you.” He rubbed his hands together. “It’s been a long time.”

“Yeah.” She swatted at a mosquito flying around her face.

“I know it’s late, but can we sit down and talk?” He hooked his hands on his back pockets. “I’ve thought of you a lot over the years.”

She glanced past him, spotted an older-style car, and motioned him inside. “Come in. The bugs will eat you alive out here in the woods after dark.”

Waiting until he walked inside, she shut the door and led him to the living room. “Take a seat. Do you want something to drink?”

He stood at the end of the couch. “No.”

The man she saw before her no longer had the cocky attitude she remembered. He seemed nervous, jittery, as if he wasn’t sure where to start or what to say.

“Okay.” She flipped her hair over her shoulder. “Go ahead and sit down.”

She waited until he sat on the edge of the couch. Then she sat in the chair across from him. He leaned forward, propped his elbows on his knees, and clasped his hands. She tucked her legs under her and stifled a yawn.

“This is surprising.” He gazed around the room. “You’ve done well in your life.”

She narrowed her eyes. “It’s my boyfriend’s house. My life hasn’t been this glamorous.”

“Oh, yeah?” He raised his brows. “Had to struggle, huh?”

She frowned, not liking the way he’d perked up over that bit of information. “You know, it’s late. My boyfriend will be getting home any minute, and he’s had a big day. Why don’t I meet you in town tomorrow, and we can have lunch? I’m sure Rain would like to meet you, too … before you leave.”

He stood. “You think this is funny?”

“Wh-what?” She shifted and put her feet on the floor.

“You … always living the good life.” He hocked and spit on the floor.

She gasped. “I think you should leave.”

“I ain’t going anywhere.” He laughed, the sound harsh and loud.

Scared and anxious, she sidestepped while keeping an eye on him. Fear constricted her muscles, leaving her clumsy and jerky. He swung his arm around, knocking the lamp off the end table. She jumped, backing away.

“Don’t you move.” He stalked toward her.

“Please, don’t … ” She raised her hands, lost in the length of Rain’s sweatshirt.

He fisted the front of her sweatshirt and pulled her across the room. Barefooted, she skittered across the hardwood floor, scrambling for traction. She pulled at his arm, but with her hands covered with the material, she failed to get away from him.

Ethan stopped, reached behind him, and pulled out a pistol. “Stop fighting me.”

She froze. “Please, just go. Rain will be here any second. You can leave, and he’ll never know.”

“You always were dumb.” He jabbed the barrel of the gun into her collarbone. “The baby Mom wanted. The baby that kept her away from me. Me!”

“No.” She shook her head. “Mom loved you.”

“Shut up.” He waved the gun. “You don’t know anything. You weren’t there. My dad loved Mom. It was your dad” — he rubbed his nose — “he ruined everything, and he killed her.”

God, she had to think quickly. Ethan was insane. She couldn’t have Rain coming home and confronting him. Ethan would shoot first, and she couldn’t let that happen.

“Y-yes he did.” Her knees buckled; the scar in her upper thigh burned. “Dad killed her.”

Ethan tugged her a few more feet and opened the front door. She lunged for the alarm panel and missed.

“Walk, or I’ll shoot you here.” He jabbed the gun into her shoulder. “It’ll give me another reason to stick around and take out your boyfriend, too.”

No!
She clamped her lips together, not wanting to do anything that’d make Ethan stay and gun down Rain. She stepped off the porch, ignoring the sharp gravel poking the soles of her feet.

“Where are you taking me?” She bit into the sleeve of her free hand and pulled it up, giving her use of her fingers.

“Shut up.” He opened the car door and shoved her inside.

Her head hit the doorframe. Pain exploded in her forehead, and she covered her head with one hand as she scrambled across the seat, tried the door handle, and cowered in the corner when the door wouldn’t open.

She searched frantically around for anything she could use as a weapon. Ethan slid into the driver’s seat, reached behind, caught her by the hair, and shook her.

She screamed and fought him. He backhanded her, sending her bouncing off the seat. Before she could react, he’d leaned between the bucket seats and grabbed her arm.