Mustang Sally (11 page)

“Eli and Alanso love me. They mean for this to be a forever thing.”

“That’s bad news?” Tom’s face lit up. “To have you as my daughter officially? And Alanso my son?”

He looked like he might bounce to his feet and dance.

“Tom, wait.” She swallowed hard. “I’m not sure I can do that.”

“What?” He jerked backward a bit. Exactly as she feared his son might if he unearthed the relic of her past. “Why not? Sure, you couldn’t technically marry them both. It wouldn’t matter. You know what’s in your heart. Plenty of groups believe in…”

He trailed off as he realized what he was about to say.

“Yeah.” She tried to swallow the knot in her throat. “Just like Utah. Lots of wives. One husband.”

“It scares you because it reminds you of that place they kept you as a child. That prison—”

“It’s nothing like that, Tom.” She shook her head. “Cobra and Al never forced me. Hell, I’ve had to practically twist their arms.”

Maybe that was TMI, but too fucking bad. She needed help.

“Then I’m confused.” He rubbed his temples. “I must be slow today.”

“I can’t commit to them because
I’m married
.”

“The fuck you are!” Tom stood in a rush. He glowered, his face turning red.

“Oh shit. See. I knew it was bad.” Tears started to gather in her eyes, blurring the disgust in his usually affable features. “I’ll go. I’ll tell them we can’t keep going along this road…”

“Sit your ass down, Salome.” His tone was cold. The fact that he’d used her real name meant he wasn’t fooling around either.

She plopped into her seat again, preparing herself for his fury.

“There is no way you’re married. You were a baby when you came to us, no matter how grown up you acted.” He swiped the liquid trail from her cheeks with the hem of his shirt.

“I was fifteen and six days old when I made it this far east and that truck driver I hitched with dropped me off at the shelter.” She drew in a ragged breath, trying to struggle through the story she’d never fully told anyone.

“Fuck no, Sally.” He rubbed her back. “Is that why you ran?”

She nodded. “I didn’t want him. The man they chose for me. They told me I was special, I was his first wife. Hell, Tom, he was hardly much older than I was. He was nervous. I think he might have gone into the bathroom to be sick when we were finally left alone for our wedding night.”

Tom had gone pale.

“The instant he disappeared from the bedroom, I went out the window.” She sobbed. “But they put guards around the house. His older brothers were waiting. Making sure.”

“Fuck!” The man banged his hand on the table, causing her to jump. “The fact that they needed reinforcements means they knew what they were doing was wrong. Coercing kids into their culture. This is bullshit, Sally. We’ll have it annulled.”

“Tom, I tried that. The records are all sealed and I’d have to go in person. I don’t think I can. What if they find me? What if they come for me?” She trembled uncontrollably despite her best efforts to remain calm. “They don’t allow people to walk away from that life.”

“No one is going to steal you from us. You think I’d let them? You think Eli or Alanso would? The rest of the Hot Rods?” He’d never looked so mad in all the years she’d known him. “They’ll be lucky to live if they fuck with a single hair on your head or…”

She couldn’t ask him to continue.

“Sally.” He used the name she’d adopted when she shed her old life. “Did they rape you? Like they did mentally to the boy they brainwashed into attacking you? Both are horrible things to do to a child. Unforgivable.”

“No!” She hurried to reassure him. “The brother standing below the window—he was always someone I’d been friendly with before they separated boys and girls. When he got old enough. All the children stayed together until they turned fifteen. Then they disappeared. Got married. Had families of their own. Repeating the cycle over and over.”

Tom cursed again.

“I told him I didn’t want this. I begged him not to force me. We’d heard horror stories of girls who resisted. How the new husband’s brothers would hold them down and humiliate them until they gave in. If they didn’t, it got physical. They’d beat her. Rape her. How a husband would treat a disobedient wife versus a compliant one. I knew which path I was headed for.” She shuddered. “It didn’t matter. I couldn’t do it. I just…couldn’t lay there and take it without a fight.”

“And that’s why we love you, Sally.” Tom didn’t touch her, but she could tell he wanted to. “Your spirit. Your strength. Your unwillingness to compromise on your morals. They’re all amazing characteristics. You should never feel bad for that.”

“I know that now.” She honestly did. Any crisis she’d had about who she was had been resolved long ago. By the Hot Rods. Though they hadn’t understood what their acceptance did to transform her. “I got lucky. So damn fortunate. He let me go. He couldn’t help or they would have gone after him and his wives too. No one in his family would have been safe. Not even his children.”

“Son of a bitch.” Tom closed his eyes for a second.

“The rest of the story I told you guys is true. I didn’t lie about that,” she assured him.

“So you got picked up by a trucker. An honest guy. Someone who saw a gorgeous, broken woman-child running and decided to do the right thing.” He paused. “If that doesn’t make you believe in God, I’m not sure what would.”

She’d never really thought of it like that before. But it was a nice perspective.

“I don’t want to tell them, Tom.” She sighed. “I don’t know if I can. I don’t want my past to influence the future. Haven’t I already lost enough to risk them too? Especially over something they might not understand? They’re always doing what they think is right for me even if it’s totally wrong. I can’t tell them. They’ll abandon me, just when I’ve got them, to put us all in danger. But I don’t want to lie to them or make them do something they wouldn’t otherwise. What if they don’t want me anymore?”

“Hey, hey.” He shushed her when she began to hyperventilate. “You’ll tell them someday. When you’re all ready. I know it in my heart.”

They both looked at their joined hands. “But if you’re not there yet, that’s your call. I’ll help you of course. We’ll get the documents. Do research. Hire a lawyer to get this mess straightened out. It might take time and money, but we’ll do what we have to so you can make my boys the happiest guys in Middletown.”

“I don’t believe in God anymore, Tom.” She fidgeted beneath his stare. “But the Hot Rods have different opinions. What if I make them do something unforgiveable by their own standards? Even if they don’t know it? Will they hate me when they find out?”

“Honey, if there is a God out there, whatever kind it may be…do you really think it would condone what those bastards did to you? Or tried to do?” He tipped his head as he let her think it over. “Is that the kind of being you’d give a shit about pissing off?”

She laughed. Only he could make it so simple. “I guess not.”

“Damn straight.” He nodded. “And my sons will say the same. We’ll be lucky to keep them from hunting those bastards down.”

“Another reason to keep it quiet for now.” She sighed, exhausted and a little bit relieved. With Tom’s help, they might be able to clean up her dirty past before it could destroy her future.

“How about I go look stuff up online? Probably only have a little while more before they start missing you and come looking. Tonight, come by after dinner. When they’re playing those damn video games or something.” He hugged her. “It’s going to be okay, Sally. We’ve got you.”

“I hope they’ll keep me.” She laid her head on his shoulder for a few seconds before rising and heading toward the front door as he took a seat at the desk in the corner of his living room.

“You know that’s what Eli said the day you came looking for a place to stay?” Tom laughed. “Like you were a kitten who’d lost its way. ‘Can we keep her, Dad?’”

“I’ve never been so glad I said yes to him in my life. Even though I had no idea where we’d put everybody back then.” He shrugged. “Thank goodness for the garage.”

“No, Tom. Thank goodness for you.” She stared him straight in the eye. “You saved my life. So did the Hot Rods. Even if you didn’t know it. You restored my faith in people. I love you.”

“I love you too, kid.” He blew her a kiss then got to work on saving her.

Again.

Chapter Eight

“Hey, Dev.” Sally waved to her new friend over the screen of her computer. Video conferences might not be as perfect as the lunches they could have shared if they lived in the same city, but at least she had someone to bounce ideas off of these days. The crew women had been first in line to hear all about her developments with Eli and Alanso.

They offered lots of advice and tips for seducing two men that she’d put to good use.

On that front, things were progressing. Terrific. Sexy nights left her too exhausted to talk much about her lingering interests in the rest of the Hot Rods, and she couldn’t find the willpower to forsake the pleasure they offered—especially to substitute a potential argument about her secret or her desires for their friends—when it was so new and shiny.

Being the center of their attention was heavenly. Falling asleep in their arms made dreams come true. Watching the two of them love each other had brought her to tears the first time. And several after. Finding that their friendship, easy laughter and work relationships were only enhanced—not hindered—by their bedroom gymnastics blew all her doubts out the window.

She adored every aspect of their relationship…except one.

Business as usual during the days and untamed nights continued for weeks, until Salome knew she had to do something to drive them all forward. No way would she make the same mistake twice.

This time she was running toward her Hot Rods instead of away from them.

Soon she’d have to act instead of waiting another decade for the guys to make a move.

And that was where Devon came in. She had to help formulate a plan. One Sally could stick to once the sun went down and her guys’ clothes came off. Willpower, she would find some.

All she needed was some reassurance about the five other men roaming the garage each day. They acted as if everything was status quo, although her entire life had blossomed into something even more fabulous than it had been before she hit the romance lottery.

Even her fears about her ridiculous marriage seemed to be lessening as she and Tom made slow but steady progress, contacting a few more authorities and requesting records each evening. Juggling a new relationship while avoiding the potholes of her past and managing her longing for
everything
wasn’t easy.

“It’s bizarre. Either I’m going nuts or…there’s something happening I don’t know about.” Sally sighed and flopped onto her stomach. She tried hard not to pout. Probably not entirely successfully. It was weird to be in her room again. She only used it for storage—and private calls—these days. “Like this morning, we were all eating breakfast. Just hanging out like usual. And, I swear to God, Roman and Kaige were looking at me like they wanted to throw me on the dining table and go to town. Circling like sharks. Or barracudas, I guess. But no one made a move. Not even when I sat on the edge of the butcher block and let my skirt ride up. It had to have been obvious to Carver and Holden, who were sitting there eating their damn cereal, that I wasn’t wearing panties either.”

“Uh, yeah, pretty sure the crew wouldn’t have resisted if one of us teased them like that.” Devon scratched her chin. “Do you think Eli’s declared a no-fuck zone?”

“I’m starting to think so.” Sally sighed. “But why? For his sake? Alanso’s? Or some misguided bullshit about what he thinks I need?”

“
Ding ding ding
.” The other woman clapped. “I think we have a winner.”

“Aren’t we done with this phase yet? When is he going to realize I’m a big girl?” Anger infiltrated her confusion. Maybe she’d been right to hide her marriage fiasco after all. “I don’t need him to protect me. Half the time it only ends up hurting worse than whatever he thinks he’s saving me from.”

“Maybe that’s a discussion you need to have.” Devon winced.

“Or maybe I’m delusional and I should be satisfied with the two studs who love me and are banging me into oblivion every night—and sometimes at work—instead of reaching for all seven I’m in lust with?” She smacked her forehead with the heel of her palm. “Am I crazy?”

“Maybe just a little. Five is enough for this girl.” Devon giggled as she aimed her thumb at her chest. “No, but seriously, I think this is about way more than sex. It’s the network of ultimate trust and devotion that comes from sharing that you’re missing. Still, guys will respond better to the physical aspect than the emotional one at first. So, it’s time to turn up the heat. They can only resist so much if they’re hoping to get it on half as much as you are. If it’s too hard for the guys to talk it out…get devious.”

“Hmm…” She liked the direction they headed. “Any ideas?”

“Weren’t you going to plan an annual fundraiser for the youth shelter?” Devon must have had this thought on tap. It came too fast to be a random light bulb. “We were talking about it last night. The crew said something that perked my ears up. They were debating going into town for a car wash. Then they tried to sweet talk me and the rest of the ladies into wearing skimpy clothes and…”

“Oh my God.” Sally knew exactly where she was going. “You’re a genius! That’s legit. Rides will be lined up halfway to town with ladies hoping to spy the Hot Rods on display. And I can convince them they need to have their cars cleaned to contribute to the cause. I’ll do a
really
good job.”

“Let me know how it goes.” The pixie winked. “I’m guessing your problems will be history in no time. Plus you’re using your best assets to help out the kids. Win-win!”

They laughed together for a while then talked of the crew babies’ latest feats, shopping and some helpful hints on surviving a massive ménage before Devon began to yawn.

“Let’s go find our guys. It’s time for bed.” Sally smiled, knowing she wouldn’t sleep until she joined her pair in Alanso’s room. It’d become their middle ground. Hell, she’d likely not doze off until long after that, but at least she’d be relaxed. “Say hello to your couple and the rest of the crew.”