“What’s that tattoo for?” he asked and eased back. He slowly released her hands and she placed them onto his shoulders. He squeezed her ass and pulled her against him, and lowered back to the bed. She stared into his eyes.

  “Tell me,” he pushed.

  She caressed his hair from his forehead and felt the masculinity of his skin and hard facial structure. “I lost someone I loved on that day, that’s all.”

  “A man?” he asked.

  She didn’t answer. Instead she began to kiss his jaw, his neck then his chest, as she lowered down until she got to his cock. She didn’t want to tell him about the tattoo or about Caroline. She thought she could just pleasure him and avoid the conversation. What she hadn’t expected were the flashbacks from her past, from being held captive, or how Serpen and Portino made her service them. As she tried to push on, tears filled her eyes. Prime ran his fingers through her hair and his touch, the manly fingers moving along her scalp, felt ten times harder than they were. She closed her eyes and tears fell. She pulled back, remembered the strikes to her body, the nasty words, the promises of rape, of abuse, of selling her off to their friends overseas. She covered her face with her hands. When strong arms wrapped around her, she tried fighting the restraints.

  “No, baby, no, it’s me. It’s Prime. Look at me. See. it’s me,” he said to her and she turned in his arms. His eyes widened, probably from the tears that fell.

  “You need to leave. We’re done here, Prime.”

  He shook his head. “We aren’t done. I get it. Someone hurt you.”

  The tears rolled down her cheeks. “Go.”

  “No.”

  “Go, damn you!” She raised her voice at him. She shoved away, grabbed a shirt and pulled it on.

  “Talk to me, Bella. I can see the pain in your eyes, the emotion. Who the fuck hurt you? Tell me, baby. I’m not him. I would never hurt you like that.” She shook her head. “I’m not going anywhere,” he said to her.

  She stared at him blankly, trying to fight her emotions. “I need to shower and get ready. Please leave, Prime. I can’t do this. I’m sorry, but I gave all I can give today. I’m not saying anything more,” she said to him.

  “Where are you going?”

  She tilted her head sideways. He grabbed his jeans and stepped into them. “So this is it? We have an incredible time. Have this connection, and you’re throwing me out and sending me on my way?” he asked and oh God, he looked so handsome, so much older and so incredible to her. She would love nothing more than to trust him, to tell him about her past, about her fears and letting down her guard with him. She couldn’t do that though. She hurt too much still. She didn’t know if she could trust him. Could trust these feelings.

  “I’m not denying what happened between us. You were incredible,” she said, looking him over. He widened his eyes, and placed his hands on his hips as if he was shocked she said that to him and also read through her bullshit.

  “This is how it has to be for now. I can’t give more.”

  He bent down for his shirt and threw it on quickly. “You know what, you’re lying to me.” He pointed at her then sat down and started to put on his boots. “You’re lying about what you’re feeling, about what you’re running from, and I’m not giving up on you. On this. My brothers won’t either.”

  He stood up and walked closer to her. She held on to the dresser as he gripped her cheek and chin. “This isn’t over, sweetness. I’ll break through that wall. I’ll prove to you that this is real, and powerful enough to kill those demons, those fears you’re hiding behind.” He pressed his lips to hers and then released her and walked out of the bedroom.

  She followed and locked the door behind him. As she tried to pretend she wasn’t hurting and that she was so tough, so independent, she sobbed, covered her mouth and headed to the bathroom shower. Her pussy ached with need, the loss of his presence affecting her way more than she wanted to admit, and worse than she expected she would feel after having sex again. Who was she kidding? She fell for him just as fast as he fell for her. Now what?

  “She said that? Did that, and kicked you out?” Colt asked Prime. They were sitting out back by the fire pit by their house. Wesson was shocked.

  “You should have seen the sadness in her eyes when I asked about the tattoo on her wrist. Then her reaction when she started exploring my body. It was like she wanted to suck my cock, to pleasure me, but then panicked.”

  “You already had sex though. It doesn’t make sense,” Colt said and took a slug from his bottle of beer.

  “I know, and my gut is saying that maybe someone forced her to do oral sex or something. I’m not thinking she was sexually assaulted because clearly, we both wanted it. This was different. Then she closed up, told me she couldn’t give more right now. That I shouldn’t blow things out of proportion,” Prime said and exhaled. He looked angrily at Wesson.

  “You got used for sex. That’s what she did. You’re over here analyzing it, trying to find a way to not feel used and like an object. She pulled on you what men pull on women all the fucking time,” Finlin added and then finished off his beer, stood up to grab another one.

  “No. No, Finlin, this was different. The lust, the connection, and desire was out of this world. I am not giving up on her becoming our woman. There’s something there. Something holding her back.”

  “Slow down, don’t go putting me into the category of trying to win the heart of some woman that has your head screwed on wrong. She used you. You both had a great time. Leave it at that. Now all the time you spent fantasizing about her is over.”

  “Over? Are you out of your mind? You haven’t laid eyes on her, spoken to her, felt what it’s like to be with her.”

  “He’s right, Finlin. There’s something there. We kissed in the woods. It got hot and heavy fast. If we were indoors, in privacy, I would have pushed for more and she probably would have accepted it because this is powerful. I knew it wouldn’t be just about sex,” Wesson said.

  “Are you even hearing yourselves? This woman is using you. Got you both wrapped around her finger already,” Finlin hissed.

  “This is crazy,” Colt said.

  “Crazy, yeah, but you know as well as I do, Colt, that you want her, too. That you’re attracted to her and feel possessive of her and you haven’t sunk your cock into her pussy. She is going to be our woman. She’s scared, that’s all. Something happened in her life. We know nothing about her, yet I know I want her and will make her mine. You three can decide if you want her too so we can share her together. Maybe heal those demons she has,” Prime replied.

  “And if those demons bring you pain, bring you trouble you can’t handle?” Finlin said to him.

  “I’ve got my brothers to back me up. You’ll see, she’s the one for us, the real deal. We just need to break down those walls and help her to see she can trust us.”

  “Fucking great,” Finlin said on an exhale as he opened another bottle of beer.

  “That’s what Dominick said? He thinks he’s going to get those guns and deliver them to the buyer? That fucking dick. I can’t wait to get him, to really hit him where it hurts,” Lionel Casper said to one of his men.

  “With the feds and Homeland Security now snooping around, your plan might be too complicated to pull off, sir.”

  “No, no, it isn’t too complicated. It’s perfect. I get my revenge, which is what I wanted from the start. To see Dominick suffer, and meanwhile he will be the one to cause his own suffering as he offers his prize to the wolves, to his own enemies,” Lionel said.

  “It’s risky, Lionel.”

  “Anything worth achieving in life comes with risk. I’ll walk away with a few million. Be set for life. That backstabbing, self-centered dick, Dominick, will end up with nothing, and the pain I cause him will be deeper than he ever expected. This is beyond bad business, beyond him backstabbing me. No, this goes deep. So when I orchestrate this sale and Dominick steps in, he will complete the deal not knowing until it’s too late exactly what he has done. I walk away, free and wealthy, ready to live life to the fullest in Mexico.” Lionel smirked. “They used to say I was small time. That I didn’t have what it took to be big time. They’ll see after this. Dominick will know after this that patience pays off, and the most manipulative, most determined, always wins out in the end. Always.”

  Isabella wasn’t planning on going to the football game tonight. She had done a pretty good job avoiding Prime and his brothers, but then Ivy and Cherise were talking to Candice about going and Candice was in a bad mood. She seemed on edge. So Isabella agreed to meet them there. As she walked down the street in town she was surprised to see Candice sitting on a bench, sunglasses on and talking on her cell phone. As she got closer she overheard her talking. “Just leave me alone. I’m not interested and you can’t keep coming around and even showing up at Harper’s asking for me. You hurt me and I’m not going to forget that.” Candice ended the phone call.

  “Everything okay?” Isabella asked.

  Candice looked up. She tried to force a smile. “Yeah, of course. What’s going on?” she asked and stood up.

  “Just going by McCormick’s. What are you doing?”

  “Nothing, just I’m supposed to meet Cherise but she’s late as usual. Are you still meeting us at the game tonight?”

  “Yeah. I guess so.”

  “How are you getting there?”

  “Walking.”

  “Through the woods? It’s like two miles.”

  “No big deal. I walk everywhere.”

  “You should be careful anyway. Not every guy is honest and is ready to help protect a woman of Cherry Hill.”

  “Sounds like someone hurt you. Was it the guy on the phone?”

  “You heard that?”

  “Sort of.”

  Candice pulled off her sunglasses. “It’s not a big deal. I’m handling it.”

  “Didn’t sound like you were handling it. It sounded like you were upset and scared. Is this guy being pushy?”

  “He’s just persistent.”

  “You know, sometimes guys like that can go too far. Have you spoken to anyone about him?”

  “Like the police?”

  “Sure. That’s how things work around here, right? The men are supposed to protect the women of Cherry Hill?” Isabella said. She was surprised she was even talking to Candice like this. Especially since she wouldn’t heed her own advice either. She was set on handling things by herself. Yet she kept thinking about Prime, Wesson, and Colt, and she missed them. Loved how protected she felt when they were around. She was resisting those feelings, but it was difficult.

  “Hmm, I don’t want forced guardians,” Candice told her.

  “Forced guardians? What does that mean?”

  “Exactly how it sounds, Bella. The Sheriff would assign men to me to protect me.”

  “No way.” Bella squinted.

  “Yes way. I want to keep my independence. Simon isn’t even from around here.”

  “Simon? That’s his name?” She nodded. “Hey, is he tall, like six feet or so, and kind of stocky with brown hair and scruff along his cheeks?” Isabella asked.

  “Yes, how do you know that?” Candice asked, squinting at her.

  “He was in the bar the other night asking for you. He got mean. I recognized that look on his face, and he’s trouble.”

  “Yeah well, wish I kind of figured that out from just one look. However, he must have had an out of body experience when I met him.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “When I met him Simon was sweet, polite, opened doors for me and we had a great time. We went out to dinner in Benter, and he didn’t try to pull anything. We just shared one sweet kiss before he walked me to my door,” Candice said and then swallowed hard. She could see the tears in Candice’s eyes.

  “Then he changed. Like he started texting me constantly throughout the day, and asked who I was with. He came by the bar, would sit in the corner and watch me, then asked me about the guys I spoke to. I’m a waitress and bartender, it’s my job to talk to people.”

  “He didn’t understand that?”

  “No, he was jealous, and I told him I didn’t want to go out with him again. I said that he was being too serious too soon. He called me some names and grabbed me. He threatened me and I told him that I didn’t want to see him again. He got angry and shoved me. My back hit the metal of the truck I was parked next to. That was over a week ago.”

  “And he’s been stalking you since then?”

  “Since our first date. Maybe sooner because he knew things about me I hadn’t told him.”

  “Like what?”

  “Like errands I run on certain days. I like a schedule, and each day there are things I do.”

  “If he knew about them then he had been watching you and planned on asking you out and taking over.”

  “Exactly.”

  “Well, I’d say that you need to talk to the police.”

  “Candice!” They both turned as the deep, hard tone drew their immediate attention. Candice stepped back and there was Simon coming toward her. He looked enraged.

  “You don’t hang up on me and tell me that we’re done. We need to talk. Let’s go.” He grabbed Candice’s wrist.

  “No. No, I’m done talking. You need to leave me alone.”

  “Leave her alone. Release her wrist,” Isabella yelled. They were drawing attention to them now, but all that were nearby were a few women.

  “This has nothing to do with you, bitch,” he said to Isabella and pulled Candice along with him and off the curb.

  “Let her go!” Isabella said as Candice screamed and tried to get free. Simon struck her across the mouth. She fell to the ground and Isabella heard the click of the switchblade.

  “Mind your fucking business or I’ll kill you,” he said and reached down for Candice. Candice shuffled backward, screaming.

  Isabella reacted. She pulled Candice toward her and Simon struck at her with the knife. Candice got cut and he lifted the blade as she heard sirens in the distance. She couldn’t wait for the police. Isabella made a move. She struck him in the face and he came back at her with the knife. He kept thrusting it toward her. Police cruisers came to a screeching halt. He turned to look and she kicked him in the balls. He turned and she used his face like a punching bag. She threw a right jab, then a second right jab. His head went back and as it came forward she hit him again and then a right and a left, a kick to his side. She felt the slash to her ribs and she kicked the knife from his hands and then kicked him really hard in the balls. He went down to his knees and she punched him again. He fell backward and the police grabbed him while someone grabbed the knife. She was still in a ready stance when she felt a thick, solid arm go around her waist. She went to strike, but a strong, large hand gripped her wrist, as the same person used their arm to hold her tight.

  “Easy, darling. It’s over. You saved your friend. It’s over.”

  She looked up. She was panting for breath, shaking in his arms and she didn’t recognize the guy at all. He was big, like six feet three, hard solid muscles but he was trim, without an ounce of fat on him and seasoned looking. He had dark hair with a crew cut and piercing blue eyes that looked so serious. He eyed her over.

  “Bella? Are you okay?” She heard Prime’s voice and saw him hurrying from his patrol car. She went to move and felt light-headed. “Easy,” The man holding her said.

  “Finlin, what the fuck happened?” Prime asked the guy.

  “Your friend here just saved Candice’s life.”

  It was complete chaos as she closed her eyes and leaned against the strong guy holding her.

  Prime caressed her cheek. “Are you hurt? Are you okay?”

  She felt the burning sensation against her ribs right under the swell of her breast.

  “Oh God, yeah. Uhm, Candice? Is she okay?” she asked and eased from the guy’s hold, but he kept a large, firm hand on her hip to steady her.

  “Finlin, there’s blood on you.”

  Finlin looked down and Isabella looked at her shirt. She pressed her palm to the black tank top and saw the slit in it and then the blood.

  “Isabella, it’s you. You’re bleeding,” Prime said to her as he grabbed her forearms.

  Finlin lowered to his knee. “Let me see.”

  Prime stepped out of the way. Both men had their hands on her, each with a palm to her hip. She could hear the Sheriff and the other police say that Candice was cut badly and needed stitches and to go to the hospital. She closed her eyes and remembered the fear she had when she found those forest rangers and they rescued her, got her to the hospital and stood on guard with shotguns in case Serpen or his men were looking for her. She didn’t know where they would go to a hospital and she wasn’t taking any chances. She looked down. Moved their hands, and lifted her top. “I’m fine.”

  “You aren’t fine. That’s a nice cut,” Prime said.

  “No stitches needed. Maybe butterfly, but that’s it.”

  “Isabella, are you okay?” Sheriff Kane McCabe asked her.

  “I’m fine.”

  “She got cut,” Prime said and he looked so serious, she had to turn away from him.

  “Brian,” the Sheriff called to someone as she turned. She saw a paramedic coming over. It was a guy she had seen in Harper’s a few times.

  “Bella, did you get hurt?” he asked.

  “Please check this out and if she needs to go to the hospital then you be sure to get her there,” Sheriff McCabe stated firmly. He then started asking some questions. Finlin, who was standing right next to her along with Prime, told him what he had seen as he walked out of the hardware store.

  “It’s borderline, Isabella. Butterfly stitches might work. Maybe you should go to the hospital,” Brian said.

  “No need to.”

  “Any particular reason why you’re refusing to go?” the Sheriff asked. He, Prime, and Finlin were staring at her. She still didn’t know who this Finlin guy was but he was attractive and definitely military.