Stripes, p.3
Stripes, page 3
Stripes’ lips twitched as if he fought back a laugh. “I’ll track down every last man who hurt her. No worries there. The important thing is that she’s safe now.”
I eyed our server. “You didn’t think he could have done this to me?”
The man shook his head. “No, honey. Not with the way he’s keeping an eye on you. I saw him up front too, being all sweet. You’ve got a good one. Better hold on with both hands. Legs too.”
Stripes snorted, then coughed to cover up a laugh. I wasn’t sure what to make of the man. I looked for a nametag and found it pinned to the top right of his shirt. Brandon.
“He didn’t give off scary vibes?” I asked, pointing to Stripes.
“Nope.” Brandon smiled widely. “Grew up near some bikers. They were good people. Didn’t care if I went out to play in a sparkly tutu or preferred dolls to cars. They treated me the same as any other kid in the neighborhood.”
I looked at Stripes in a new light. He hadn’t cringed when he saw Brandon or sneered at him. Ruslan would have done both. He didn’t like men who preferred to date the same sex. In fact, he’d hated them. But the guy sitting across from me, the one I seemed to be married to, didn’t treat our server any differently than anyone else. Just like the bikers Brandon said he’d lived near when he was younger.
I let down my guard a little more and dared to hope he really was different from the other men I’d known. I couldn’t trust my instincts. Not any longer. But just maybe I could believe in Stripes when other people did. Even strangers had seemed on edge around Ruslan… as if they could sense the evil inside him.
“Now, what can I get the two of you to drink?” Brandon asked.
We placed our drink order, and Stripes requested an appetizer, then we were left alone again. By the time we ordered our main dishes, I’d relaxed in the booth. No monsters were going to jump out and grab me. Stripes wasn’t going to belittle me in public, or openly leer at other women. It was probably the first time I’d enjoyed dinner out somewhere in my entire life.
After our meal was over, I noticed he left the server a thirty percent tip. Something else Ruslan would have never done. The man was too cheap by far. It didn’t matter how large the bill would be, he’d never leave more than five dollars. I’d always felt embarrassed by his behavior, not that I’d dared to say a word about it. I’d meekly gone along, hoping to go unnoticed.
“Why did you leave so much money for him?” I asked after we were back in the truck.
“Because he set you at ease and seemed genuinely concerned for you.” Stripes reached out and took my hand. I tensed for a moment before breathing out and relaxing once more. “I’d have paid much more if he’d gotten you to laugh.”
His words left me feeling warm inside, and I couldn’t stop myself from giving him a slight smile. I still didn’t know if he’d spoken the truth about Oksana and Yulia. It was possible he’d lied to try to gain my trust. And yet, I didn’t think it was the case. Something about Stripes screamed protector. I’d needed one of those long ago. Now there wasn’t much left of me to save. Most days, I felt hollow inside. And when I didn’t, I hurt deep down to my soul. I alternated between wanting to cry or scream until my throat was raw. I hadn’t dared to do either. Crying would only tell them I was weak. Screaming would have earned me a harsh punishment.
“We’re going to stop at a strip mall I saw on the way to dinner. You need more clothes, bathroom items, and shoes. They had stores there for all of that and more.” He released my hand, only to reach up and lightly touch my cheek. “You get whatever you want, Melina. Pontajno? It will not anger me if you spend money. If it looks like too much, I’ll let you know. But until I say stop, you buy as much as you want.”
“All right.” I bit my lip. No one had ever offered me such a thing before. As much as I feared all this would go away sometime soon, I decided to enjoy it while it lasted. I’d prefer one day of happiness to none. Although, part of me was starting to hope everything he said was true. Being married to a stranger didn’t bother me. The thought of having a happy marriage, then losing it? Now that scared me to death. I wasn’t sure I’d survive him putting all my pieces back together only to shatter them later.
He drove to the strip mall, and we went into a clothing store first. Stripes didn’t just let me grab things and run to the register. He herded me toward a dressing room once I’d picked out several outfits. And while I was inside, he handed me even more. The stubborn man refused to let me leave without at least a week’s worth of clothes. The only thing I couldn’t get were bras and panties, as well as pajamas.
“There’s an intimates store one block up,” the clerk said as she rang up the purchases. I noticed she did her best not to look at me directly, and I wondered if it was due to all the bruising and marks on me. It probably made people uncomfortable. “They have really nice items but aren’t overpriced.”
“We’ll check it out when we’re finished here,” Stripes said. He paid and then took the bags from the clerk. I followed him to the truck, and he stored everything in the back floorboard. He locked up the vehicle, then led me to the shoe store.
I’d heard of shopping until you dropped, but I hadn’t experienced it until now. It took two hours to buy everything I needed, and some things Stripes insisted I have. On the way back to the hotel, he pulled into the parking lot of an electronics store and led me inside.
“I don’t need anything in here,” I protested. He’d already spent way too much. The man didn’t seem to understand the word moderation. And every disapproving look I received from the other shoppers only made him spend more.
“Yes, you do. For one, you need a phone. I’ll have you added to my plan. And one of those portable DVD players and some movies. You can watch something on the way home tomorrow.”
“That seems excessive,” I said. “It’s not like I’m going to use it again after tomorrow.”
He put his arm around my waist, and for the first time, I didn’t flinch. It seemed I was getting more comfortable with him. “Melina, I told you about my granddaughter. She’s married, and she’s given me three great-grandchildren. We can use the device when the children are in the car.” He hugged me to his side. “Now, stop stalling. You haven’t spent enough to put a dent in my account yet.”
I let him lead me into the store, feeling as if someone had yanked the ground out from under me. Three great-grandchildren? The man didn’t look old enough for that! Wait. Since we were married… did that mean I had a granddaughter close to the age of my daughter, and also had three great-grands? The world spun for a moment as I sucked in a breath. I wasn’t ready for this. Not even a little.
* * *
Stripes
We had an eighteen-hour trip ahead of us, and I knew we’d have to stay overnight somewhere. When we stopped for gas, and Melina used the restroom again, I mentioned a hotel to Specter and Gator. It seemed the assassin had thought ahead and already booked two rooms. Gator wasn’t thrilled about sharing with Specter, but I had a feeling the bastard did it on purpose. I didn’t have a choice but to stay with Melina since there wouldn’t be another bed for me. Fucker. Hadn’t he even considered how she might feel about the arrangement?
At least she had a change of clothes, but I hadn’t considered anything beyond that. As we pulled into the hotel parking lot, I thought about everything else she’d need. I eyed the building and realized the man hadn’t skimped on the cost. Gator and I would stick out horribly, and so would Melina, with all her cuts and bruises.
Specter got out of the truck and smoothed his clothes. “I’ll go in and get our room keys. Probably best if I explain about Melina as well. Don’t need anyone getting the wrong idea and calling the cops. Again.”
I nodded and opened her door, wanting to check on her. She tensed a moment, then slowly relaxed when she realized I wasn’t going to grab her. It would take time for her to learn to trust me. We’d get there, eventually.
“We’re going to stay here tonight, then get back on the road in the morning.” I folded my arms, then dropped them when I noticed her lips tighten. If I could beat the hell out of everyone who’d hurt her, I’d gladly do it. Hell, I’d like to bury every last fucker who dared to touch her. “We’ll eat, then I’ll answer your questions. You’d like that, yes?”
“Da.” She studied me, taking her time. I wondered what she thought. I’d been told I looked menacing. It served me well most of the time. But not in this instance.
“There’s much for us to discuss.” I wanted to reach out and run my fingers through her hair. Hold her close. Promise her everything would be fine. Instead, I held still and gave her the space I figured she needed.
Specter came back outside and handed me a room key. “We can park nearby and go through the main entrance. Our rooms are on the fifth floor.”
Melina reached up to touch her jaw. I reached out and gently gripped her hand, giving it a slight squeeze. Her eyes widened, and I felt her pulse race. “He already spoke to the hotel staff. They will say nothing. All right?”
She nodded. I scanned the parking lot and pointed to three spots close together. Gator gave me a thumbs-up and I got back on my bike. After we parked, I helped carry Melina’s bag up to the room, and grabbed a few things from my saddlebags. She needed more than what I’d bought so far. I’d have to find a store nearby and take her shopping again. I wondered if she wanted makeup to cover the bruises. It didn’t matter to me. I just wanted her to be comfortable, whatever it took.
Our rooms weren’t next to each other. Specter and Gator moved farther down the hall, and I led Melina into the room we’d be sharing. I let the door shut behind us and sat our things on the bed. I tried hard not to start cussing. Why the fuck had Specter gotten us a room with one Goddamn bed? He had to know it would freak Melina out.
“I’m sorry. Specter is such a hui,” I muttered, glancing her way. “I did not ask for this.”
“For what?” she asked.
I waved a hand at the bed. “This. No reason for one bed. Could have gotten two. Have a seat. Looks like we need to have a talk now instead of later.”
She moved over to the bed and sank onto the side of it. I remained standing and leaned against the wall, facing her. Specter might scare the shit out of most men, but if I had the chance, I’d wring his fucking neck for putting me in this situation. Since his sister was married to my club’s President, I figured I might get away with it. Hell, if Dakota found out what he’d done, she might beat me to it.
“First, I’ll not touch you. Even with only one bed, I expect nothing from you. What happened… wasn’t your fault. Not of your choosing, yes? You were a victim, Melina. I might be Russian, but I’m nothing like those assholes who hurt you. In fact, I’d like to crush them all.” Her lips twitched a little, and I wondered if she’d almost smiled. Maybe it was the image of them being crunched into tiny bits that did it. Hell if it didn’t make me want to smile too. “Your daughters are safe. I don’t know what they’ve suffered. I don’t think it was pleasant. But they’re okay now. Yulia is with a club called the Reckless Kings. One of their Prospects will help her heal, yes? Ease her pain. Oksana is married. Grimm is also Russian. Not Bratva, but his family was. He’s not like them.”
“My girls are safe?” she asked.
“Da. They are staying elsewhere.” I ran a hand down my beard and wondered how much I should tell her. More than that, I considered the questions she may have about her girls. Ones I didn’t have the answers to. It would be best if they didn’t see her in this condition. Not only the physical marks, but the internal ones too. Her eyes… At times, they were vacant. It might scare them. “I know about your husband. How you ended up a whore. I do not know everything, but I understand you’ve suffered. I’ll listen, should you wish to talk, yes? But I will not push.”
“Why?” She licked her lips. “Why would you be so nice to me? You have to want something. Some form of payment. No one does anything for free.”
“My club, and several others, have hackers. Um, men who are good on computers. By now, they know everything of your past but will say nothing. Some like to meddle. Wire and his woman. They get into everything. All records. Nothing is too hard for them.”
“I don’t understand. Meddle how?”
“Your name is no longer Melina Romanov, in case you’ve forgotten.” I cleared my throat. Whenever I found myself in stressful situations, my accent became thicker. Like now. “It’s Melina Petrov. Wife of Mikhail Petrov. Otherwise known as… Stripes.”
Her gaze dropped to my cut, or more specifically the patches on the front. She paled a little as she stared at the one with my road name. Yeah, she understood. At least partially.
“After what you’ve been through, I’m sure my accent is off-putting. I’m Russian but not Bratva. I said it before, but you maybe did not hear me. You were… shocked, I think. I’ll not hurt you the way they did. I will demand nothing from you, Melina. Not unless it pertains to your safety. I will not endanger you or your children. Understood?”
She nodded, still staring at my patches. Fuck. This wasn’t going the way I’d wanted. Hell, I hadn’t planned to say anything yet. It seemed too soon.
“Do you have children?” she asked.
“Nyet. Not anymore. I had a daughter.” My throat tightened at the memory. It had been roughly a year since I’d learned of what my daughter suffered. “Lost her a long time ago, but she gave me a beautiful granddaughter. Her name is Minnie, and she lives with the Devil’s Fury in Georgia. I’ve asked her not to visit anytime soon so you’ll have time to adjust to your new life.”
“Granddaughter?” Her gaze lifted to mine. “How old are you?”
“Sixty-five,” I said, knowing damn well that made me far older than she was. According to Oksana, her mother was only thirty-eight. She’d still been a kid herself when she had Oksana, and then Yulia a few years later. “I know. Big difference in our ages. I’m probably not who you’d have chosen for a husband.”
“Age doesn’t matter,” she said. “Age. Skin color. None of it. Men are the same regardless.”
I winced. “Nyet. Not all. I’ll prove it. Show you can trust me. I’ll not break your trust, or harm you. For now, we should eat, and then I need to take you to a store to finish shopping. You didn’t have time to get everything you needed earlier.”
“My daughters…” She bit her lip.
Whatever she’d been about to say, she stopped. Did she want to see them? Speak to them? I wasn’t sure how Oksana or Yulia would feel about our marriage. Nor did I think it would benefit Melina to reach out to them right now. Perhaps if she held onto the thought of speaking with them later, it would help her put one foot in front of the other. She’d already given up once. I didn’t want her to do it again.
I could tell she wanted to ask for something. Perhaps her lack of faith in me held her back. Our first big test would happen tonight. I’d keep to my side of the damn bed, or sleep on the fucking floor, if that’s what it took. I pulled out my phone and texted Gator, asking about dinner plans. When he sent an image back of fast food, which they already had in their room, I glared at the damn device in my hand.
A knock sounded at the door, and I went to answer, pausing to peer through the peephole first. When I saw Specter on the other side, I opened the door and yanked him inside.
“You’re an asshole,” I said.
He grinned. “You’re welcome. Here, take the key to the truck. You’ll need it if you’re going to take her to buy more things and get food.”
I took it, shoved it in my pocket, then glowered at him. “What makes you think we’re shopping?”
He snorted. “Because all you bikers are the same. Can’t stand to see a woman in need. Take care of your wife, Stripes. You can give me the key back tomorrow before we leave.”
He waved at Melina, then let himself out of the room. There were times I really didn’t like that man.
“Come on, lapochka. Let’s eat and gather the things you’ll need.” I held out my hand, and she stood, timidly taking it. I curled my fingers around hers and led her downstairs to the truck. It was a small victory, but I’d take it.
Chapter Three
Stripes
I couldn’t remember a time I’d had so much trouble getting a woman to spend my money. It made me want to know more about the man she’d been married to, and her father. Had both of them trained her to be like this? Made her feel so unworthy of even the smallest thing? If they weren’t dead, I’d crush the fuckers under my boot.
I’d picked out a player for her to use in the truck tomorrow but figuring out what she liked to watch had been really damn hard. She hadn’t wanted to pick out a single movie. In the end, I’d had no choice but to message Shade and ask him to figure it the fuck out. More than likely, he’d call Wire, who would just ask Oksana. But I knew we were trying to be careful about communications so the Bratva wouldn’t be able to locate Melina and Yulia easily.
It didn’t take him long to get back to me, and I bought six movies I’d been told were her favorites. I’d also bought her ear buds to go with the phone I’d purchased and decided to add some music to her phone. Also, with the help of Shade. The way she kept eyeing the two devices, I could tell it pleased her to have them, and yet, she wouldn’t touch them or say a word.
“Melina, I know you’re scared. Nothing I say will convince you I’m not a bad man. You’ve got too much gavno weighing you down. I want to lighten the load, even if it’s just by a little. Use the player and the phone. Watch the movies and listen to the music. It’s okay to escape from reality. We all need to from time to time, yes? Even men like me. This does not make you weak, lapochka.”
She cautiously reached for the phone and opened the music app I’d put on the front screen. When I realized she didn’t know how to pair the ear buds to the phone, I helped her out, and within a few minutes, she was leaning against the headboard and listening to the playlist I’d made for her.
