Page 32 of Blade
Her admission tears my heart open, leaving me bleeding out inside. Images of men using and abusing this incredible woman are burning me up from the inside. Not anymore. She gets to choose every fucking time from now on, and I nod, my gaze heavy and loaded with anger.
“I will ‘sleep’ with you, darlin’ until you tell me otherwise.”
It’s as if she visibly relaxes and the tension drops from her shoulders.
“Thank you.”
Her smile is brighter, and it slays me as much as her tears. I doubt she even knows that, right now, in this moment, I would kill for Delilah Grimes if anyone so much as speaks to her in the wrong way.
CHAPTER 15
DELILAH
I’m so nervous. Since our conversation in the diner, it’s all I can think about. Whores. I am one. I have no right to judge. Why does Blade even want to be with me? Perhaps that’s why. It’s what he’s used to. No strings attached, no fucks to give. This is my place in life. To be a man’s toy. First Gideon’s, then Angela’s, and now—no, Blade is different. He is nothing like them.
As we ride, I wish I remembered where I came from. My real name, even. My history. It’s in there somewhere, little glimpses on occasion. A memory of loving pancakes, of eating in a diner, a fancy restaurant once or twice. The image of Gideon approaching me when I left the shower revealed that we lived in a mansion. I kind of understand I had everything money could buy at some point in my life. But how did that change? How did I arrive at Rockwell? It doesn’t make any sense.
It’s hard to lose something many take for granted. Identity. It’s as if I must start again, and I’m hoping that the first thing to leave me is the name Delilah Grimes. Perhaps I should run a competition to rename me at The Rubicon, as Blade calls home. The point of no return. How do I know the meaning of the words?
We stop once more for the restroom, and as I stare at my reflection in the dirty mirror, a stranger looks back at me. I’m empty inside my head with only my recent memories to dwell upon. There is only one man in my head right now, and he is waiting patiently for me outside.
Then there’s Gideon Fox. The man of my nightmares. How come I married him? Were we happy once upon a time, and if so, what happened to change it?
Is he looking for me, searching the world to bring me back to him? I already know that answer because I was a slave to one of his workers. Did he send me to Angela? If so, why?
Blade is leaning on the wall, waiting, and as I leave the restroom, he nods. “All done.”
“Yes.”
I force a bright smile onto my face, and he studies me carefully. “What?”
“It’s nothing.”
He raises his eyes.
“Okay, I was just wondering that if Angela worked for Gideon, he must have known where I was. If he did and left me, it must have been because he put me there.”
“That’s a valid point.”
Blade rubs his chin in deep thought.
“We should have some answers by the time we reach the compound. Ryder will welcome you personally and fill in any gaps.”
“Ryder will?”
I’m kind of scared of this man already, despite the fact I met him back at the hospital and he seemed kind of nice.
“Don’t be afraid of anyone at the Rubicon, darlin’. You have nothing to fear from them.”
We head to the bike, and as he steadies it and I climb on, I reach for my helmet and take a deep breath because our nextstop may well be where I face my demons, and I’m not sure I’m ready for that.
* * *
It’s almostdark by the time we pull off the road onto a trail. It’s as if nothing could be at the end of this. Civilization ceases to exist as we pass woodlands and scrubland. Then we head through a clearing, which opens up to a steel-clad building. A huge parking lot is in front and my heart stills.
Motorcycles are everywhere. Probably close on fifty of the things, and as we come to a stop, the floodlights illuminate our arrival. However, we are the only signs of life in the lot, which is intimidating as hell.
Blade cuts the engine and half-turns, removing his helmet and holding out his giant hand for mine.
