Page 82 of Triple the Secrets
“Or it’s you showing them that sometimes it’s okay to have help,” he said quietly. He turned her around and looked down at her, water droplets dripping from his hair and face. His eyes were dark and saw far too much, but she refused to look away. “I know it’s hard for you, but at the same time, I need you to understand that I only want to protect you and the girls. I’m not trying to tell you what to wear, where to work, or how you should be raising the girls. I don’t give a damn about that shit. But when it comes to your comfort and safety, I won’t budge.
“We’re going to find these bastards, we’re going to stop them, and we’re going to make them pay. Pay for what they did to you, what they did to the girls, and what they’ve done to all the others in the past.” His words became more and more forceful as he spoke. Anger and determination made his eyes glitter, and her stomach clenched in response. Was there anything sexier than a man who was infuriated on her behalf? “But I need you to trust me.”
“What about when you find them?” she asked. Because there was no doubt in her mind they would. “Are you just going to kill them and leave it at that?”
He was quiet as he stared at her. “You sure you want the answer to that?” he finally asked, his voice so quiet she had to strain to hear him over the sound of the water pouring over them. “Because if you’re not ready for that answer, Scarlett, don’t ask me. I’m not a good man. You need to remember that I might be a man when I’m with you, but underneath is a monster that would terrify even you.”
“Yes,” she said firmly. “I want to know, because you’re not a monster, Rogue.” Before he could protest or correct her, she went on tip toe and put her hands on his shoulders. He automatically wrapped his arm around her waist and lifted her so she could wrap her legs around him, putting her at face level. “You are not a monster,” she said again. “A monster is someone who doesn’t care about people, who hurts them for the sheer pleasure of seeing them suffer. I’m not talking about hurting someone that deserves it. I’m talking about someone who hurts others because they can. Monsters are the men who took me, who hurt me, who did things to me that still make me want to scream and cry, that still make me feel ashamed because I was helpless to stop them.
“You, Rogue,are not a monster. You don’t hurt me for some sick kind of pleasure. You don’t treat the girls like they’re nothin. You don’t act like they’re a nuisance, or a commodity. Sure, you’re growly, moody, and a pain in the ass sometimes, but you’re human. You’re a good man, even if you don’t see it. I see it. The girls see it, because if they didn’t, they would outright ignore you, or work hard to make sure I got rid of you.”
“They still might,” he said gruffly. “Especially after I get back at them for pulling that shit earlier.”
Scarlett’s lips kicked up into a half smile. “But that’s not you being a bad guy. That’s you having a relationship with them in your own way. You don’t need to be the fatherly type, because they wouldn’t believe it anyway. Hell, they’d laugh in your face.” She took a deep breath. “So yes, Rogue, I want to know what you’re going to do, because I need it, and I know that whatever you decide to do, it’s going to be because that’s what needs to be done.”
He stared at her, his fingers gripping her ass, flexing ever so slightly as he tried to work out whatever was going on in his head. Finally, he replied, “I’m going to make them pay, slowly and painfully, for what they did to you and those girls. Before I kill them, they will know that whatever depths of hell they’re going to, will be a picnic compared to me.”
Scarlett leaned in and kissed him gently, “And that’s the very reason I want you so much. But I want my shot.”
“Scarlett—”
“No, Rogue. On this, I won’t budge. I won’t kill them, because you were right that I shouldn’t have that on my conscience, but I need that closure. I deserve it.”
He muttered something under his breath, and his chest rumbled with displeasure, but finally he said, “I’ll talk it over with the brothers.”
“Fine,” she said easily.
“You won’t always get your way,” he warned her.
“I know, but on this, you know I’m right.”
“You owe me,” he grumbled, setting her down on her feet. “When you’re finished with shark week, your ass is mine.”
“Literally?” she asked, intrigued, but also a bit alarmed. There was no way his cock was fitting inside there. She glanced at it warily.
He gave her a slow smile. “You’ll just have to wait and see, won’t you?” he taunted as he grabbed her shampoo and got to work on lathering up her hair. “But either way, we both know you’re going to like it.”
She doubted that, but with Rogue, anything was possible.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-SIX
ROGUE
He stared down at the girls, arms crossed over his chest, making sure they knew he wasn’t messing around. They were both sitting on the couch, looking at him, amusement on their faces. “You know it’s a good option,” Wren said helpfully, filling the silence. “I mean, it’s that or we stay here, and do you really want us sitting here bored all day? Who knows what trouble we might get into?”
“At least at the library we can help Scarlett and get some reading done,” Win jumped in before he could reply. “We’ve already promised Scarlett we’ll be on our best behavior and listen to you or whoever is watching.”
Scarlett had told him as much when they had gotten out of bed this morning. She had sprung this plan on him, which apparently the girls were supposed to talk to him about last night. Seeing as they had been in their room with the door shut when he came to the apartment, that hadn’t happened.
While he agreed that being stuck here and bored wouldn’t be fun for anyone, the idea of all three women in the same place, outside the compound, set him on edge. Especially since today the club was putting their plan into action. It was time to figure out where the traffickers were going and find a way to stop them. Which meant they wouldn’t have as many brothers around to watch over the girls.
As it was, Razor and one prospect were going to the library to make sure Scarlett was safe, while Code, Ink, and the other prospects were staying at the clubhouse to keep watch over the other women and kids. Now, knowing that the girls wanted to go with Scarlett to work for the day made every instinct inside him rear up in protest. If the traffickers found out they were together, and not as guarded as they could be, it would be the perfect chance to grab them all.
“Fuck, I don’t like this,” he groaned, uncrossing his arms and rubbing a hand over his face. “Is there any point in trying to tell you no?”
“Nope,” Win said cheerfully.
“Why can’t you spend your day here?” he asked, frustrated. Everything in him was telling him to keep them here, but he knew it probably wasn’t going to happen. “I’m sure Esme, or Royal even, could find something for you to do. Hell, as much as it pains me to even suggest it, one of you could help Esme in the office.”
