The Bad Boys' Reluctant Woman(44)

“Someone who has been hurt by the people they should have been able to trust, Connor.” Zoe stroked his hair. He felt little comfort from her attentions.

Connor let it all out. He told her everything. The moment the dam burst inside him, he couldn’t stop it. Zoe comforted and held throughout it all.

“You need to see someone, Connor. A professional.”

“I can’t do that. I’m talking to you.”

“I think it would be good for you to get it out and let someone show you the real way it should be.”

Connor shook his head.

“When you’re ready. I don’t want to force you to do something you don’t want,” she said.

He cupped her face staring into her honest beauty. “What have you done to me?” he asked.

“Nothing, Connor. It is time for you to be free of the past. You didn’t do anything wrong.” She leaned over and kissed him.

Connor pulled her across his lap. She sat straddling either side of his waist. His cock thickened at the feel of her womanly softness. He didn’t want sex. He wanted to hold her close and feel her warmth.

“You’re going to have to tell Jake and Brent, eventually. They love you so much. They have a right to know what is wrong with their friend.”

He nodded his head. Connor didn’t move from the spot. Her arms were around him, and for the first time in his life since the chaos of his childhood, he felt safe. Zoe made him feel safe.





Chapter Seventeen





A couple of weeks later

Life went back to normal. Connor went looking for a therapist at Zoe’s insistence. Jake and Brent wanted to know what had gone on. She didn’t say anything. Connor would tell them when he was ready. She slowly began to move in with them. Every time one of her men picked her up, they packed some of her stuff. She noticed their house was starting to have a part of her inside. Vicki said they were goners. It was only a matter of time before they had a wedding ring on her finger.

She connected to all of them in some way. Zoe knew she’d fallen for them. It was hard to think about at times how easily she’d given her heart to them. She knew they wouldn’t hurt her, or at least not intentionally hurt her. They all tried to stay by her side. Unfortunately, like today they were all busy. Jake had bought her a cell phone so they could stay in touch at all times. Connor was currently singing to her down the line.

Zoe smiled as she listened to Connor singing to her. He had the worst voice she’d heard.

“That is an awful tune, Connor.”

“I’m singing it with you in mind.”

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“I’m in the shower, naked. Want to join?”

“Wait, if you’re in the shower naked, why aren’t you on your way here?” she asked. “You’ve got me there, Zoe. I’m currently standing in the mechanic shop. A bunch of girls are giggling, and I’m looking at two ugly-ass men. Wanna save me?”

She was walking down the alley of her neighbourhood when she saw the shadow fall over her. Startled, Zoe stared up to see Bill standing with two of men.

“I told you this wasn’t over,” he said. She didn’t have any time to react as Bill pulled the phone out of her hand and slammed her against the wall. Her head banged against the bricks. Pain shot through her head, and then the world went black.

****

Connor knew the sound of that voice. His blood ran cold.

“Zoe, baby, are you there?”

Jake and Brent looked up. He knew his voice was filled with panic. Shit, he was panicking.

Heavy breathing came over the line.

“You better be careful who you threaten in future.”

“Where the fuck is Zoe?” Connor demanded. His voice rose as the panic began to take over.

“Consider her payment because of your boys getting in the way of my business. I never interfere with your part of Law Castle, and you shouldn’t have fucked with mine. I’m taking Zoe as payment for all the money you’ve lost me.”

“If you touch her, I swear to God—”

“No offense, boy. I’m the one with the girl.”

The phone cut off. Connor threw the phone at the opposite wall. Noah and Drew had come from around the back at his raised voice. “That drug dealing asshole has got Zoe.” He pulled the hair at the back of his neck to try to focus. The pain helped numb the heartache at losing the woman he loved.

“I’ll get Tristan. Where was she?” Noah asked.

Drew ran out of the shop, a cell phone in his hand. Connor watched him run in the direction of the sheriff’s office.

“I don’t know. I heard some scuffling as if Zoe was thrown against something. A wall, maybe. Shit, I don’t know.”