Chapter 16: Chapter 16

After that toe-curling kiss, Eli put Andie into his truck and headed to her place. She glanced out the back of the truck, seeing the hand he had stationed outside the front door, Levi Helms.

He was big and burly, but she still worried about the girls.

But the hard glint in the man’s deep-green eyes should have reassured her that he wouldn’t let anything happen to the girls and would protect them with his life, but it didn’t.

“Are the girls going to be okay?”

Eli looked over at her and then pulled her up against him, pressing his lips against her forehead.

“They’ll be okay. At the first sign of trouble, Levi and Dale will call, same with Belle, and we’ll be back here in three minutes flat.”

She let out a sigh as she laid her head against his shoulder. She had to trust Eli. He loved the girls so much. This had to be okay.

She looked at the bakery as they drove by. “The cops are still there?” she questioned when she saw the cruiser.

“I guess so.” He huffed a little as he pulled up into the driveway beside her car.

“What’s wrong?” she asked as she looked at him.

“I want to know what’s going on, but I’ll stay with you.”

She looked over to the bakery and then back to the house. “I can go in and start to get things, and you can go talk to them. I’ll be okay.”

He searched her eyes, and she hoped she didn’t show any fear. “Are you sure?”

She glanced back at the house. “Yeah, I’m sure. If I don’t feel safe, I’ll come get you. I doubt anything is going to happen. I’ll be okay.”

She smiled at him and then went to move to the other side of the truck. He pulled her back to face him, and his lips crashed down onto hers.

He pulled back and brushed his hand against her cheek. “All right, I’ll be back in maybe twenty minutes, darlin’.”

“Take your time, Eli.” She pushed away the giddy feeling that threatened to fill her heart and got out of the truck.

She hurried into the house and first went through the living room but didn’t grab much. Then she headed to the kitchen and collected all the baby food and formula she had, then some more bottles.

She got it moved to the front door along with the high chair. She shoved everything into cloth bags she used for shopping, then placed them in the high chair and headed to the nursery.

She went through the girls’ clothes and shoved them into three more bags, then put them with the high chair, bottles, baby food, and the few toys she figured would make the girls happy.

She rushed to her room to get her things.

As soon as she walked into her room, she was slammed to the ground on her back. Before she could scream, a hand smashed down over her mouth.

She began to struggle until the metal barrel of a gun was shoved beneath her chin. She froze as it pressed harder against her.

“That’s right, don’t move. There’s a bullet in here with your name on it if you don’t cooperate. Have you been talking to the uncle about money?” the raspy voice demanded.

She shook her head, and a blow with the gun landed on the side of her head. The gun returned under her chin, biting into her skin.

It hurt along with the spot where he had hit her, but she refused to cry. The pain radiating through her skull was intense. She almost saw stars, but she wouldn’t show weakness.

“Are you going to?” he hissed out.

She shook her head again. She wouldn’t give in to this jerk, nor would she let Eli. She racked her brain to place his snaky voice. But she was hit again, causing another bout of dizziness.

Everything spun around her. But she managed to reach up and slug the man on top of her.

It made him slam his fist into her cheek, but before she could let out any sound, he slammed his hand back over her mouth. She began to struggle again.

“If you don’t want a bullet in you, I suggest you do what I tell you. Because if you’re gone, what do you think will happen to your little girl?

“I’ll tell you what will happen. She’ll end up in the system just like you did. No one wanted you, and no one will ever want her. She’ll bounce around just like you did, so you best choose your actions carefully.”

That sent anger through Andie. How did he know so much about her? She bit the man’s glove-covered hand hard, making him pull back, and he let out a growl.

He slammed his fist into her again. She gripped his other wrist and pushed it away from her just as he squeezed the trigger, sending a bullet through her bedroom window.

She screamed in fear and the pain in her ear from the loud shot and the sound of shattering glass. All she could hear now was ringing through her ears, but she wasn’t held down anymore.

She got up as the man took off from the room. She debated with herself before she went after him.

She staggered, trying to push the ringing and dizziness away, and managed to grab onto his black hoodie.

He spun and slammed the gun into her mouth. She stumbled backward but didn’t let go, pulling the man down to his knees.

“Let go of me, bitch, if you know what’s good for you,” he yelled as he tried to shake her off of him.

ELI

Carl and Dean dove to the ground at the sound of the shot, but Eli knew the glass-shattering sound and gunshot came from Andie’s house.

He hauled Carl and Dean up, shoving them out of the bakery, and all three of them rushed to the little gray house.

He burst through the front door, and his heart dropped along with his stomach when he saw Andie struggling with the man in the hallway.

He heard Carl yell something, but all he could focus on was Andie and the man with the gun pointed at her head.

That didn’t stop Andie from slamming her fist up into the man’s nose.

Carl yelled something again, and the man bolted up, taking Andie with him. He pulled her body in front of him as a shield for himself.

Eli’s stomach knotted as the masked man shoved the gun against Andie’s temple. Eli moved closer but froze when he dug the gun harder into Andie.

“One wrong move, lover boy, and she gets it. It would be okay with me. She ruined everything for me, so even just killing her will be satisfying,” the man hissed as he backed toward the kitchen.

“If you want me to start leaving your girl alone, I want two million. Then I’ll be out of everyone’s hair and won’t harm her or the two babies.”

Eli was flabbergasted. He wasn’t worth even half of the two million this asshole was demanding. “But, I don’t…”

He felt Carl tug on his arm, which made him look back at him and take in the shake of his head. Eli shut his mouth. He turned back to Andie, and his eyes locked with her wide, fear-stricken eyes.

The man continued to back toward the kitchen. Apparently, he got the layout of the house before the attack, but then again, it wouldn’t have taken much with the small house.

This angered Eli so much, along with seeing the blood trickle down from her head and the corner of her plump little mouth that just fifteen minutes before, he had had under his own.

He slowly followed them until the man was pressed back against the glass door out to the patio. The man told Andie to open it.

Eli watched as she moved her hand slowly back and managed to push the door open with one push.

The man glared at him. “Remember what I told you. The money or I hurt your precious treasures.” The man pushed Andie toward him.

Eli quickly caught her, but then he noticed the gun aimed at them. He dove sideways, pulling Andie with him as three shots rang out through the tiny kitchen, splintering the above cabinets.

He looked for Carl and Dean. They had dived out the doorway to the hallway. Eli heard the patio door slam shut, and it was only him and Andie in the kitchen.

Eli heard Dean rattle something off as they rushed out the patio door. His main focus was Andie. He had managed to cover her body with his own, but he wasn’t crushing her.

He leaned back onto his knees and helped her sit up. He pulled her against his body, her legs between his spread knees since his thighs were on either side of hers.

“Baby, are you okay?” He looked down at her. “Who the hell am I kidding? Of course you’re not.”

He shook his head as he closely looked her over. More bruises, a gash against the side of her head near her hairline, and a gash along the side of her mouth. “Come on. We’re getting you home.”

“I didn’t get anything of mine,” she whispered and winced at the movement of her mouth.

He stood, gently pulling her up with him. “Do you have everything for Lucy and Lil?”

She nodded her head gingerly.

“Okay, we’ll figure out something else for you. I’m getting you out of here now.” He scooped her up into his arms.

As he headed to the front door, he adjusted Andie, making her wrap her arms around his neck to free his other hand so he could grab the high chair.

After making sure the coast was clear, he dragged it out behind him and hurried to his truck. He put Andie in the truck first and closed her door.

He placed the clothes, formula, baby food, and toys in the backseat, then loaded the chair into the bed.

He almost ran to the driver’s side and got in, swinging the truck back out of the driveway, tires squealing against the blacktop.

He knew he should probably take her to the hospital, but he wanted to get her somewhere safer. He headed back to the ranch, calling the hands to make arrangements for keeping watch all night.

He had no clue who this asshat was, but he wasn’t getting close to Andie or their babies.

He glanced over at Andie at the thought of their babies. It didn’t upset him and didn’t scare him. It made him so happy at the thought.

And he’d do whatever it took to keep them safe.

ANDIE

Andie let out a muffled groan, and her body rocked a little as Eli drove in the direction of the ranch.

She ached quite a bit and couldn’t believe she’d fought off the man. She stared out the windshield, shocked, and her teeth began to chatter a little, and her body shivered.

“Hang on, baby. We’re almost home,” he said with reassurance as he placed his hand on her jean-covered thigh.

She sighed but didn’t respond. She kept running the raspy, snaky voice through her mind, trying to place it, but it just wasn’t clicking. She let out a huff as she leaned her head back against the headrest.

“Hey, you okay?” Eli questioned, probing gently instead of with full force.

“Yeah, I’m fine, really. I’m just at a loss. I don’t know who’s trying to do this.”

“Well, hopefully, Carl and Dean can get him. If not, we will figure it out together. I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere, got it?”

“You don’t have to be, though,” she whispered.

“I want to be, Andie. You’re not alone anymore. After what just happened, I figured you’d understand you need someone on your side.”

She turned her gaze on him, sending her head spinning. “And what happens to the girls if we’re both hurt by this guy or taken out like he threatened?” She gritted her teeth.

“Lily has grandparents. Candice was the godmother of Lucy, so I have no one to take care of her if something happens to me, except for you, and for that to happen, I can’t have you getting hurt or worse!”

Tears slowly filled her eyes, but she tamped them down before they spilled over.

They pulled up outside of the house, and Eli put the gear shift into park and turned toward Andie.

“And I don’t want you or the girls hurt either. Why on earth would you even think I’d be okay with you getting hurt?” Eli demanded sternly as he pulled her into him.

She sighed. Would she ever be okay with the sternness that seemed to take over him instantly?

She slowly pulled back when he went to cup her face in his hands. She pushed open the door of the truck and got out.

Was she ever going to keep in line with Eli, or would she always feel like she was getting herself in more trouble with him, even if it was just him showing he cared about her?

Her bottom was always going to be feeling the heat after having a talk with Eli if they pursued anything, and she did indeed give in to how stern he could be and what the consequences would always be with him.

She looked at herself in the glass window of the door and sighed. Then she headed inside and went into the bathroom, pushing the dizzy feeling away.

She more than likely had a concussion, but she needed to get cleaned up. She heard the giggles of the girls coming from the living room.

She turned a little, almost ready to go to them, but knew she had to get cleaned up first. She just stared at herself in the bathroom mirror.

She had a circular bruise beneath her chin, a few more on her cheek, and the ones on her neck were fading a tiny bit.

Blood covered one side of her face, from her forehead down her chin to her neck. It trickled from the side of her mouth. She placed her hands on the vanity top and looked down.

Why couldn’t she place that voice?

ELI

Eli watched Andie walk into the house. He got out of the truck, retrieved the high chair and the other items Andie had bagged up, and carried them inside.

He gave the girls their toys and kissed them as Belle stood from the couch. “What happened, Eli?”

“She was attacked at the house. Carl and Dean were in the bakery. I didn’t get much out of them before we heard the shot from her bedroom. She fought him off, though. They went after him.”

Belle laid her hand on his chest. “Eli, she’s going to get you and the girls killed.”

He raised an eyebrow at her. “What? Do you know something?” he demanded.

“No, no, of course not. It’s just obvious this person is really gunning for her, and you keep getting in the way.”

“Yeah, that’s what you do for family,” he answered shortly.

“But, what about the girls? Aren’t they more important?”

“Everyone is important in this, including Andie. She’s the mother of those girls.”

“Oh, come on. We both know she doesn’t have a claim to Lily at all.”

“Well, obviously, Candice and Caleb thought she did, and I have to accept that.”

“But…”

“No, it’s done.” He frowned at Belle. “I’m taking care of all of them, no matter the cost.”

Belle backed away from him a little.

“Okay, fine, but I’m just saying, she’s not been a good thing that’s come to this town. I will watch the girls because they are so precious if you want, but I do not respect her at all.”

“I’ve never asked for respect from anyone in this stupid one-horse town,” the soft voice came from the entrance into the living room.

“I never asked for Candice to give me custody of Lily.

“I don’t know why she gave it to me or why Caleb agreed, but I will uphold their wishes, and if that means leaving, since no one wants me here, then that is exactly what I’ll do.

“I don’t care anymore. I’ve never had family before except for Candice. Do you really think it would bother me to take care of those girls by myself?

“It’s what I’ve been preaching to Eli since the day I was granted custody, or if he really wants Lily, then fine, he can have her, and I will walk away.”

She glared at both of them, then stormed into the living room, picked Lucy up, and began to leave the room.

Eli stood there dumbfounded. What had he said wrong? He wanted to protect all of them, not just Lily.

He turned to Belle. “I think it’s best if you go for now. I’ll let you know what’s going on.” He picked Lily up and headed after Andie and Lucy.

ANDIE

Andie rushed to the nursery and began to get some of Lucy’s things but placed her in the crib so she could get everything she needed. She was so angry. He was doing this because of feeling like she was family.

You didn’t sleep with family, and he had most definitely done that the night before. She began to shove things into the diaper bag.

She turned to grab more things but jerked back when she saw Eli standing there with Lily. She glared at him and went to pack more things.

He placed Lily in the crib with Lucy. “What are you doing, Andie?”

“Leaving, like everyone wants. I’ll just start over somewhere else, away from you and Lily. That’ll keep you guys safe.”

“And what about you and Lucy?”

“I’ll keep us safe.”

“Andie…”

“No, I’ll go.”

She let out a shriek when he turned her around and pulled her to him. “You’re not leaving.”

“You can’t tell me what to do, and you’re not going to.” She tried to push him away from her. “You got what you wanted last night. I will just be on my way now.”

“Oh, and what did I get?”

“Laid, and it will not happen again.”

“Andie, stop it. That’s not all I wanted.”

“Then what all do you want, Eli?” she demanded as she glared up at him.

He pulled her up into his arms, held onto her, and pressed his lips to hers. “I want everything.” He plundered her lips slowly and gently.

“Everything?” she mumbled, and she looked up at him as he pulled back.

“Everything, Andie.” He bent his head and kissed her again, making her toes curl. She felt him skim his hands down her back and cup her ass, wrapping her legs around his hips.

“Do you think the girls will be okay for a little bit? The alarm is set, and Levi is still posted outside. We need to get you cleaned up.”

Andie glanced over to the girls as they played in the crib. “I guess they’ll be okay,” she whispered.

He headed out of the room, shutting the door a little. He went to the room they had slept in the night before, grabbed the monitor, and then carried her across the hall to the bathroom.

He sat her down on the white vanity top, crouched down, and began to rummage under the sink. She watched him carefully as he pulled out a first-aid kit. He stood up, spread her legs apart, and stood between them.

Her breath hitched a little as he moved closer than necessary. He pulled out an alcohol swab and began to clean her open gashes.

She hissed in a sharp breath and grabbed his wrist. “That hurt,” she mumbled.

“I know, baby, but it needs doing, okay?”

She shook her head, refusing. He placed the pad on the counter and shook his own head. His hand came up to her cheek gently, but she pulled away from him.

“Babe, I’m sorry I let my temper snap in the truck, and I’m sorry about Belle and everything else.

“I never knew how many people made you feel like an outcast, and I was one of those once, but I wasn’t intentionally doing it.

“I made everyone feel that way, even my own brother, while we were trying to get this place up and running.”

She let him touch her cheek this time. His fingers gently trailed the bruises and the gashes along her head and mouth. He tilted her head up a little and saw the bruise beneath her chin.

He moved closer and pressed his lips to it, making her breath hitch all over again. This man was maddening.

He kissed his way down to the bruises on her neck, then back up to the ones on her cheeks. Then he brushed her lips with his.

Her hands moved to his chest and glided up around his neck, digging her fingers into the back of his hair.

His hands landed on her hips, and he pulled her against him as she let out a moan. He pulled back from her, and their eyes locked. “Now, are you going to let me get you cleaned up?”

She nodded, and he grabbed the alcohol pad and began to pat the gashes gently.

She hissed but didn’t pull back again. She looked up at him from under her lashes once he was finished. “What did you mean by ‘everything’?” she whispered.

He nuzzled his nose against hers gently, then began to strip her shirt off. “It’s just how it sounded. I want everything. You, Lily, Lucy, and to keep you guys safe and cared for.

“I don’t want you to leave. I want you to stay here so we can be a family, a real family.”

“You don’t sleep with family,” she whispered, still not fully meeting his gaze.

He put a finger under her chin and tilted her head up. “You do if you’re together, and I want that.”

Her eyes widened at the shock. She felt her breath leave her lungs as she searched his eyes. The pounding of her heart entered her ears. Could he be serious?

“You can’t be serious,” she whispered.

“And why not?”

“You don’t want an already made family. You’ll eventually want your own kids.”

“I want you, Lily, and Lucy. If you and I want more kids, then we can adopt.

“There are so many kids we could save to keep them from living the life you lived, or we can figure out a way for us to have one of our own. We’ll figure it out.”

“Are you sure this isn’t just because of the scare we had today?”

“I’m sure, not going to lie, my heart shattered when I knew there was nothing I could do, but why do you think that is?”

“Because then you’d be raising a little girl by yourself?” she offered.

“No, because I don’t want to lose you, ever.” His mouth clamped down on hers again, and she reacted right away. She felt the warmth spread over her instantly as she clutched at his shoulders.

She moved her hands to his buttoned-down, dark-blue shirt and began to pluck them open.

She grazed her hands over his taut chest and farther down across his six-pack and popped open the button on his light-blue jeans.

She felt his mouth move from hers and attack her neck again, and she arched up to him. His hands moved up her back, rubbing gently, sending goosebumps along her skin.

She shivered and moaned as his hands moved around to the front of her and cupped her breasts gently, grazing her already hard peaks with his thumbs.

She loved the feel of his rough skin against her soft flesh.

He pulled her down off the counter, undid her jeans, and stripped her of them.

He picked her back up, wrapping her legs around him, and she felt his already bulging shaft press against her from behind his zipper.

She reached between them and cupped him through his jeans, making him hiss this time.

“I need you to know I am being serious, Andie. I want everything, including your obedience. I will be the head of our household. You’ll have a voice, but my word is final.

“Misbehavior will be followed by discipline, but obedience will be followed by reward. You’ll want for nothing. You and our children will want for nothing. You will be treated as the treasure you are.”

“I believe you,” she mumbled and pressed her lips against his. She moaned from the pleasure of their lips nibbling each other’s.

“Eli, please,” she whispered against his lips. She rubbed against him, making him groan.

He pulled her harder against his arousal as he turned and pressed her up against the wall. “Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure. I want this. I’m sure. I believe you. Please, Eli, I want you. I want it all,” she gasped out as she dug her hands into his hair again.

He caught her hands and also pressed them up against the wall. Then he shoved his pants down.

She bit her lip and leaned her head back against the wall, closing her eyes. He was making everything disappear. He seemed to be doing that a lot lately. Taking everything away that was bad.

She felt his member brush against her burning center, and then he entered her waiting opening. She arched her back as he plunged into her, making her scream in pleasure.

He leaned down and caught her quivering rose-tipped nipples, swirling his tongue around each in turn.

His other hand sneaked between them, and he began to twirl two fingers around her sensitive button, making her climb even higher up the mountain of pleasure.

Everything was rapidly coming undone around her as her breath became more ragged when he moved back to her neck.

She screamed even more at the blinding, pulsing moment of release coming so close. She tried to pull her hands from the one holding hers above her head as she jerked into his fingers, increasing the pressure.

She felt the clench deep inside her and convulsed into a chain of spasms, crying out his name.

His cry of her name followed as he was brought with her into his own spasms, spilling into her as he let out a harsh breath of satisfaction.

He leaned his forehead against hers as they quivered against each other, their breath quick and shallow. He slowly pulled back from her but didn’t put her down or pull her off him.

His eyes were so dark with desire as if the last two times hadn’t been enough. And she knew exactly how he felt.

He pressed a kiss to her forehead, still holding her hands. “So, are we doing this together?” he whispered.

She stared at him for a minute. Could she let him in the way she had dreamed of ever since Candice had started this ridiculous quest to get her and him together?

She would have to let go of so much, but she thought it would be a good thing for them. She slowly nodded, and he kissed her again.

She kissed him back, but she knew if it came down to him or her, she would sacrifice herself over him. And it may just come down to that if the cops didn’t figure out who was doing this to her.

Eli set her down on the floor, started the shower, and they got in to clean up.

As soon as they finished and got out, Eli ran downstairs to get her one of his shirts and a pair of gym shorts, which she put on as soon as he returned.

They got the girls and began to fix supper, which was just macaroni and cheese but was still delicious. They got the girls fed, bathed, and ready for bed.

With no questioning whatsoever from Eli, they went to the same room as the night before, and he held her.

She had to figure this out. The voice kept replaying in her mind like a nagging old biddy, but it wasn’t clicking.