“Don’t worry about me.”

“I can help relieve it,” I said, stunned he really didn’t want me to help him.

“I know, but not now. Let me hold you.”

“Is this part of the me not being a toy thing?”

“Yep. Lay down.”

Lying back down, I listened as his heartbeat slowed, but his cock was still hard as steel. I didn’t attempt to help him. I rather enjoyed where I was.

A loud banging came from the door. As I sat up, still straddling Deke, the door flew open.

“Savannah Marie!” My Grams’s voice flowed through the room. I immediately jumped off the bed, righting my clothes on my body. Being caught at twenty-two was just about as bad as being caught at seventeen.

“Grams, what are you doing here?” I screeched.

Glancing over at Deke, I wanted to wipe the smile off his face. I didn’t know what the hell he found so damn amusing. Deke lay on my bed, shirt off, legs spread out, but crossed at the ankle. Yes, I was a grown-ass woman, but this was still Grams!

“I had to hear at the store from Grace what happened to you?” The disappointment and anger in Grams’s voice was enough to send me to my knees. I never wanted that.

“I’m sorry, Grams. I’ve been dealing with some stuff,” I said, ashamed.

“I know, but you should have called.”

“Yes, ma’am.” I hung my head.

“Son, can you give us a few minutes?” Grams pinned Deke with her stare.

“Absolutely, ma’am,” he said, climbing off the bed, wrapping his arms around my body and kissing my temple. “I’ll be in the living room,” he whispered in my ear.

Nodding, he turned to walk out the door. My eyes focused on his sculpted back, but noticed another tattoo that I hadn’t seen before. It looked like a puzzle piece that had been carved out of his body exposing muscle underneath, a small drop of blood hanging off the end. I needed to make sure to ask him about it.

14

Vann

“Grams, I’m sorry.” I rushed into her open arms, and she hugged me tightly.

“Why didn’t you tell me this was going on, baby girl?” Grams’s hand rubbed up and down my back rhythmically.

“I didn’t want to worry you,” I whispered.

“Nonsense. We both know your momma ain’t gonna help ya. You need to come to me.” Grams pulled away and stared at me. It was like I was five years old all over again.

“I’m sorry.” Tears I thought were dried up sprung out of my eyes and fell down my cheeks.

“Now. Now. Let’s sit.” Grams led me over to the bed, pulling the comforter up over the sheets. “I don’t want to sit in that.”

“Grams!” I yelled and couldn’t help the small laugh that escaped.

“Truth. Anyway talk.” Grams was always no nonsense, which was why I loved her so much. I let everything spill out of me as if it were something bad I ate, telling her every last detail, barely taking breaths as I went.

Grams wrapped her hands around mine and squeezed tight. “Okay. So what’s next?”

“I don’t know.” I didn’t know anything at the moment. Everything was happening so fast that it was all jumbled. I had a hard time putting words to any of it.

“No clue who this guy is?”

“No. Just fake names. Nothing real.” The tears began falling harder. I never thought having this career would lead to someone actually wanting to hurt me. The few ‘gifts’ were nothing harmful, but having someone actually want to rape me was hard to take.

“Deke gonna stay with you?” Grams asked as if she already knew the answer to the question.

My eyes shot to hers in surprise. “He wants me to stay with him. We haven’t really talked about it any further.”

“It’s good. You go with him. He’ll take care of you.”

“You’re not freaked out to see me with him?” I knew I talked a lot about Deke over the years, but to actually be with him now when I just got home was a little quick to the punch.

“Come on, baby girl. You’ve loved that boy for years. It’s about time he opens his eyes and sees you for the prize you are.”

Grams’s gleam in her eye made me blush. “Thanks Grams.”

“Truth. That’s all I speak. What’s this I hear about your daddy?”

I dropped my face, not wanting her to read my thoughts. “You heard that, too? Damn small town,” I grumbled.

“Yeah I did. Talk.” Grams slapped the back of my hand so I looked up at her.

Rolling my eyes, I told Grams all about the meeting with dad and meeting Sydney. “Grams, I just don’t know if I can let it go. I mean … I’ve been so mad at him for so long, and when I saw him … nothing came out. None of the anger … nothing.”

“That was probably because Sydney was there, baby girl. You were taught not to show that in front of the little ones. It’s not right.” Grams taught me that, Mom never did, another thing to be grateful for. “Baby girl, you don’t know the circumstances before your daddy ran around. Was it wrong? Yes. But you’re older now, so you gotta let him say his piece and hear him out.”

The whirlwind of emotions swimming through my head was sucking every bit of energy out of me. Suddenly I felt very tired.

“I can see you’re gonna fall asleep on me. I’ll talk to Keith if Zander hasn’t already. You need to get safe, but I need to know where you are no matter what.” Grams wrapped me back in her arms.

My spine stiffened a bit. I blurted, “I’m gonna stay here, Grams. I’m not gonna let some asshole throw me out of my own house.”

“Then you figure out what you need to do—blinds, security, and alarms,” Grams said without the disdain I thought she would have.

I hugged her harder. “I will. Thanks Grams.”

“I love you, baby girl.”

“Love you, too.”

Leaving the bedroom, we headed into the living room where Deke was sprawled out on the couch flipping through channels. Grams made no qualms about marching right up to him. “Son.” Her tone was strong and determined.

Deke turned off the TV and stood in front of Grams. “Yes, ma’am,” he said. Deke towered over her, causing Grams to look up a bit, but she was not intimidated in the least by his size.

Grams’s finger came out as she began waving it at Deke. “You take care of her, you hear me?”

Deke graced us with his beautiful smile. “Yes, ma’am.”

“And I don’t just mean in the bedroom.”

“Grams!” I gasped, not believing that just came out of her mouth.

Deke chuckled, tucking his hands into his pockets. “I’ll do my best. In and out.”

Was I hearing this conversation right? Grams was actually talking to Deke about sex … and Deke was going along with it? God help me.

“Uh huh. You stay with her … here. She doesn’t want to leave, so get a bag together and get over here,” Grams demanded. I stood there, speechless. Didn’t I just tell her that I would talk to Deke about that?

“Yes, ma’am.” Deke turned to me and winked. I opened my mouth to talk, but instantly shut it not knowing what to say.

Grams’s finger continued to wag, “Also, she’s gotta go see her Daddy tomorrow. You’ll make sure she safely gets there and back. Got it?”

Deke shuffled his feet, a smile playing on his lips. “Yes, ma’am.”

“Grams, I’m not a kid,” I groaned.

Grams turned to me, looking me straight in the eye. “You will take care of yourself. And you will let him help you.”

Looking into her beautiful blue eyes, I remembered how much I truly missed this woman. “Yes, ma’am.”

Grams began to step closer to Deke, and I couldn’t blame her, with no shirt on he looked hot with his muscles flexing, but it struck me a bit odd for Grams to be staring. “Son, come here,” Grams said.

Deke did without question, dwarfing her. Grams reached to the key around his neck, and Deke’s face lit up almost as if he was surprised. “Where’d you get this?” Grams’s voice shook as she asked. I didn’t know if it was with hurt or anger.

Deke looked slowly up at me as if looking for answers, but I had no idea where he got the thing. He looked down at Grams.