Punk Rox Warrior (13 page)

caressing her skin with his mouth. “I love you, Rainne.” He couldn’t

stop the words or the emotion he felt welling up in his chest.

* * * *

“I love you, too.” Embarrassment flowed over her. Her first

thought was that he’d just said it in the heat of the moment. Rainne

was baffled at the easiness of the uttered phrase. She’d never felt like this before and was amazed that it didn’t scare her. She knew she

loved him, trusted him. She trusted him with everything she had. She

just didn’t trust him to stay with her. She figured she’d enjoy him

while she could and deal with the shattered pieces of herself when he

left. For tonight, she allowed herself to be happy.

Rainne felt James’s cock

slip from her grip. He rolled onto his side and pulled her close.

“Sleep, kitten. We’ll talk in the morning.”

“Hmm.” Rainne yawned into his chest as she closed her eyes and

drifted. All she could hear was the sound of his heartbeat lulling her

to sleep like the sweetest lullaby she’d ever heard.

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Chapter 12

The silence of the morning was shattered by the slamming of the

bedroom door and a bloodcurdling screech. “Rainne!”

Spiking up in bed and scrambling to cover herself, Rainne

observed her mother standing at the foot of the bed, arms crossed

across her chest, tapping her foot.

“I knew it!” she screamed. “You little whore! Get dressed. You’re

coming with me!”

“Mom.” Rainne couldn’t find her voice in the waves of

humiliation she felt engulfed in.

Carol pointed her finger angrily at Rainne. “You shut up!”

Carol turned on James and continued her irate barrage. “You!

You’re fired! Get out!” She shook her finger at him.

Rainne and James clamored out of bed, struggling to get their

boxer shorts on.

“You can’t come in here and order people around. This isn’t your

warehouse!” she shot back angrily.

Carol stepped forward and slapped her across the face. “Get

dressed,” she hissed through clenched teeth. “After what this piece of

shit did to Phillip last night and now?” Waving her arms wildly, her

voice raised a few octaves.

James stormed forward.

Rainne could see the murder in his eyes. Jumping between the two

of them and throwing her hands up in the air, she cried, “Don’t! You

can’t talk to her when she’s like this.”

James stomped out of the room.

Rainne watched as James slammed the bedroom door behind him.

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She swore she could hear her heart shatter in her chest. She fought a

losing battle with the tears that streamed down her cheeks.

“Stop your crying!” Carol snapped. “Get some clothes on, and

let’s go. Phillip’s waiting on us.”

“I don’t love him, Mother.” Rainne whispered.

“Who cares about love, Rainne? The McCrays are the best-bred

family on this side of the country. You will marry him!” she

bellowed.

“No, I won’t!” Rainne screamed at her. “You can’t make me! I

hate him! I love James!”

Carol froze. “You think you love him?” she questioned

sarcastically, arching an eyebrow. “Stupid girl.” She laughed.

“Besides, what makes you think he could ever love you? Did he tell

you that?” she asked mockingly. “Men will say anything to get into a

woman’s pants. Get dressed. I don’t have time for your little girl crap

right now.” She scoffed. “Besides, this is what your father would have

wanted.”

“Daddy would’ve wanted me to marry someone I love,” Rainne

informed her coldly through her tears. This could not be happening.

Carol stepped forward to grip her chin firmly. “You listen and

listen well, little girl. Your father wanted this marriage to happen,”

she informed her coldly. “He had planned on it since you were a

child. The McCrays have already given their blessings, and it
is

happening. Now get your things.” Releasing her face, she turned on

her heel and exited the room.

Rainne was crushed. Her heart screamed for her not to listen. Her

brain and her lack of self-esteem, on the other hand, told her she was

right. Rainne was embarrassed she’d told him she loved him last

night. She had thought later he would have taken it back when he left,

or pulled out the love-you-like-a-friend speech. It was the truth,

though, and she couldn’t lie to herself. James was leaving. He’d been

fired, and he had no reason to stay now.

Her brain swam with doubt as she picked up her clothes and

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headed towards the bathroom. She couldn’t go with her mother. She

would be married to Phillip by sundown for sure. She couldn’t be

with James. Surely he didn’t want her and all her baggage.

Tying her shoe, Rainne sighed heavily. Wiping the tears from her

cheeks, she knew she had to go. She never liked to run, but what other

choice did she have? She needed time to figure this mess out.

Opening the bathroom door, she crept to the doors that led to the

back alley. Letting it click quietly behind her, she set off running

down the street.

Peeking around the corner, she spied her mother’s limo in the

parking lot. She and Phillip were standing next to it talking.

Rainne turned swiftly and headed in the opposite direction.

Rushing through the alley to the other street, she turned the corner,

coming face to face with her stalker. Twisting around to run back the

way she came, she felt a hand in her hair. Crying out, she was jerked

backward, falling against his chest. Releasing her locks, he grabbed

her around the waist and placed a cloth over her mouth.

She tried to scream...

* * * *

James stormed out of the bedroom just as the guys were

scrambling out of theirs, guns drawn. He had to get as much distance

between him and that ice bitch, Carol. He would be goddamned if he

could stand around and let someone, anyone, hit his woman. James

held his hands up for them to halt and said, “Rainne’s mom is here.

We’ve been fired.”

“Shit!” Alton hissed. “What are you going to do?”

“Well, I’m not leaving,” James said with a tone of sarcasm. “I’ll

try to talk to her. She wants Rainne to go with her. Now.” James

grimaced at the thought. He couldn’t bear to let her go, not now. “I

don’t expect any of you to stay.” Looking at his team, he waited for

their decision. They were all friends, but he would never expect them

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to fight his personal wars.

“Well,” Sam stepped forward, “I think I speak for all of us when I

say that you’ve walked through hell for each of us at one time or

another. We’re staying.” Looking around the crowd, they all nodded

in agreement.

“Thanks, guys.” Walking to his duffel bag, James pulled on a pair

of jeans and a T-shirt. He heard the bedroom door open and saw Carol

step out into the room. She scoffed at him and went to the parking lot.

James rushed after her. “Mrs. Stanton, I don’t blame you for firing

us, but I implore you, don’t take Rainne to Phillip. She doesn’t want

to go,” he pleaded.

Turning on her heel, she glared at him. “Mr. Decker, my daughter

doesn’t know what she wants. She is no longer your responsibility.

You’ve had your fun with her. Now go.” Turning away from him, she

went to step into the limo.

“I love her. I won’t let her go,” he proclaimed.

She froze in place. Pivoting to see him, she laughed. “You think

I’ll let my family be embarrassed by letting my only daughter marry

the help?” Her eyebrows lowered into a frown as she insulted him.

“With all due respect, Mrs. Stanton.” James’s tone turned

authoritative. He squared his shoulders and glared down at her. “I’m

not now, nor would I
ever
ask for your opinion. It’s up to Rainne.”

James walked back into the warehouse and closed the door behind

him.

Rushing to the bedroom door, he flung it open, calling her name.

Pausing inside, he didn’t see her. He knocked on the bathroom door.

“Rainne, please don’t go with her. I love you. The team’s not going

anywhere, and neither am I.” He was met by silence. Fear slammed

into him as he opened the door and saw nothing. “Shit!”

Storming out of the room, he strapped his gun holster on. “She

ran!”

The team jumped into action and headed out into the parking lot,

to the bus. James stomped to the limo, where Carol and Phillip were

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standing.

“What did you say to her?” he yelled with a murderous glare on

his face.

Carol and Phillip turned to look at him. “Well.” Carol scoffed at

him, dismissively. “That’s none of your business, Mr. Decker. You

and your team should be more worried about packing up and leaving

before the sheriff forcibly removes you.”

James forced back his smile as the guys behind him started

laughing. That thought was funny, the sheriff hauling them away.

“She left,” he hissed, glaring back and forth between Carol and

Phillip. He was debating who he wanted to kill more.

Carol’s face morphed into shock, and she paled. “She what? How

could she have left?” The frown that shaped her lips made her look

like an old hag. “Why weren’t you watching her?” she shrieked.

James threw her a sarcastic smile. “Well, we would have been

watching her, but we were fired.” With that one statement, he turned

on his heel and jumped on the bus, followed by his team.
Dammit, I

knew she’d run. I should have stopped her. I shouldn’t have left her
alone with Carol.
James
mentally beat himself up for not stopping her. He knew she was emotionally fragile. He had seen the destruction

Carol had done to her, yet he had left her alone with that viper. He

had to find her, he had to. When he did he would never let her go

again.

Alton turned on the laptop. “I’ve got a signal on her. She’s about

ten miles north of here and moving fast,” he informed them.

Riley jumped into the driver’s seat and peeled out of the parking

lot.

Sitting shotgun, James could see Carol and Phillip race into the

warehouse. “Hey, Ash, pull up the audio and video on the warehouse

for me.” James moved to the main compartment of the vehicle to

watch the monitors. He just couldn’t resist hearing what they had to

say.

“That girl, I swear! We need to get her back! If she dies or

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disappears, our plan is moot!” Carol breathed exasperatedly. “I knew

something like this would happen. Jason was a fool for leaving the

company to Rainne. If something happens to her before we get

control of her shares, the company reverts to the board and we go to

jail for fraud. I will not forsake everything I’ve worked for!” she

shrieked.

“That’s not going to happen. I’ve informed the sheriff’s

department, and they’re on the lookout. Don’t worry, Carol, as soon

as we get her back, I’ll marry her and take control of her shares. We’ll split them. I’ll divorce her, and we can have everything we’ve ever

dreamed of, baby.” Phillip pulled Carol close and captured her mouth

in a kiss.

“Oh!” The team howled in unison.

“That is the most messed up thing I’ve ever witnessed,” James

said in disbelief. “Why play Rainne? She doesn’t want that company.

I’m sure she’d sign it over if they asked.” Running his hands over his

face, he was a mix of disgust and disbelief.

“I don’t know. Those two have no morals, that I’ve seen anyway,”

Ash said.

“The signal stopped. ETA is thirty minutes,” Sam informed the

crew.

James paused to take a deep breath. Keeping his composure was

crucial. She was hurting. He had to keep his head to help her. It was

imperative that he stamp down his anger. This would be the last time

she’d run from him. He’d make sure of that.

Closing in on the signal, Riley pulled the bus over. The crew filed

out of the vehicle and moved slowly up the practically deserted street.

Looking at his handheld receiver, Alton looked perplexed. “She

should be within twenty feet of us.”

The guys stopped and looked around. They were in front of an

empty lot. James spotted something lying on the ground about ten feet

into the lot.

“There,” he said pointing to the object. The team ran up to the

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spot and James bent down. “It’s her purse.” Looking inside it, James’s

heart sank. It was full. Nothing was missing. “He snatched her.”

“Does she still have the phone?” Alton asked, confused.

“It’s the only thing missing. She either left it in the warehouse, or

it’s turned off.” James was racking his brain for their next move. She

could be anywhere. Just then his phone buzzed at his hip. Taking it

from the clip, he glanced down at the number. “It’s her.”

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Chapter 13

Rainne slowly opened her eyes. It was hard to see with the

blurriness and blinding headache. Shaking her head quickly, her eyes