Swinging an arm around her shoulder, I pulled her to my chest and kissed her head. “How’re you, Sia?”
Squeezing her arms around my waist, she replied, “I’m good. Bonnie delivered a foal last night, so running low on sleep.”
Pulling back, Sia went to speak but stopped and frowned at something over my shoulder. “Erm… Ky?” Sia pointed behind me and raised a questioning brow.
Turning, I saw Lilah was illuminated in the cab light, her face blank but her eyes huge as she watched me with Sia. She was probably terrified that I’d brought in another strange woman.
I waved my hand, signaling for Lilah to come over, but her face dropped and she didn’t move. I could see the fear written all over her face. Sighing, I turned to Sia, who was watching me real fucking weird, and I walked over to Lilah, leaning in the door.
“Lilah, baby, come out. I got someone I want you to meet.”
“Is that your wife?” Lilah asked me nervously. “Or another of your women?”
I almost balked at that but instead, burst out laughing. “No, sweet cheeks, she ain’t my fuckin’ wife. Now come on,” I threw her a wink, “get your blond ass outta the truck.”
Taking my hand, Lilah nervously edged out and I had to drag her over to Sia, whose gaze was glued to our joined hands.
As we stepped onto the porch, I put my hands on Lilah’s shoulders, feeling her stiffen. Bending down to place my mouth at her ear, I said, “Lilah, meet my baby sister, Elysia.”
Lilah sucked in a breath and said, “Sister?” She looked back at me in confusion. “You never mentioned you had a sister.”
“Not many people know. Now you do,” I replied.
Stepping forward, Elysia held out her hand. “Nice to meet you, Lilah.”
Lilah stared at Sia’s outstretched hand and timidly raised her hand, placing it in Sia’s, obviously unaware of what to do.
Sia smiled and shook it lightly, risking a confused glance to me.
I shook my head, telling her not to go there right now.
“Nice to meet you too,” Lilah said quietly, taking back her hand and staring at her palm like Sia had burned it.
“Why don’t we all go inside?” Sia said and headed for the door.
“You go with Sia. I gotta get the bags,” I ordered and, nervously, Lilah joined Sia to walk into the cabin.
I hadn’t told Sia about Lilah, had no idea how to tell her anyway.
I got the bags and walked through the door, seeing Lilah sitting by the open fire, fiddling with her hands. She smiled in relief when I walked in. I drank in the sight of her and sighed. The bruises on her face were really starting to show.
Placing the bags down, I walked to Lilah and squatted to inspect her face, my finger running down her cheek. “How you doing?”
“I am tired, but I am okay,” Lilah said, nuzzling into my hand. My fucking lungs constricted as she did.
Lifting my other hand, I ran my thumb down her cheek, her big blues fixed on mine, her lips parting slightly with my touch.
A cough sounded beside me, and Lilah jumped back, breaking the touch. Sia was watching us with an uncertain expression on her face. She asked, “Would you like a hot cocoa, Lilah?”
Lilah frowned and looked to me. “I do not know what that is. Ky, shall I try?”
“How about you stay here by the fire and my big brother can help me fix the drinks?” Sia suggested, enthusiastically.
Lilah nodded and settled back on the loveseat, her gaze going straight to the fire.
Sia grabbed my arm and pulled me into the kitchen, whipping around to face me. “What the fuck’s going on, Ky?” she whispered angrily. “‘Cause I suddenly get word you’re coming for a few days, and you turn up with some chick looking like she belongs in a horse and buggy in Pennsylvania, asking permission to drink and not knowing what motherfuckin’ cocoa is!”
Her brown eyes widened and her hand went to her mouth, the blood draining from her face. “Oh no, she’s not being trafficked or something of that sort, is she? Is that why she’s here?”
I groaned. “Why the fuck does everyone keep asking me that!”
Wrapping my fingers around Sia’s wrist, I moved her hand from her mouth and said, “It’s club business, Sia. You know the code. But she ain’t no trafficking bitch.” I checked behind me to make sure Lilah wasn’t close and leaned in to say, “We rescued her from some end of days sex cult ‘bout two months ago and she’s not been real good at adjusting to life outside.”
Sia’s eyes went abnormally wide. “Shit! And the bruises on her face?”