“She left me.”
“I know. I know.” He kissed her head again, and she just couldn’t handle it anymore. Covering her face, she turned away from the nightmare. For this once she was going to take the support and care that Russ was showing her, and embrace it.
****
Back at his place, all of his brothers stood in his main living room. Anna was in the kitchen, making up some food. Franny had left after the service. Russ had poured himself a strong whiskey and was standing beside his window overlooking the city, sipping at his drink. Anna couldn’t drink as she was still on pain medication, which he monitored. Her arm was healing up nicely, and still had the cast on, but she was able to use it.
“Wow,” Lewis said, speaking first.
Russ glanced toward the kitchen, but didn’t see any sign of Anna, so he nodded. “Tell me about it.” It was the hardest thing he’d ever experienced in his life, and he hated it. Holding Anna while she poured her heart out would stay with him forever.
“I didn’t even know the woman, and it was hard,” Richard said, clearing his throat.
Every one of his brothers nodded in agreement.
“What’s going on with you and her?” Jackson asked.
“None of your business.”
“It’s not like you to take in one of the women we’ve saved,” Sean said.
Russ glanced around the room, and saw all of his brothers staring back at him. They looked concerned.
“What is it?” he asked.
“We’re worried about you.” This time John spoke up.
Nine men stared at him, each of them dressed for the funeral they had just been to.
“You don’t have to worry about me. I know what I’m doing.”
“Do you really know?” Lewis asked.
“You can back off right now. Anna needs my help, and if I like having her around my apartment, then she’s going to stay.” He liked coming home to the scent of her cooking, and listening to her read at night. Russ shared his business with her, and told her what had happened during his work day. They had a good thing going. At night, they sat in front of his large television and watched movies together.
The only time he spent at the club was to help the brothers looking over the devices that had been given to them.
They had gotten a lot of information, and had also been able to match certain orders to women who had gone missing. The cops were on the search in all areas, abandoned warehouses, anything that could be used to store women before transport.
The loading docks were also heavily watched to see for any suspect activity. They were going to find these women, and make it work.
“She’s different for you,” Lewis said.
Gritting his teeth, Russ stared up at the ceiling.
“Tina’s feeling lonely,” Jamie said.
“Stop it. I don’t give a shit what she’s feeling. She’s free pussy, and anyone can have her. I’m fine, and I’m happy. Deal with it.”
“I’ve got some food ready. I put a large casserole in the oven before we left, and it’s perfect,” Anna said. She stood on her crutches, and they all walked past her toward the food. The smell was amazing, and when he saw all eleven plates made up, his mouth watered.
“Chicken enchiladas make for a great dish.” Anna lowered herself down onto a seat. “I want to thank you all for coming today. I know you didn’t know Karen, but she’d have thought it was a hoot you all being here.”
“Your friend was very beautiful,” Richard said.
“Yes, she was.”
In the past couple of weeks, Russ had come to see that Anna had low self-esteem. She didn’t think she was beautiful or in any way attractive. When he tried to get close to her, she pushed him into the friend category, and it annoyed him. He was struggling with his arousal, and she didn’t seem all that affected by him.
Once his friends finished their food, he saw them out, and told them he wouldn’t be by the clubhouse later. He had no intention of leaving Anna alone.
Anna was cleaning away the dishes when he made his way back into the kitchen.
“Sorry about them.”
She smiled. “It was nice to cook for a large crowd. Admittedly I had made these in the hope of them lasting for a couple of days in the fridge, but it felt good to cook for so many.”
“You’ve got another hospital appointment at the end of the week. I’ll take you.”
“The doctor believes my two casts could come off. It’ll be a lot easier, and I can go back to work. I’ll be happier when I can pay you back.”
He stepped close to her. “No. You’re not paying me back, and I don’t care what you say. Keep your money, and don’t insult me.”