Page 7 of Hero: Claimed

But I’m a twenty-two-year-old woman, perfectly capable of maneuvering through these unexpected waters and coming out only slightly worse for wear on the other side. That other side being Canada. I heard that the men don’t mind a thicker woman up in Canada. It gets colder much sooner, thus they like the warmth a thicker woman can provide.

Hell, I don’t care if I never have a man, if I live out my life with an old German Sheppard named Spunky and three cats I’ll call Thing A, Chocolate Thunda, andBen. At least my life will still be mine. Lived the way I choose to live it, not forced to do god-knows-what on a dirty, hairy, no-necked troglodyte.

First things first. I need a job.

“Brinley?” Hero knocks on the other side of the door. “Brin… open the door.”

Okay, amended first things first. I need a jobandto find a way to avoid the man who claimed me. It’s going to be hard if I have to live with him, but anything is possible when you put your mind to it. Right?

After about twenty minutes of ignoring him, the knocking stops only to start up again a minute later. “Hey, sweetie.” Hannah’s voice trickles softly through the door. “He’s gone, Brin. Open the door, please?”

She’s my sister and she saidplease.What choice do I have? I push up from the floor and turn to open the door.

Exactly like she used to do when we were kids, she holds her hand out to me, giving comfort with her touch. I gladly accept it and we walk over to the freshly made bed, where we sit on the edge and I wait for her to start speaking.

It doesn’t take long. “He’s really a good guy.”

“Don’t—just don’t go there. I’ll do everything I told him I’d do; you don’t need to worry.”

Hannah nods. “Why did you come all the way here?”

“I’ve been holding on to that stupid postcard for years, Han. Honestly, I didn’t know if you were even still here, if you’d turn me away, or if you’d let me crash with you. I was obviously hoping for the last—just until I saved up enough money.”

“Money for what?”

“I’m moving to Canada. It’s perfect. Dad’s craptastic friends won’t be able to touch me there. And you know… maybe I’ll find my mom. I think that’s where she left to. Think about it, she couldn’t do Mexico, not with the cartels. Canada is the only place that makes sense.”

“You’re mom? Brin, no. She—”

“Stop.” I talk over her. “I know she left us with that miserable, scummy man. But yours left, too. And I have reason to believe she made it up into Canada.”

My sister looks troubled as she pats my hand.

“It’s okay, sissy. I’ll make sure to call and tell you where I settle. Just like you did with that postcard. I promise.”Feeling vulnerable and horrifying myself, I hear these next words leaving my mouth without my control. “Why didn’t you take me with you?”

Hannah freezes. Not even swallowing. She just stares at me with a look of pure pain and fear and even betrayal, which I don’t understand. How have I betrayed her in this scenario?

“Hannah?” I prod.

Finally, she swallows and blinks to show signs of life and says, “I couldn’t. Dad called; they were coming for me. I had to get out right then and knew they wouldn’t want you. You’d be safe.”

Ouch. That dig cuts deep. My sister is the one person who doesn’t treat me like I look any different. Not now or even when we were kids, for that matter. My size has never been an issue with her. Guess I’ve been wrong about a lot of things in my life.

“Who’s they?” Better to ask more questions than to show her how much her words hurt.

“I’m not talking about it. Either that’s enough or it isn’t. Decide Brin.”

I can see it in her eyes, she’s shutting down, ready to bolt when there’s a quick rap on the door and it opens to her friend Blood. “Everything good here?” he asks. His timing seems uncanny and makes me wonder if he’s been listening this whole time. “Boss, Hero and I got some shit to take care of, we’re taking off in a few. Don’t know how long we’ll be gone.”

Hannah’s eyes dull. That’s the only reaction she gives to his news.I think she might feel a little more than friendship for the man and by the way he acts around my sister, it makes me wonder why she hasn’t gone there with him yet. Another conversation we’ll need to have but I won’t push it now. I shove up from my spot on the bed but lean in to kiss her cheek before looking back at Blood and slumping my shoulders a little with relief because Hero is going and we don’t know how long he’ll be gone. Works for me.

“I suppose he’ll need a bag packed?” I ask.

Blood looks to me. “Yeah.” He points to the closet. “His bag is in there.” Then he points to my sister. “Walk with me, Han?”

She stands from the bed and the two of them leave together. I get to work packing a bag for Hero. Jeans. Thermal Henleys because it’s cold. Socks. Underwear. Apparently, Hero favors the breathable boxer briefs. A fact I didn’t need to know about him. Another is that he’s really quite clean and organized.

From there, I hold my head up high and walk back into the common space at the front of the clubhouse. Hero is talking to another man. His eyes find me and follow as I set his bag on top of the bar. Then I don’t know what comes over me, but I move back into a room behind the bar, where I hear my sister’s voice. It turns out to be the kitchen. She’s in there with Blood making food for him to take with him. And it hits me, I should probably do this for Hero.

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