Broken Beauty - Stella Andrews Page 0,3

the kids. They’re the only ones who drag a smile out of her because aside from them, she’s interested in no one.”

“Why was she held captive?”

“I don’t know, maybe you should ask her if you want answers?”

Millie snaps irritably which isn’t like her and then says coolly, “Anyway, I’m off to re-stock the bar. Good to see you back, Mav, maybe look me up later if you need company.”

She flounces off and I groan inside. Now I’ve upset her. She didn’t like me asking questions about Sophia, that was obvious. Maybe I should keep away from the bar because Millie is starting to overstep the mark. I don’t want to give her false hope because I’m not interested. I thought she knew that—apparently not.

3

Sophia

I may have left him at the door, but he follows me inside. I can’t shake the image of the infuriating man who held me captive for a brief second in the woods. He followed me back, but even through the silence we communicated. I know he stared at my ass the whole way back, it’s as if I feel him. Every part of me understands that man and the way his mind works. It’s as if we are cut from the same cloth and unlike the other men who live here, I don’t want to keep my distance from him.

When I looked back, it was to see one of the women held against him and for some strange reason I was jealous. That alone makes me mad because I have no right to be jealous of anyone. I made my choice and now it’s up to me to deal with it. The trouble is, I don’t know how and so with a sigh; I head to the shower and get ready for the only part of my day that counts.

Exactly thirty minutes later, I find my way out back to the home of the president who runs this MC club. Ryder King. Hard-assed bastard, but the kindest man I think I’ve ever met. Along with his wife, they took me in and didn’t press for details. They gave me a job helping care for the kids around here because that’s where I feel happiest. I have never been around children. There were none when I was growing up and when I lived with my brother, it was just the two of us along with the guards. To say I’ve lived a sheltered life is an understatement, but what happened when I was taken will haunt me to my dying day.

Shutting the memories down before they destroy me again, I knock on the door and wait for Ashton to let me in. I’m here to entertain Cassie, her adorable daughter because Ashton has her hands full with the latest addition to their family. Three weeks ago, Ashton gave birth to the most beautiful baby boy. Just like his father, Caspian King is sure to be a heartbreaker. Beautiful blue eyes sparkle beneath a crop of dark wild curls and he holds a woman's heart the minute she looks at him. I am no exception because that little angel is the light of my own dark life. It’s the eyes of the innocent who look at me with so much trust that fills my heart with hope.

Can I love? I never have before but there is something about the children that surround me that stir black into white. I find myself craving their company and hearing their laughter. It soothes my weary soul and if I stay here forever with them, I would die happy.

The door opens and I take a step back as the man of the house fills the opening.

Ryder King is the sort of man that steals the breath from inside you and replaces it with electricity. Impressive in every way from his startling good looks to his rock-hard abs. He wears the badge of authority as if it was born part of him and I know there is not a man, woman or child here who doesn’t love and respect every inch of him.

He looks at me with interest and nods. “Morning, darlin’, anything to report?”

I smile because he says this every day. They are patient with me because from the moment I stepped foot inside their home, I have kept for my reasons for doing so to myself. At first, I wouldn’t even speak but gradually they have eased my mind and allowed me to breathe again but I’m not ready to tell