Page 5 of Avenging Azalea

“You sure?”

I nodded, and he loosened his grip on the steering wheel. The massive rings he wore were large enough for two of my fingers, if not more. He had tattoos all over his hands and up his forearms to the rolled-up black dress shirt sleeves. I really wanted to know if he was tattooed like that all over his body.

He sighed as he started the SUV.

“My name is Titus,” he said, putting it in drive and leaving.

Titus…I loved his name. It was different from anything I’d ever heard before and suited him. I watched the shitty warehouse disappear and chewed on my bottom lip as the guilt settled on my chest. How could I protect my brother now when this mafia family owned me? I really didn’t want to be handed over to Titus’s father.

The drive was quiet but comfortable. I wrapped my arms around myself and leaned against the door. Watching the road disappear in the sideview mirror, my mind drifted to my happy place. It was sunny and warm, smelled like the ocean and freedom, and no one could touch me there. I pictured myself running along a beach, laughing, but now there were two black dogs with me. I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I knew, Titus was gently shaking my shoulder.

He immediately took his hand away when I flinched. I almost grabbed it and yanked it back again. I couldn’t displease him. The more I thought about what the other man with Titus had said, the more certain I was that I had to stay with him. Freaking out over him touching me was not a good start.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to jump,” I said.

“It’s fine. We’ll stay here for the night,” Titus said as I looked up at the fancy hotel.

I’d never seen anything this beautiful before other than in movies or on television. The dirty motels I was normally taken to could’ve fit in one corner of the parking lot.

“Where are we going,” I asked.

“California. Come on, I want to get the girls fed, and I’m starving. You hungry?” My stomach growled. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

He gave me a partial smile before pushing open his door, and my heart skipped in my chest. God, he smelled fantastic. I lingered an extra second before getting out, taking a deep breath of his cologne.

Men in black suits surrounded us, and the two dogs jumped out of the SUV. They padded over, and I kneeled, wanting to wrap my arms around their necks and never let go.

“I dreamed of you two,” I whispered.

I’d always loved animals, but I felt like I’d known these dogs my whole life. Something instinctual told me that if someone tried to hurt me, they’d tear them in two.

“They like you,” Titus said, and I looked up at him.

He was incredibly imposing and the largest man I’d ever seen. He felt otherworldly.

“I like them, too. I prefer animals, people kinda suck,” I said.

“On that, we agree,” Titus said. He pointed to the dog I was patting with my left hand. “That’s Daisy. She wears the black collar with the silver spikes and white diamonds.” My mouth dropped open. Those were real diamonds? “Bella wears the silver spikes with pink diamonds.”

The three-inch-wide leather collars were worth more than everything my parents had ever owned.

“Wow.”

“Nothing but the best for my girls. You should feel special. They don’t take so easily to just anyone, and even some of my guards can’t get this close.”

“Really?” I beamed down at the dogs staring up at me, their tongues lolling out as I scratched their heads.

“They’re the most beautiful dogs ever.” I’d never seen any breed so powerful or majestic.

“They really are. I have more dogs if you like them?”

“I do. I love dogs,” I said, smiling but also trying not to sound too enthusiastic.

Titus didn’t seem like the type to use it against me, but I had just met him, and information was power. Never seeing them again would be an effective punishment.

“When we get to my place, I’ll introduce you to all my girls.” He nodded toward the hotel. “Let’s head in and get settled. I assume you don’t have anything else to wear?” I shook my head. “That’s fine. I’ll get something sent up for you,” he said, walking away with the dogs following.

Cars passed by even at the late hour, and I wondered where they were going. Were any of them ever sold? Probably not. They went about their day doing mundane things like going to work or buying groceries, never the wiser. I was as much of a prisoner in my life as those locked up behind bars and concrete.