Fin cried all the way home. She gripped the steering wheel to stop her hands from shaking. By the time she stopped in front of the house, it was tears running from her eyes that she couldn't control.

His LandCruiser pulled into the drive behind her. Fin's heart beat faster. What if he was going to rape her? She wiped her eyes. He'd said he wasn't going to hurt her. He'd helped her.

Before she could do anything, he opened her door. She gasped and stared at him. He didn't say anything but went to the other side of the car, opened the back door and reached in.

Findlay groaned when he lifted him from the seat. Fin hurried out of the car unsure of what he would do to her father.

He slung Findlay over his shoulder, looked at her and said, "Your groceries are on the front seat. Get them."

She crinkled her brow and peered through the window to see bags. How had she not noticed them? When she looked back at him, he'd walked towards the front door with her father over his shoulder. Fin grabbed one of the bags and hurried after him. He must have paid for them after she'd left the supermarket because of Rees Gallo. She rushed past him and fumbled with the door knob.

He reached across in front of her, opened it, stepped inside and said, "Where do you want him?"

"There." Fin wiped her face and pointed at her father's bed.

Cody placed the old man on the cot, straightened and looked at her swollen face. To distract his anger, he nudged his head at the bag of groceries she had in her hand. "Put them away," he said and headed out to the car to get the others. An idea rumbled around in his head. It wouldn't go away. Cody wondered if he should just do it.

He didn't think she'd like it very much but with the wet coming and her safety being utmost in his mind he didn't have much choice. He carried the last two bags inside, and found her in the kitchen putting the few items away. She stood when she heard him enter and stared at him from across the room. Cody put the bags on the table and stared back at her.

"You bought these?" She asked. "They're what I left." She hugged herself and looked at the floor. "I can pay you." She placed what money she had on the table. "I'll have more money on Thursday."

"I don't want your money," Cody said. Desire gripped him. This wasn't good, not after what he'd witnessed her go through. He knew he should look away. To walk away would be even better, then get in his truck, drive across the Annan River and let the wet hem him in. Que sera, sera.

But he couldn't.

Her safety nagged at him. If they got at her again, would he be able to forgive himself because he'd been able to prevent it? Cody drew a long breath as he watched her put the meat in the fridge. The real question was, would she be safer with him or with her drunken father?

She closed the fridge door and turned to face him. He guessed his silence made her nervous. She fiddled with the top of her trousers, tugged them over the belt, and pulled the ripped shirt closer together. Cody closed his eyes. This subtle movement had his imagination reeling. He wasn't able to walk away and get in his truck. Cody moved towards her.

She crossed her body with her arm, clutched the fabric of her shirt and stepped back. "Please don't hurt me."

Cody took hold of her arm. She yanked it free. He grabbed her again, led her into the hallway and pushed open the first door. Bathroom. "Where do you sleep?"

"No!" She pulled backwards.

He jerked her forward and pushed open the door to the laundry.

"I paid you for the groceries," she cried. "The money is on the table. I said I'd pay more. Please." She gasped. "I don't want you to do it to me."

Cody chuckled. It wasn't funny. He knew he was scaring her but the way she'd said it had sounded funny. There wasn't anything amiss with her. She was just naïve. He pushed open the next door. Pink. "Is this your room?"

Tears rolled down her cheeks. "Please don't hurt me."

"I don't like repeating myself," Cody said. "I've told you twice I'm not going to hurt you. Is this your room?"

She nodded and wiped her face with her free hand.

Cody pushed her into the room and closed the door with his foot. He didn't want her out of his sight in case she chose to grab the gun her father had mentioned. "Stand over there." He pointed to the corner and then went to her cupboard.

Two dresses and one coat. At least they were better than what she had on. He threw them on the bed and went to the duchess, brush, hair ties, a bottle of cheap perfume and a photo of a couple. The woman looked a lot like her. Cody threw everything on top of the clothes. He opened the drawers, ugly pants and long-sleeved shirts. Not happening. He drew out the last. It was empty. Cody raised his eyebrows in surprise. No underwear. He looked at where she was huddled in the corner frowning at the items on the bed, tears still in her eyes. Forget the underwear she could wear his if she had to.

Cody wrapped the bundle in the coat and shoved it under his arm. He took hold of her again.

She pulled back. "What are you doing?"

He didn't answer but yanked her through the doorway and down the hall. Cody felt her resist so he gripped her harder.

"You're hurting me."

"Well, walk."

"No! You're hurting me and you said you wouldn't hurt me. Let me go!"

He was surprised she hadn't screamed out for her father to help her but guessed she realised he was well and truly in another place. When he closed the front door behind them, she kicked him.

"Let me go!" She yanked on her arm and kicked him again.

He chuckled and let go of her wrist. Anger had replaced her tears. That pleased him. She should be angry.

"Go away!" She glared at him and turned on her heels.

Cody bent and put his arm around her thighs and backside. He lifted her as if she was a small child and carried her toward his truck.

"Let me go!" She bucked in his arm and then hit him on the head. "What are you doing?"

Cody ducked and turned his face away. "Don't hit me!"

She hit him again. He growled, gripped her backside and shook. "I said don't hit me."

"Then let me go!" She bucked as he pinched her.

Cody laughed. "You're like a little kid." It wasn't the best thing to have said because she went crazy and slapped him hard over and over. Her hand caught him on the face and already split lip. Cody groaned to calm his irritation, he threw the bundle into the back of the truck, dropped her on her feet and placed her against the door of the vehicle. He seized her flailing hands and held them above her head. "I said don't hit me!"

She burst into tears. "You said you wouldn't hurt me."

Cody loosened his hold on her but didn't let go. "You have my word, I won't hurt you, but if you keep hitting me, you're gonna make me angry." Cody opened the door of the truck and sat her on the seat. He clicked the child lock so she wouldn't be able to open the door from the inside, closed the door and then went around to the driver's side.

"What are you doing?" She tugged on the handle and stared at him in horror as he got in. "You have to let me out!"

"You're coming with me."

"No! My father needs me!"

"No, he doesn't. He relies on you too much."

She lashed out at him again.

"Fuck!" Cody ducked one of her hands and caught the other. He slid across the bench seat, pulled her onto his lap, cupped her head against his chest and breathed in and out to control his frustration. This was going to be harder than he thought.

Because she had obeyed him in the bar, he thought she'd be too timid to fight. She struggled to pull herself free. Cody closed his eyes and matched his strength with hers until she tired. He felt her slump against him but knew she was crying.

Cody held his body rigid, her curves through the bulky clothes and wriggling on his lap heightened his awareness of her. He liked what he felt. If he relaxed and held her in a comforting way, the urges raging through his body would make life hell.

He pushed his hand into her hair, lifted her head from his chest and wiped tears away with his thumb. She pushed against him. He held her firm and said, "You're coming with me for a few days. I don't trust the Gallo brothers. You have my word that I won't hurt you, but I can't have you hitting me."

"My father..."

"Will be okay," Cody said. "He looked after himself before you were born. He'll be able to do it again." Cody stroked her cheek with his thumb.

"I... I don't know your name."

"Cody. My name is Cody Compton."

She held his gaze in the dim glow of the cab light. "You won't. Hurt me? Do it. To me?"

A flash of humour lit Cody's face. His mouth turned up at the corners. "I'll try real hard not to."

She jerked backwards and slapped him. "You have to let me out!"

Cody gripped her elbows. He deserved that hit, he should have said no, that he wouldn't touch her, but his desire told him he wanted to. "You're coming with me." He pushed her off his lap, slid behind the wheel and closed his door. The cab went black.

Cody expected her to hit him again. Instead, she curled against the door and cried all over again.  

Go steady, Cody. She's been through a lot.

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