Judith
A man's hand smacked against my backside so hard the tray nearly flew from my grip.
"Hey, sweetheart," he slurred, his eyes glassy and unfocused. "That's a fine piece of ass you've got there. How much to get you to flash me?"
I gave him a dirty look, feeling my skin crawl. I'd worked in this bar for almost two years. You'd think I'd be used to getting groped by now. I hated it. I hated all of it. My life had taken a dark turn ever since Dad died, and my only source of light was Nathan. If I didn't have Nathan, I would have ended things a long time ago.
For a second, I just stood there, glaring at the jerk. The smell of cheap liquor and sweat burned my nose, and I was near my breaking point.
Let me out, Judy, Caramel growled low inside me. I'll make sure he won't touch another woman again.
I clenched my jaw in anger. We can't.
He's nothing but a low ranking wolf. Let me teach him some lesson, she snapped, her voice edged with anger. Anger was the main emotion I felt these days—anger at everything, everyone, the unfair world, myself.
Except Nathan.
"Don't even think about it!" Gary, the bar owner, bellowed from behind the counter. He was a lewd man who'd tried to touch me several times. I'd barely held him off. I hated him, but he paid better than other rundown bars in the area and didn't ask questions about my past. For someone like me hiding in the Moonshine Pack, no other place would hire me without running a background check.
"If you start any trouble in my place, Judith, you're out. You hear me?" He spat, narrowing his eyes to make sure I got the message.
I heard him loud and clear. It wasn't the first warning. So I swallowed the rage clawing up my throat, turned back to the drunk idiot, and managed a stiff smile. "Here's your drink, sir."
We couldn't lose this job. Not for Nathan's sake. Losing it meant losing our home, and where would Nathan sleep? I would do anything to make sure he didn't have to suffer. My son would have what he needed, even if I had to crawl over hot coals to get it.
"That's not what I want!" he growled, grabbing my ass. I forced my shaking hands to calm down and stepped away from him. He laughed, clearly enjoying my discomfort.
Cherie, one of the strippers, sauntered over to him, running her hands over his face. "I'll give you a little show if you let the poor lady go, yes?"
His eyes gleamed hungrily, and he let go of me immediately. I mouthed a "Thank you" to Cherie and scrambled back to the counter, fighting the tears burning the corners of my eyes.
"Oh, don't act like you don't like it," Gary scoffed behind me, taking a deep drag of his cigarette. "A woman with an ass like yours deserves to be grabbed. I myself would love a free trial, but you're too fucking stuck up."
I ignored him, trying to get through the night shift without breaking down. How did Judith Baker get reduced to this?
When my shift ended, I went to the small storage room behind the bar and whispered, "Nathan?"
A tiny giggle answered and stormy gray eyes met my gaze. My baby boy sat cross-legged on a pile of old blankets, a half-eaten muffin beside him, a toy car clutched in his hand. Next to him, Cherie's son Dan was already asleep, snoring softly. Hiring a nanny was out of the question, we barely got by on my wages.
I brought Nathan everywhere with me. I couldn't enroll him in school; that would lead to more questions. So I homeschooled him myself. I wanted to save up enough so we could leave the Moonshine Pack and travel even farther away, somewhere we wouldn't hear about the Montgomerys anymore.
"Mommy!" Nathan sprang to his feet, his dark eyes shining. He looked so much like Declan, and it broke my heart every single time. "You're done!"
I knelt and pulled him into my arms, breathing his scent in.
"Did you behave?" I asked.
"I was good...mostly." His grin widened. "Dan said bad words when his toy broke, but I told him you would wash his mouth with soap if you were here."
I laughed despite the ache in my chest. "Oh, did you now?"
He nodded. "Uh-huh."
My heart swelled with pride. Nate was the only good thing since my life took a u-turn five years ago. I would give the world to him, which was why I was working so hard.
Cherie poked her head in, her hair tied up messily. "Are you heading out already?"
"Yeah," I muttered. "Thanks for stepping in earlier."
"Anytime, babes," Cherie said with a wink. She'd been incredibly nice to me ever since I started working here, and I figured she probably wanted to be friends.
Too bad we don't do 'friends' anymore, Caramel murmured.
Yeah, I'd had enough of friends.
"Be careful, Judith. It's pouring." Cherie said as I tugged Nathan out of the storage room and stalked toward the back door.
"Thanks," I said. "See you tomorrow."
It was raining lightly when we stepped out. I slipped Nathan into his raincoat and popped open my old rattled umbrella. Nathan clutched my hand as we walked down the road toward our tiny rented room a few meters away.
"Mom?" Nathan called. "Dan said his daddy's coming home tonight."
I hummed in response, tired and feeling like crap. I just wanted a nice warm bath, but my place didn't have a heater, and gas was a luxury I couldn't afford.
"Why don't I have a daddy?" My son asked, and the question dug into my chest like a knife. A scream bubbled up in my throat, but good mothers didn't scream at their sons, even when they felt like shit.
"Nathan, darling," I sighed, squeezing his little hand. "Your dad's just...away. On an adventure."
He tilted his head, pouting. "But adventures are more fun with me. He could've taken me with him."
A tear slid down my cheek, and I wiped it off quickly.
He didn't want me. He didn't want us, Nathan. Caramel whimpered in my mind.
I smiled sadly. "He probably would've, sweetheart."
To distract him, I reached into my pocket and pulled out a small copper coin. "Here. A new one for your collection."
His eyes lit up instantly. "Really? Thanks, Mommy! I love you!"
"I love you too, my baby."
I laughed watching how excited he was. I'd never understand why Nathan loved collecting coins, but I lived to see that bright, happy look on his face when I gave him new pennies.
He began counting them in his small palms, murmuring numbers under his breath as we crossed the quiet street.
"One... two... three... oh—"
A coin slipped from his fingers, clattering onto the wet road behind us. Before I could stop him, he withdrew his hand from mine and dashed back to the middle of the road.
"Nathan, wait!"
A car was coming. Its headlights cut through the rain, blinding white and fast. My heart dropped and hot fear flooded my veins.
"Nathan!" I screamed, throwing myself forward.
The sound of tires screeching filled the air. The car stopped just inches from my son.
I fell to my knees beside him, trembling. "Nathan, oh Goddess, are you hurt?"
He blinked up at me, clutching the coin tightly. "Mommy, I got it."
Tears streamed down my face. I wrapped him in my arms, sobbing shamelessly. What would I do if I had lost him?
The driver stepped out, and the smell of cedar—a very familiar scent I knew—hit me.
My entire body froze.
"I am very sorry," his deep voice filled my ears. "Is the child okay?"
Oh no. It couldn't.. it can't be.
I slowly lifted my head, and my breath caught in my throat. Standing there in the rain, water dripping from his dark hair, those golden eyes fixed on my son, was Declan Montgomery.
Older. Harder. More dangerous than I remembered.
And the look on his face when he saw Nathan—when he saw the boy's features, his dark eyes, the distinctive silver streak running through his hair—told me everything I needed to know.
He knew.
"Judith?" His voice was low, dangerous, edged with something I couldn't quite name. His eyes finally lifted to meet mine, and the raw power in that gaze nearly shattered me.
"Hello, Declan," I whispered, pulling Nathan closer protectively.