Lila's Chance [Brothers Bound 1] (Siren Publishing Allure) Read online

  “Dad, good to see you,” she greeted, checking out the situation and trying to figure out how she was going to get out of here.

  Her father nodded, glancing at the kids. “What do you two think of this one? It should carry all your gear,” he declared.

  Ty grimaced. It wasn’t what his mother wanted. The thing was a gas-guzzler and Kyla didn’t like driving the bigger SUVs. He shrugged his shoulders. “I think it would be better for Dad,” he replied, stepping closer to his mom. He hated when his dad picked up Grandpa and played the “I wanna do nice things for your daughter even if she left my sorry ass” game. Unfortunately, Grandpa fell for it every time. Ty wasn’t sure why. Maybe Grandpa was just too nice or naïve? Or living in the past, hoping Mom and Dad would get back together.

  Kyla snorted, peeking into the vehicle. “I don’t think Mom would like it, Dad. You should really ask her opinion,” she called, trying the door. Rick helped her with it. She plopped down in the seat and laughed, body arching and trying to look out the front windshield.

  “Hey, Ty, we would have to buy me a booster seat so I could drive it!” she joked. Lila giggled, covering her mouth. Kyla turned and knelt on the seat, peeking into the back. “It’s spacious, Mom. This would have been nice when Dad kicked you out. You would have had somewhere to sleep, at least.”

  Jared and Rick both noted the dad turn a deep red. “Kyla, pretty sure we taught you better manners than that!” he barked in retaliation.

  Kyla looked through the windshield at her dad. “Pretty sure Mom did most of that herself.” she replied softly, slumping into the driver’s seat, a defeated, chastised look crossing her features, followed by “pissed off.”

  Lila inhaled a breath. “Ty, hon, can you distract your lovely sister for me, please?” She needed her kids away before she was a complete bitch to her ex in front of them. They didn’t need to be a part of that in any way.

  Ty grinned. “You bet, Mom.” He rounded the truck and hauled Kyla from the driver’s seat, shoving her over his shoulders like a sack of potatoes, glancing at Rick. “Open the back. Let’s see if we can fit her in.” Rick chuckled, following the kid.

  Jared studied Lila, noting the various emotions crossing her eyes. “Pissed off” was a huge one, followed by hurt, and fuck if it didn’t make him want to hug her close, drag her across the parking lot, console her, and give her the little Escape that would better suit her.

  Sam sidled up alongside him. “Thinking the silver Escape would suit her better.” He hummed, reading his brother’s mind. Jared nodded in agreement. “Her boy is tall. He’ll need the leg room. You should give her that for the price you quoted her over the phone. The car was obviously not what she had in mind,” Sam followed up, eyes narrowing on the ex-husband.

  Jared nodded. “Bring it around. We’ll see if she likes it. Take the sticker price off, would you?”

  Sam nodded leaving them.

  * * * *

  Bill glanced at Lila, crossing to her, draping an arm around her shoulders. “No hug, Lila? Thought we were past the ‘being pissed off at each other’ part,” he drawled.

  Lila snorted, shrugging his arm off. “Nope, still pissed over here,” she replied, moving round him and glancing at Jared. “I’m just gonna take a look around.”

  Jared shook his head. “I have Sam bringing something else for you.” He cringed as she raised a sceptical eyebrow. Jared smiled. “I think I may have mistaken your request. If what he brings around is what you wanted, you will have it at the price I quoted over the phone.”

  Lila nodded. She would agree to anything if it meant getting the hell away from her ex right this moment. Jared motioned for her to follow him. Lila followed, her kids in tow.

  “Mr. Keepher, do you have a pop machine?” Ty asked.

  Jared nodded. “In the front office.” He pointed to the glass building. Ty wrapped an arm around his mom’s shoulder and Jared waited for the grown boy to beg for some change from his mother like every other kid who showed up here did.

  “What do you want, Mom?” he asked.

  Lila smiled. “Pepsi will do,” she murmured.

  Ty kissed her cheek. “Come on, Kyla, let Mom focus for a few minutes,” he called. The two huddled together and made their way toward the main office.

  “Nice kid you got there,” Jared spoke softly.

  Lila nodded. “They are both good kids,” she confirmed.

  Jared glanced back at the man that was the father of her children. “He looks rather pissed,” he commented. Jared was glad Rick was nicely distracting the man while he escaped with her.

  “He will be when I refuse him buying me a vehicle,” she replied, remembering how many years of begging it had taken when she was with him to get him to buy her anything. She hated when he pulled this shit.

  Jared furrowed his brows. According to her reactions, she was thoroughly self-conscious when it came to this guy. That man had obviously pulled the strings in their relationship. He wondered if she had felt helpless and did nothing but allow him to pull those strings. He wondered what had been the breaking point, the eye-opener for her.

  He led her toward the main office. “He’ll bring it out back,” he informed her.

  Lila nodded. That would be great. Anywhere but out here.

  Rick ambled up next to his brother, handing him a bill of sale.

  “A sale already? That was quick,” Jared mumbled.

  Rick snorted, pointing to the name—hers. “Bought and paid for. You might wanna bring something else out that she really wants,” he suggested, glancing at Lila, his brain trying to comprehend why she was no longer with the man. He seemed to want to spoil her. Shit, he’d just bought her the Tahoe.

  Jared’s hackles rose. He was sure he and the ex would have a lovely conversation when Jared brought this back to him and kindly told him Miss Mills declined the offer.

  Chapter Two

  Lila glared at Bill. How could he do this? She glanced at her father. He fucking backed him, to boot! Anger and resentment ripped through her like a liquid fire flowing hot and fast. “I told you I can take care of myself,” she hissed, passing him the bill of sale and turning on her heel. Her hair flowed around her shoulders and she took a step to walk away.

  Bill grasped her elbow, turning her back to him, pulling her close till her body pressed against his. “Come on, hon, I’m just trying to help. I know how hard you have been working. You deserve a treat,” he offered, voice low, smooth.

  How many times that voice had fooled her over the years, had eased her angst toward him and made her love him all over again. Screw him! Those years were dead and gone, and she refused to be back there.

  Lila pulled away from him and ripped her arm from his grasp. “William, I am not coming back to you, and no, you cannot come over later for your thank-you. I don’t want anything from you,” she uttered, glancing up as her children exited the main office. “Ty, Kyla, I’ll see you guys at home,” she called, turning to Jared. “So sorry for the inconvenience, Mr. Keepher.”

  She turned on her heel and walked away. Anger seethed through her and she prayed to God that Bill was smart enough to leave her the hell alone. She swore if he laid a hand on her she would throttle him.

  Jarred watched her go. An anger he’d not felt in a long time reared through him. He wanted nothing more than to take this asshole ex-husband and punch him, and then maybe let his brothers have a piece of him. He didn’t have the patience for scumbags.

  He looked at his youngest brother, giving him his you handle this shit look. He needed to go look through his inventory for what it was this Miss Mills had been looking for in the first place. There was no way he was going to let her walk away empty-handed. He had promised this woman something and he never went back on a promise. That, and he needed to see her again.

  He furrowed his brow as he made his way back to his office. It had been a long time since any woman had caught his interest like this. This beautiful Lila Mills had awoken something long-dead in hi
m.

  Jared glared at the monitor. Sam, his twin brother, plopped down in one of the two chairs in front of his desk. “So, you still pissed about that sweet little thing getting away?” he asked, legs stretching out in front of him, crossing at the ankle, his thick arms coming to rest along the wooden arms of the chair.

  Jared glanced up, annoyed. Sometimes he hated that his twin knew he was feeling pissed-off. “I don’t think I like her husband,” he commented.

  Sam chuckled. “Ex,” he corrected. It had been a long time since he’d seen his big brother in this much of a huff. Jared was hunting to help this woman out as much as possible. Sam grinned to himself. The sweet little saucy woman had reawakened something deep in his brother.

  Jared rolled his eyes. “Whatever, the guy’s a douchebag. I don’t suppose we got any other info on her?”

  Sam smirked. “Yeah, phone number,” he drawled, glancing out the office windows and raising a hand to his younger brother Rick Had it not been for Rick looking up the sweetheart and finding her number, they wouldn’t have anything on her.

  Both men looked up as Rick walked in, a hot-pink, glittery handbag in his hand, a mini eight-ball and plastic skull hanging from one end. Jared raised a questioning eyebrow. Rick grinned.

  “The daughter’s, I assume. She left it on the chair next to the soda machine,” he commented, tossing it across the room onto Jared’s desk. The thing spilled open and numerous girly paraphernalia spread over his desk. Rick chuckled, plucking up a string of condoms. “How old’s the kid?” he asked. His heart pounding, with what, he wasn’t sure? Anger, jealousy…rage that the young girl had condoms in her bag.

  Jared rolled his eyes, grabbing the bag, shoving the numerous girly things back in and, when finished, holding the bag open for his brother to put the condoms back. “Not your concern,” he commented. What in the fuck was going on today? Was this seriously happening? His brothers were acting like a bunch of girls, with the exception of George, but George was always the quiet one. The good one.

  Rick looked over the three-pack of condoms, frowning. “Hey, these are from that club on the outskirts of town.” He glanced at Sam. “Collared?” he enquired.

  Sam raised a brow, plucking them from his brother, nodding. “Been there a few times, yup.” He tossed them in the bag. “Was gonna go take another look there tonight, Subbie Night.”

  Jared furrowed his brows. How the hell was the teenage daughter getting condoms from a club like that? Now that was a concern. He most certainly should be calling the lovely Miss Mills on this issue. Well, most definitely on Kyla’s—was that the daughter’s name?—purse being left behind.

  Sam looked at his older brother. It had been years since Jared had been on the scene. Maybe this would get him back into the swing of things. “Wanna come?” he probed.

  Jared shook his head. “Nope, Rick and George will go,” he directed. He opened the bottom drawer of his desk, placing the bag in. He would call Lila later and let her know. There was no way he was going to get stuck in another conversation with his brother about returning to any clubs. Not after the last relationship he had endured. There was no way he was going to put himself through that again. Lila now. She looked welcoming in a vanilla kind of way. She was safe. This could be a new beginning to a new lifestyle, a safe one where no one would get hurt.

  * * * *

  Lila plopped back in her overstuffed leather chair, sighing, her gaze dragging around her neat little living room.

  “Well that was fucking productive,” she grumbled to herself. She glanced at the clock. A couple more hours before work started. She should go shower, get dressed, and call Paula for a ride. Shit, she had been hoping she would be able to drive herself. She fisted her hands. Fuck! She inhaled a calming breath. No slumping, girl. You will not let this bring you down. She hauled herself out of the chair and headed for the kitchen.

  She glanced out the kitchen window. Her son and daughter kicked around the soccer ball with the little boy from next door. She smiled, her heart warming at the sight. At least that was a good constant for them. No matter how bad things got, she had promised her children they would always have their soccer. Those two lived for the game, whether playing it or teaching it.

  She started on a quick dinner, throwing together a casserole and tossing it in the oven. She made her way down the hall to her bedroom, pulling the doors to her walk-in closet open. She walked to the back, flipping through the numerous skirts. Subbie Night.

  She sighed, tilting her head. Master Blain had said “short.” She rolled her eyes, looking down at herself. She would go for “pinup model.” He usually didn’t mind the high-waisted skirts as long as they were tight. She pulled out a black latex skirt and a nice blouse from her office wear. It was only acceptable because it wouldn’t be on very long. She held the skirt up to herself. Long enough in the body to hide the scars, and short enough that it would give a peek of her ass cheeks.

  The phone rang just as she tossed her clothes into the hamper. She rolled her eyes, plopping naked across her bed and picking up the receiver. “Hello,” she greeted.

  “Hi, Miss Mills?” came a deep, masculine voice.

  Lila raised an eyebrow. “Lila or Kyla?” she asked, hearing a soft chuckle. She rolled from the bed and headed to her bathroom to retrieve her robe.

  “Lila, please.”

  Lila smiled. This voice sounded familiar. “May I ask who is calling?”

  “Mr. Keepher,” he answered.

  Lila inhaled a sharp breath, cheeks flushing. Glancing down at her naked breasts, her eyes widened. She froze on the spot. She was naked talking to the sexy car dealing mechanic guy! “Um, yes, she speaking,” she stammered, flushing. Shit, she couldn’t even speak English properly!

  Jared chuckled. “Did I catch you at a bad time?” he asked. His voice was smooth, dangerous, and licked Lila in places that no man had licked in way too long.

  “Yeah, I was just hopping in the shower.” Her eyes closed and she groaned as she realized she just basically told this man she was naked. “I mean—”

  Laughter stopped her. “I won’t keep you, then. Your daughter left her bag at the shop this afternoon. I could drop it off for you,” he volunteered.

  “No, I’ll stop by in an hour to grab it for her,” she cut him off, crossing the room at hearing her kids entering the house. She closed her door, locking it.

  Jared listened, cocking his head, hearing the close of a door. “All right, I’ll be here,” he promised.

  Lila smiled. “Thank you. I’ll see you in an hour, then.”

  Jared smiled. Maybe he could take her for a bite to eat. He would ask her when she showed up. “All right, an hour, then.”

  * * * *

  Lila glanced around the quiet office. “Hello…?”

  She looked around, her brows furrowing. Empty. Of course. Yet another man letting her down. She cringed at the horrible thought. She glanced out the front window, holding her arms up in a confused manner at Paula, who sat in her car waiting. The busty redhead motioned for her to go look in the back, an annoyed look on her beautiful face.

  Lila grunted, turning on her red high heel. She glanced down at her apparel, making sure everything was in place. Shit, she should have worn a pair of jeans. Her garters were showing. She inched her skirt down as far as she could. Shit, still not low enough, not without making herself look like an idiot. She headed toward the back of the garage, her stilettoes clicking along the cement floor. She could hear music and male voices. She slowed, peeking through the large shop. Thick male laughter filled the air.

  “Shit, fucking condoms on a fifteen-year-old! Fuck, she can’t be any older than that. Her momma is no way any older than thirty-eight,” Rick bellowed across the shop.

  George scoffed. “You go anywhere near that girl, I’ll kick your ass,” he called back from beneath the car he was working on, his voice a little muffled from the distance and obstructions.

  Lila snorted. “You touch my fifteen-year-ol
d daughter and I’ll kick your ass,” she declared across the shop. Anger mixed with she wasn’t sure what reared through her. Motherhood, she supposed. “Thirty-seven, thanks, and why the hell are you digging through her things?” she finished, crossing the room to the two men. She really shouldn’t be eavesdropping. She assumed they were discussing her daughter. She had the feeling not to many fifteen-year-olds left their bags at car shops.

  Rick straightened out. “Sorry, her bag fell open. I was gonna tell you. I thought you would want to know,” he offered, a sheepish look on his handsome face.

  Lila raised a brow. Goodness, this man made her feel old. His neat dirty blonde hair, matched with those dazzling blue eyes, melted her heart. It was the sheepish grin that melted away any anger. “I gave them to her. She’s fifteen. You think she doesn’t know what sex is about?” she asked, looking at him with the sternest motherly look she could muster.

  George rolled out from under the car, his dark eyebrows raising, a smile crossing his face as his gaze followed the length of her bare legs. “You’re a lot taller from down here,” he offered.

  Lila lowered her gaze and tried her damndest to glare, but the look on his face made her giggle. She chuckled. “Cute.” She glanced around. “Is Mr. Keep—”

  “Jared just went out back,” Rick cut her off, wiping his hands on an old grease rag. He held his hand out. “Name’s Rick. That’s George on the floor. The other one is Sam. He and Jared are big brothers, twins. Believe it or not.” He had a feeling they would be seeing her again, especially after Jared got a look at her in this outfit. Rick swallowed nervously, backing away from Lila. Okay at least she looked out for her kids. That was a good thing, and why the hell did she scare him? Women didn’t scare him! He scared them…into submission, of course.