The young girl he's never forgotten or blamed is all grown up now.
When Cara Dupree was four, she was afraid of monsters under her bed. She was five when her mother, who seemed to hate her, left her with true monsters—her stepfather, who hated the sight of her, and her hot-headed stepbrother. The neighbors ignored her bruises and the yelling and screaming coming from her house. The social workers took her stepfather's words as being truthful. No one ever helped her except for one man, and she was responsible for him being sent to prison. She finally was able to flee the monsters, but she's still not free of the memories, the regrets, and the shame of what she did.
She was able to go to college, and now she helps others escape their monsters. The Steel Rebels MC have opened Haven House in the building that once was a gentleman's club where unwilling, scared women were auctioned off to wealthy men, often the so-called pillars of society.
Cara has spent time in city shelters. Some were less safe than living on the streets. However, Haven House is the real deal. It's safe, comfortable, clean, and even has therapy dogs available. But she knows some bad memories can never be completely erased no matter how good your current life is.
Cara has been at the shelter for four months. Her boss, Samantha, offered her a job when she showed up and allowed her to live at the shelter while she is attending college. Samantha is the best maternal figure she's ever had in her life.
A young woman, Abby, makes it to the shelter after a severe beating from her boyfriend. She needs more first aid than anyone at the shelter can provide. They've learned the hard way not to go to the hospital. Many abusers in the town have excellent connections... Luckily, there is someone else they can rely on for medical treatment: a member of the Steel Rebels MC.
XThe club president, Saint, has brought James, AKA Doc, Loxley with him. When she sees his face, her past comes roaring back... She was twelve when she last saw him. Her stepfather had been gone, and her stepbrother, Eric, had a party while he was gone. She had fallen asleep that night before cleaning up the mess Eric and her friends had left for her. Rather than staying home to completely finish cleaning, she'd cleaned up the best she could before leaving for a test being given at school that day.
When she got home, Eric was waiting for her. Without knowing it, she had accidentally thrown out a box with his drugs in it. He began beating her but had left the front door open. A stranger heard her screams and rushed inside. He only punched Eric once, but Eric tripped on a beer can and hit his head on the table. The fall killed him later that night.
Her stepfather forced her to lie to the police. She made a statement to them that the stranger, James, had attacked Eric for no apparent reason. He was sent to prison. She was too afraid of her stepfather to tell the truth. She ruined an innocent man's life. He hasn't recognized her yet. There's no way of telling when he might, or what he'll do to her when he does... There's no way she can ever atone for what she did to him—her age at the time is no excuse...
Doc hadn't recognized Cara until he heard her last name. Instantly he knew who she was! He had been twenty-seven and a military field medic when he heard a scream and had rushed through an open door to save a screaming female. She was so small—so malnourished that he thought she was about eight—not twelve, like he later learned.
Because of her stepfather and the corrupt system, he spent five years in prison. He was useful in prison; many inmates preferred his care to that of the prison doctors. His cellmate had been a Steel Rebel who had sponsored his membership in the MC.
Prison changed him, turning him into a bitter, hardened man. But never once did he blame the young girl who had been forced to lie. She was truly an innocent victim. She had been backed into a corner and made the only choice she could to save her life.
He can tell she's terrified of him. He hopes he'll have a chance to tell her that he understands why she did what she did. It kills him that it appears she's still suffering from that day. He doesn't know that she keeps a go bag ready in her closet in case her stepfather should find her. He still wants to slay her dragons. He gets his chance when suddenly her stepfather pops back up!
I received an ARC of this book from the author via Booksprout. I am voluntarily leaving this review.