Mia thought about that for a moment. It made sense she supposed that the men were owned too. The other part she wasn't so sure about. She enjoyed spending time with the man and he was excellent in bed, but she'd never been one to rush into love. She felt love was a connection between two people that took time and understanding of each other to get to. It wasn't an instant connection that formed in seconds and lasted a lifetime.

No love was something you learned after you'd been with someone for a long time and understood them completely. She wasn't in love with Ratchet, but she was headed in that direction. There was no doubt that she was happy with the man.

"I don't know about my heart but I think we are good together. I understand a bit more about the patch though. I didn't understand why a group of so many strong women would allow a man to put a patch on her that made her no better than a slave." Mia grimaced because that had sound so very b.i.t.c.hy.

Pearl laughed, "Girl, they just think they're the ones who own us. It's actually the other way around. I remember one time about a year ago Molly told Bone that she'd always wanted a bunny when she was a little girl. It wasn't even a day later that one of the prospects showed up at her door with a fluffy brown bunny. G.o.d only know where he found the d.a.m.ned thing cause since the storms they are almost extinct. It's just who they are. They know that they would do anything for us and that's really what the patch means."

"I see. Well I don't know that we're headed in that direction, but I wouldn't say no now that I understand what it would mean to him." Mia told Pearl.

"Good. Cause that boy will be asking, and I wouldn't be surprised if it was soon too. Now let's go have some lunch while you wait on your man." Pearl headed into the kitchen with Mia closely behind her. Her stomach chose that moment to let out a loud growl making them both laugh.

Ratchet was waiting for Vera and Bone inside the warehouse with Harry. He was barely moving and hung from the ropes that held him in the chair. Ratchet had tried just about everything he knew to try on the man and nothing had gotten him talking. He and a prospect had managed to clean the man up a bit so that it wasn't as b.l.o.o.d.y to look at.

Bone entered followed by Vera. She was in a light grey pantsuit and pumps. She looked like who she was a school teacher for first graders. She walked into the room and moved nearer the man in the chair.

"Tell me what you've tried Ratchet" she asked.

Ratchet felt uncomfortable. The things he'd done to make the man talk weren't something he wanted to talk about with the woman before him. She shouldn't have to have those nightmares.

"I'm not telling you that Vera." He told her sternly.

"Fine. It doesn't matter anyway. I a.s.sume you're done." She looked at him questioningly.

"Yeah, we're done." Ratchet told her after a moment's pause.

He saw that Vera was moving towards the table that held all the torture equipment. He was surprised she'd want to see those things, but he could understand. She needed to know that Harry had been pushed beyond his limits. And he had been. Ratchet had made sure of it. Only she picked up a tiny scalpel.

"Good, then let's get started." Vera walked towards the man.

"What are you doing Vera?" Bone demanded as they both watched the woman pause before the man. Harry's eyes were darting from her to them in a rapid move that almost gave Ratchet whiplash.

"Why'd you think I was here Bone? Did you think that with what he did to my sweet baby who'd barely begun to live that I would just look and then walk away?" Vera asked him. Her eyes cold, and Ratchet noticed that Harry looked more frightened than he had every time he'd started on him. That gave him a horrible idea.

"No, Vera. No you can't do this. It's not you, sweetheart." Bone said, Ratchet understood. He didn't want Vera to do this either, but what Pearl had said. And what had happened with that long ago woman his daddy had helped torture a man who'd done things to her child gave him a new idea on how to break the man. Finally after two days, he knew how to break the man.

"You tell me what to do and I will do it Vera. No doing it yourself." Ratchet told her quietly.

"No. I will not let this go. No. I will do this. My child will never get over what he did to her and I want to show him what that is like. I want him to suffer before you kill him." Vera told him fiercely. He looked at Bone to see what the man would decide. Bone nodded after a moment and Vera began.

Less than thirty minutes later, the man was singing like a canary because he wanted them to kill him. Vera had cut off pieces of his b.a.l.l.s in large chunks and fed them to the man. Bone and Ratchet had held his nose until he'd swallowed them. It was gruesome and something he never would have thought of. He'd done other things to that part of the man's anatomy, but this was a new one even for him.

It was about three in the afternoon when Ratchet finally made it to Pearls. He was almost too tired to ride to the farm. The only thing that made him hop in the shower and gather Mia onto his bike was a need to have her alone and all to himself for hours. He wanted her to see his home and taking her there would mean that she was closer to being his. That was his ultimate goal with her. Her patched and his for the rest of their lives.

As they pulled up to the farm and got off the bike Mia caught his arm to steady herself. Max came tearing out of the house in just a pair of underpants with little starships on them making Ratchet laugh as he caught the rocketing boy, who began talking a mile a minute.

"Ratchet, I'm missed you. I have so much to tell you. Floppy can shake now like I was teaching him and I get to be a Wiseman in the play in three weeks and Conner and Alex are the other wise men. Who's that is she the woman that your gonna keep like Charity said you were keeping? I like her hair it's pretty, but I like Charity's better..." Ratchet finally laughingly interrupted the boy.

"Whoa, hold on there, little buddy. I can't catch all that when you don't take a breath." Ratchet said.

"Oh, good. I was thinking he'd run off again. Hey, Ratchet. And you must be Mia." Charity smiled at Mia who looked a bit unsure and Ratchet wondered why.

Mia stood in the yard staring at the young boy and the woman who must be his mother. What was going on here? Was he this child's father and if so how could he bring her here? She watched them for a moment but was saved from some very embarra.s.sing yelling by the man who came tearing into the yard.

"Good, you caught him." He said walking up behind the woman and pulled her back into his arms. Holding her around the waist.

"Yep, he was running out the door when we pulled up." Ratchet said.

"Uncle Ratchet, was surprised that I'm a wiseman Dad! Weren't you?" The boy said to the man who smiled indulgently. Mia was instantly upset that she'd thought Ratchet would surprise her with something like this.

"I was. I was very surprised." Ratchet told Tick laughing when the other man rolled his eyes. They both loved the kid, but he could be a handful.

"Well, now that that's settled. You should introduce us to Mia. She likely thinks this is a mad house already." Charity grinned at her.

"It's okay. I've gotten used to the shock factor. I did live with Bear and Pearl for the last few weeks." Mia laughingly replied.

"Oh, you are a brave soul. I'm Charity. This is Tick." She pointed up at the man who was still holding her. "And the little scamp is Max our son."

"Nice to meet you all." Mia said meaning it now that she knew she hadn't just walked into a domestic nightmare.

"Likewise." Tick said nodding to her.

"Let go inside and eat there's plenty for everyone. Tick you set the table while I get Max into his PJ's. Ratchet you and Mia rest. I know that was a long ride." They all headed into the house following her.

A little while later Mia was full to the brim and very content sitting at the table laughing with the little family and Ratchet. Charity had made a pot roast for dinner that melted in your mouth. She'd almost cried it had been that good. Which was why she was stuffed. The small group seemed to know each other well and it was obvious that the two men although not related were like brothers.

It made Mia a little sad. She thought of Raven and Marcus and even Matt who were still in the city. She wished that she could have convinced them to come here to live. She understood that they were not willing to leave the only home they'd ever known, but it still made her sad. When they finally left Mia hugged Charity telling her she'd be back in the morning to help the woman with the costumes for the play.

Ratchet gathered her on the bike and drove them the short distance to his home. It was a little cabin with three bedrooms. She entered with him tired and full. She followed him as he took her on a tour. She was surprised to see that it was well decorated and she wondered who'd helped him because there was no way the man had done it himself.

They had reached the third bedroom which was an office with cool tans when she decided she wanted to know who'd done the decorating. She hoped it wasn't a past lover she didn't know if she'd be okay with that if he told her that was who'd done it.

"Who helped you with the decorating?" Mia asked him.

Ratchet could tell by her tone that something was wrong. He'd suspected something was up when he took her through each room in his home and her expression had became grimmer with each room they entered. He thought maybe it was that she was nervous but the question she'd finally asked when they reached his office let him know exactly what was bothering her. She was jealous of who ever had decorated for him, he realized grinning. He liked that she was a bit jealous. She didn't need to be, but he still liked it. Vivi, Tick's former old lady, had taken one look at his place and demanded to be allowed to fix it. He'd thought his house was fine until he'd agreed to allow her to decorate and seen how it looked after she was finished. He smiled at the memory. Vivi had been such a good person.

"It was Vivi." He said knowing that she didn't know who that was and would still be jealous. He wanted to play with her a bit.

"Oh, and who is Vivi?" Mia asked her eyes narrowing on the man. He'd let a woman outfit his house. She must have been important to him. She didn't like that. Not one d.a.m.ned bit.

Ratchet caught her around the waist laughing. She was so cute when she was mad. "Don't look so jealous, beauty. Vivi was Tick's old lady. Max's mother. She died about two years ago."

"Oh." Mia said feeling stupid that she'd gotten jealous over something like the fact that he'd let a woman design his home. Really she needed to get a grip.

"Don't worry beauty. You're the only woman I want. Now let's go christen the bed I'm suddenly very tired." Ratchet rubbed his hard c.o.c.k against her back letting her know what he was thinking had nothing to do with sleeping.

Laughing Mia asked, "Don't you ever think of anything but s.e.x?"

"Nope. Not when you're around." Ratchet grumbled scooping her up and carrying her to their room. She laughed and hit his back lightly in protest as he carried her into the room throwing her down on the bed. He pounced kissing her into giggling submission.

Chapter 19.

Mia woke early the next morning and headed over to meet Charity at her place. She walked up the steps to the porch to see a laughing Charity opening the door as she tried to get away from Tick who was trying to pull her into his arms for a kiss.

"Stop, you beast. I need to leave! You'll live for a few hours." Charity told him.

"But baby girl. Max is at Conner's and we could spend the day in the bed. Come on, don't leave me like this. It's cruel." Tick growled as she pulled away still laughing.

"No. Mia's here see. I have to go, you wicked man." Charity said as she tried unsuccessfully to extract herself from his arms.

"Hi, Mia. I think Ratchet could distract her if I called him then she'd be okay with you staying in bed with me all day. Win. Win. See." Tick stage whispered making Mia laugh.

"Yes, but then the kids wouldn't have costumes for the play we're doing for Christmas. Now be good and let me go. I will be back in three hours. You'll survive until then. I left you some sticky buns in the kitchen." Charity said pushing against his chest again.

"Sticky buns?" Tick asked his head raising. His arms loosening. Then he released her after a quick kiss on the lips and demanded as he smacked her on the a.s.s. "Why the h.e.l.l didn't you say so, woman? Ratchet's supposed to be here in ten minutes and that b.a.s.t.a.r.d always tries to eat them all." Then he turned rushing back into the house presumably after the sticky buns.

"I swear that man is going to get fat if he keeps eating so many of my sticky buns." Charity said laughing. "Let's hurry before he figures out I didn't make him any this morning." She came rushing down the stairs grinning. They were about to drive out of the yard when they heard a roar and Tick was standing on the porch glaring at them as they drove away.

Mia laughed. "He's going to be mad about that I think."

"Most likely." Charity said with a little shiver. Her smile didn't faultier in the least so Mia didn't worry about her new friend.

They pulled up to another cabin about five minutes later. Mia helped Charity unload the bolts of cloth and other sewing supplies as they entered the large farm house. She learned that it was like the clubhouse in Devils Falls. Prospects were immediately taking the loads of cloth from them and took over unloading without even being asked.

"Mia, I'd like you to meet Cindy, she's Alex's mom." She indicated a woman who looked to be in her early forties. She had blonde hair and a sweet smile. "Maria, she's Conner's mom." She indicated the dark haired beauty with dark gray eyes. "And this is Lucy, she's Cindy's oldest." She indicated the young girl who looked to be about seventeen.

"Hi, nice to meet you." Mia said as they sat down with the other women.

"Is this Ratchet's new woman?" Cindy asked, looking surprised.

"Yes." Charity answered for her when she blushed.

"Huh, thought she'd be a leggy blonde. He always went for the tall blondes." Cindy muttered as she cut out the pattern she was making.

"Mom!" Lucy cried.

Mia wasn't sure if what the woman had said was supposed to be an insult.

"What? You know it's true. He always went for those airheaded b.i.t.c.hes. Glad he ended up with someone with a brain rather than the bimbo I expected." Cindy said looking at her daughter.

"Don't mind her. She's never had a filter." Maria said shaking her head.

"It's okay. I'm glad she thinks I have a brain." Mia smiled at the woman who looked up with a grin.

"I think you'll fit in here nicely. So Mia what's it like in the city's fancy district. Charity told me that's where you're from." Cindy asked.

She answered questions from the four women about the city for over three hours. When they began talking about the club and the fact that they were missing a teacher at the school in the town since Vera had been the one to teach the six year olds. It was brought up when Charity asked Cindy who was teaching the six year olds now since she taught the eight year olds at the school. They'd been discussing the fact that there wasn't anyone to take over the cla.s.ses and the other teachers were each taking on a few of the younger students. Mia offered to help, she'd taught in the city before Uncle Tristen had died. That was how she ended up with a job. She found over the next few weeks that she loved it.

Ratchet and she settled into a routine after that day and she was very content. Christmas came and went the moment that night by the Christmas tree when it had started snowing had been magical and one of the happiest moments of her life. She wasn't sure what had happened in the last three months to change all that. She'd been so happy. Yet lately every time she turned around the man was gone. And when he was home they were fighting over him being gone or having s.e.x. It was always on club business that seemed to bring home a grim almost cold Ratchet.

He was slowly pulling away from her, she thought sitting in the large armchair in the living room waiting on the man to show up. She'd had enough. This time the man had been gone for eight days. She'd have been okay with that if the man had at least called her to let her know he was still alive. She knew he was okay only because Charity kept her in the loop. Tick was with Ratchet and she asked about him for Mia.

Mia had had it with his lack of care for her feelings. If the man wanted to be such a d.i.c.k then fine. He could be a lonely d.i.c.k. She'd never agreed to be treated as a s.e.x doll he took out when he felt a little h.o.r.n.y and then shoved back into the closet when he was done. Maybe she was being a little harsh in her thinking. When he was here they didn't fight. They were happy then, but when he left he never called to let her know he was okay and it hurt her that he didn't think of her feelings. She'd told him that she worried and wanted him to call, but did the man call?

No, he told Tick to tell Charity he was good. How dare he? Had the man even called to tell her that he was going to be home tonight after eight freaking days of being gone? Nope. He'd told Charity to call her. How dare he! She was done with this. Just done. She'd been stewing all day about it. She heard his bike pulling up and stood waiting. She was going to tell him she'd had enough of this bulls.h.i.t.

Ratchet was bone tired. They'd been after a group of Jackal's they'd thought were running the Juice shipment they were looking for. Only two days ago when they caught the little b.a.s.t.a.r.ds they'd discovered they were a f.u.c.king decoy. He'd been away from Mia for eight f.u.c.king days. Eight f.u.c.king days, chasing those idiots to find out that they'd been on a wild goose chase. What the f.u.c.k?

He'd ridden almost all day with Tick to get back here. They'd both wanted to be home. Ratchet was glad that he was finally going to be able to hold Mia tonight. He'd missed her terribly. He was so glad that he was finally home. She'd hold him and kiss him and make the anger that seemed to burn at a low simmer under his skin lately go away. It was a good thing when he was with her he didn't feel it because it making him want to rip into something at every turn. He needed to hold her. It always seemed to put his anger on the back burner when he held her.

She would want a fight in the morning he was sure. He grinned. She always started complaining that he didn't let her know he was alive when he was gone. This time he'd told Tick to let her know he was okay when they were on the road and he'd stop to be sure Max and Charity were okay. Tick had looked at him oddly and asked, 'You sure that's the way you want to go?'

Ratchet had nodded. Talking to her made it hard not to rush back to her without dealing with the s.h.i.t that needed to be taken care of. He wanted to be with her all the time. He didn't want to be off chasing Jackal's and hearing her voice would only make that worse. He wasn't used to needing to check in either. He knew that she'd still be a bit ticked that he'd let Tick tell Charity instead of calling her, but she'd forgive him when he explained why he didn't call her.

He pulled up to the cabin getting off the bike his head spinning with his need to hold her. He entered the living room to find her standing by the armchair she loved to curl up in. She was hugging herself and he wanted to know what was wrong. He dropped his bag and moved towards her only to see her raise a hand to warn him off.

Surprised, he demanded, "What's wrong? Tell me."

He knew that his voice was dark, but he couldn't help it. Mia was really upset and whoever had made her that way had better watch out because he was going to kill them for upsetting her.

"You should eat first. I left some chicken and dumplings on the stove for you. Then we can talk." Mia told him still looking upset and it made him angrier that she was sitting here upset and she wanted him to eat. Was she out of her mind? He needed to know what had upset her. She should never be this upset.

"No, tell what the h.e.l.l is wrong!" Ratchet roared.

"Fine. You didn't bother to call me. It's been eight days Ratchet. And you didn't call." Mia looked so heart broken in that moment that he wanted to take her in his arms and kiss it better. s.h.i.t, he hadn't thought it would hurt her like this. He'd never wanted that. Maybe he'd been selfish not calling her because it made him miss her more. He opened his mouth to tell her why he hadn't called her but her next words made him see red.

"I've had enough, Ratchet. You have no respect for my needs. I asked you the last time you pulled this c.r.a.p to let me know you were okay. You didn't even call me once!" Mia screamed.

"What are you saying Mia? That because I didn't call you you're leaving me? Because that is bulls.h.i.t. If you leave it's because you choose to. I made sure Tick told Charity to let you know I was okay, d.a.m.n it!" Ratchet couldn't believe that she would throw away what they had because he hadn't called her. That was just f.u.c.king bulls.h.i.t.

"Yes! That is what I'm saying. I obviously don't matter to you. That's what you were telling me! You couldn't even bother calling me. For all I know you're with another woman!" Mia wasn't sure why she'd said that but maybe that was part of her fear. That because he wasn't concerned with her feelings he wasn't as in love with her as she was him. Wait, had she just admitted to herself that she loved him? Oh, G.o.d. She did. She loved him.

"That's what you think! That I am such a f.u.c.king d.i.c.k that I would f.u.c.k around on you while I'm away. f.u.c.k, Mia. That's insulting." Ratchet grumbled, hurt that she could say that to him.

"I can't do this anymore, Ratchet." Mia said, her lips trembling as tears started rolling down her cheeks. She meant fighting with him, but what he said next nearly ripped out her heart.

"Fine." His jaw was clenched and his hands were fisted by his sides. "Get your s.h.i.t." He yelled at her even as his heart clenched at the thought, and his inner voice was screaming that he was an idiot.

"That's all you have to say to me 'get your s.h.i.t'?" She looked so hurt he wanted to take it back and beg her to forgive him, but he set his jaw. He wouldn't beg her to stay. If she wanted to go fine.

"You're the one screaming that I'm f.u.c.king around on you. I just got home after being gone for a week and I just wanted a hot meal and some sleep." And to hold her you idiot, his inner voice grumbled but he ignored it. "So yeah that's all I have to say." Ratchet finished glaring at her.