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“Oh,” she muttered. “Is something wrong?”

Eden panned the yard. Imogene did the same. They were completely alone.

Eden’s eyes welled, and she sucked in a breath. “I need a favor.”

“Sure.” Imogene inched closer, but Eden immediately stepped back.

“Can you ask him to stop?” Eden’s voice trembled on her plea.

“Ask who?”

And stop what?

“Cue.” Eden gulped, and her voice shook. “He’s making it worse.”

Making what worse?

“I appreciate it, but it’s not helping. Nothing will, so please will you help me?” Eden’s desperate tone was sending Imogene’s own fear to the next level.

She was well aware she was missing key elements to this story.

“I don’t understand.”

Eden sniffled, wiping the corner of her eyes. “He will. Just please ask him to stop.”

“Did Cue do something to you? Did he hurt you?”

Imogene was beyond shocked and confused. Of all the members of the club, Cue had been one of the most welcoming to her.

Eden vehemently shook her head. “No. If anything, I think he was trying to help.” She snorted, and a tear slipped down her cheek. “I don’t even know why he would, but it’s just making things worse for me.”

“At the motorcycle club?”

Eden gave a small nod.

“You can leave.”

She shook her head, “I can’t. I live there. My whole life is with them. I just,” —she paused, taking a breath— “I can’t leave.”

A dozen programs ran through her mind. She had pamphlets on all of them. Eden hadn’t admitted she was a victim of domestic violence, but there were too many signs to ignore.

“Can you go to a shelter? Or maybe you can stay with a friend? Do you have family close by?”

Eden’s shoulders sagged and she let out a heavy breath. “I don’t have anyone, so please just talk to Cue.”

Even if she did what Eden asked, she was still in a dangerous living space. A thought popped in her head. It was perfect.

Imogene drew in a breath. “If you need a place to stay, my apartment is vacant.”

Eden shook her head, but Imogene continued on. “It’s only fifteen minutes from here. I’ll talk to the landlord. You just have to pass the background check, and…”

“I won’t pass a background check,” Eden blurted, and wiped a tear from her cheek. She reached out, grabbing Imogene’s hand. “I appreciate the offer and everything you’re trying to do for me. I hate involving you in this. You’ve been nothing but sweet to me. More than I deserve.”

This was absolutely heartbreaking.

Imogene squeezed her hand. “You deserve people to be nice to you, Eden.”

She bowed her head, whispering, “Yeah.”