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“Word.” It slips past my lips in a low whisper, almost drowned by the busy restaurant, but Gina hears. Without asking any questions, she walks with me to the table and helps me grab my purse from its place on the chair beside mine. She guides me out of the place, ignoring their protests and the call of my name.
Nothing registers as we make it outside and continue toward parking.
Not when we pass our car. Not when another door nearby opens.
Nothing, until a pair of arms I know pull me inside the backseat of a large SUV and settles me on his lap. His touch awakens me then. Breaks down every fucking wall that once stood around my heart, protecting me.
The moment he whispers in my ear I’ve got you, I break down.
26
SHE’S SHAKING. SOBBING.
Pouring out years of pain and anger caused by two assholes I’m going to kill. A slow death. Agonizing as I repay them with the same kindness they’ve given her.
The anger flowing through my veins is blinding. Consuming me while my limbs feel tight. Muscles tense—clenching as my desire for violence grows. It’s been building since I landed, and Javier told me where they were. Why they were here.
I tried being civil for her sake. They should be thankful to still be alive.
Yet, the moment I step out of town, the lowlifes came out to play. Whatever they said, hurt her. Broke down that final reinforced-steel-wall she hid behind to escape this pain.
And on the anniversary of her mother’s death.
“I’m sorry, Twirl. So sorry I didn’t make it back to you earlier,” I whisper into the crown of her head while wrapping my arms tight around her small frame. She’s against my chest, burrowing her face into my neck as the tears soak my collar. Her small, nimble fingers cling—hold on to the fabric of my shirt in a death grip as more teardrops flow. “Please don’t cry. Seeing you this upset is killing me.”
“No one dies from tears,” she mutters low, then hiccups. The sound is cute. “And I can’t stop them. Just so much—”
“I know.” The car slips into traffic easily, taking the route toward my home. There’s a minute nod against my skin and then a long, shuddering sigh. We don’t speak as my driver maneuvers around cars or when the occasional horn is honked.
We just stay as we are while I run my fingers up and down her spine in a gentle motion. It takes a while for her sobs to calm and for her breathing to even out, letting me know she fell asleep.
London is clinging to me while I offer her support. I inhale her soft scent, pulling the floral smell deep into my being as I try and keep my composure. The more she relaxes, the more my ire burns bright.
Knowing she’s resting gives me a chance to speak with Javier. He’s sitting in the front passenger seat and fuming. He cracks his neck then knuckles, body shaking a bit.
“What the fuck happened?” I hiss out from between clenching teeth, my jaw ticking as I fight to keep my voice low. The last thing I want is to wake her up.
“Alton grabbed her hand and wouldn’t let go...” he pauses, looking back at her with regret when she whimpers “...when we saw that, I got up and Gina took her to the bathroom. My eyes stayed on them the entire time after I sent the message, but they wouldn’t look at me. By the time they came back, London heard something, and Gina took her out. When the Fosters stood to follow, I threatened to shoot, and they sat back down. My focus was on removing her at all cost.”
“Okay.” Shifting her a bit so she’s more comfortable, I lay a kiss on her forehead. Then add another to her cheek that’s still wet with tears. “In forty-eight hours, I want everything back in her name. Enough with the childish games.”
“Consider it done.”
I give him a nod and then look back down at the gorgeous girl in my arms. Skin blotchy and a slight mess, she still takes my breath away. Stirs in me a protective side no one, not even my mother, has ever seen.
“I’m going to make this right,” I whisper against her temple. They’re going to pay for this in blood, and it’s time I start collecting.
“Welcome back to the land of the living, sleepyhead,” I say, startling her just inside the kitchen entrance, causing her to squeak. It’s a high-pitched sound that I find...cute. Makes me want to bite her just a little bit. “Are you hungry?”
I’ve been awake for hours thinking now, weighing my options. However, after speaking with Gina and knowing what she heard, it’s time we talk. No more waiting.
London needs to make a few tough decisions today. The first comes in signing her name on the dotted line of a few sheets of paperwork to regain the power over her future. I’ll always support her, but as my equal and not someone who lets fear dictate her life.
However, I know that will come with time. With my patience and helping her see that what they did—how they treated her—isn’t normal.
London narrows her eyes at me and huffs with a hand on her chest. “What are you doing hiding in corners?”
“It’s hardly hiding when I’m sitting here finishing my breakfast out in the open.” Pushing out a chair with my foot, I point to it with my fork. “Join me.”
