Shaking my head, I countered, “Actually, I’m not.” Closing the distance between us, I demanded, “How dare you bust in here like I’m seventeen and missed curfew? I’m a grown woman.”
“I’m aware of that.”
“Then why are you here?”
“Joy and I are worried about you. You haven’t been to Sunday dinner in weeks. You barely answer our calls.”
Although guilt flooded me at worrying them, I still wasn’t letting him off the hook. “I’ve been very busy lately.”
With a look of disdain, Paul replied, “I’m aware of what you’ve been up to and with who.”
When Deacon took a step towards Paul, I grabbed his arm. “Do not hurt him.”
Deacon didn’t take his eyes off Paul. “I sure as hell don’t want to. No matter how I feel about you, I won’t have him coming in my house and disrespecting me. ”
At Deacon’s reference to his feelings for me, Paul staggered back. “You care about her?”
“I do.” Crossing his arms over his chest, he cocked his head. “Wanna know how much?”
“Deacon—” I warned.
“I killed the man who tortured her and tried to rape her”
Horror etched across Paul’s face as he turned open mouthed to me. “What…” He swallowed hard. A few seconds past as he stared at me. “What is he talking about, Alexandra?” he demanded.
“Let’s sit down. Okay?”
After nodding absently, I ushered Paul over to one the tables in the corner of the clubhouse. He collapsed down into a chair. When I eased down across from him, he grabbed my hand. “Tell me right now. Is he holding you hostage?”
Although it was the worst reaction in the moment, a nervous laugh bubbled from my lips. “No, uncle Paul, he’s not.”
“You can walk out of here right now?”
“Absolutely.”
Paul glanced past me over to Deacon who leaned against the bar. “Did he really kill someone for hurting you?”
Pinching my eyes shut in pain, I whispered, “Yes.”
“Tell me everything,” he commanded.
And I did.
When I finished, I dared to look up at his ashen face. “I’m glad he killed that bastard.”
“You are?”
With a quick nod, Paul replied, “He saved me from doing it.”
Tears pooled in my eyes. “Despite how it looks, he really is a good man.”
“I think I’m going to have to disagree with you.”
“He’s good to me. And his daughter.” I swiped my eyes. “To anyone he cares about.”
“Despite the horrors you endured, you seem…” A ragged sigh rushed from his lips. “Happy.”
“I am.”
