“He’s not going to get away with it,” I insert.
“It’s been six, almost seven years, Parker. What proof do I have? The fact I had no hangover and the girls say I wasn’t drunk?” She shakes her head. “What if I was seen leaving with him?”
“Leaving with him and consenting to sex are two different things, baby.” I reach over and tilt her chin. “We’ve already got someone checking into his record.”
“I thought there was a limitation in Texas?”
“Ten years for criminal, five for civil.” I clear my throat.
Of course I’ve already researched it.
“But it’s my word against his.” She shifts on the couch. “You know, I don’t know if him drugging me is the worst thing or not.”
My hand moves over to find hers, intertwining our fingers. “What do you mean?”
“I feel like the only thing saving me right now is the fact that Idon’tremember. I don’t remember anything. Is it horrible that I’m glad I don’t?” Her eyes fill with tears, so I take the mug from her hand and set it on the coffee table before I tug her to me.
“No, it’s not horrible.” I press a kiss to the crown of her head. “You cope however you need to.”“I’ve spent so long feeling guilty. Feeling like an embarrassment.” Her voice hardens. “And for nothing. Because Ididn’tmake some reckless decision. I didn’t sleep with a terrible human just to get back at you.” She cranes her neck to look up at me. “I’m angry that he used me. But…Trace.” A tear slips down her cheek. “How am I supposed to regret the thing that gave me him?”
“I don’t know, baby.” I run my thumb along her cheekbone. “You don’t have to regret it. But you don’t have to accept it either. He hurt you. He assaulted you, Laik. He should be punished.”
“He calls me a whore,” she whispers. “When he gets angry. He has the nerve to call me that after he did what he did.”
Anger races through my veins.Yeah, I’m going to kill him. Slow and painful.
Then it hits me.
“The paternity test.”
“What about it?” She frowns.
“You need to get it.”
“But that just proves Trace is his and we alre—” she breaks off.
“You’ve never had biological proof before, right?” I ask.
“No.” Her eyes widen. “But it still doesn’t prove anything. And honestly, I’m not sure I want to dig up that night. He’s in the public eye. That means it willallbe public. This doesn’t just affect me. It affects Trace too. I don’t want anyone to treat him differently. Or treat me differently.”
I tuck a piece of hair behind her ear. “I know it’s complicated, but it’s a start. And I’ll be right here with you. Every step.”
Our eyes lock, a million unsaid words tethered between us. I love this woman. More than life itself. She’s the strongest person I know besides my mother. The two women I’d burn down the world for. And I’m about to burn down anything in my path that keeps her from getting justice.
“I will do whatever it takes to protect you both. No matter what.”
“Parker…” Her whisper is quiet, her eyes pleading for something I don’t think I can give her.
There’s longing. Fire. Desire.
“You’ve had a long day, Laik.” I shift away. “You need to get some rest.”
“But I don’t want to rest,” she counters.
Stubborn as ever. Her hand trails down my tattooed arm and latches onto the back of my hand, her fingers fitting so perfectly over mine. “The last person to touch me was that monster.”
The confession lands like a blow to the stomach.
“What do you mean?” I lean up from the cushions.
