Page 18 of Protective Pucking Orc

Torrk’s usual cheerful demeanor immediately darkened. “A human?”

I nodded once.

Kardok’s tusks flashed as his lips peeled back. “Where is he?”

“Unconscious. In the alley behind the Sunrise Café.”

Torrk’s brows went up. “You left him alive?”

I didn’t answer. I should’ve killed him. I’d wanted to kill him. But my control had reasserted itself, reminding me that Sofia was my priority.

Kardok exhaled through his nose. “We’ll handle it.”

“No.” The word came out sharper than I intended. “I will.”

I needed to know who he was first. I needed information. I needed to know my Mate was healthy.

Torrk opened his mouth to argue, but the door to the medical wing swung open before he could. Martha stepped out, her expression unreadable. “Dakvaar.”

I was at her side in an instant. “Is she⁠—?”

“She’s stable,” Martha said quickly, holding up a hand. “No concussion, thankfully. Her wrist is sprained, not broken, but it’s going to hurt like hell for a few days. The bruising on her face…” She pressed her lips together. “That’s going to take longer to heal. We’ve cleaned her up, given her something for the pain. She’s resting now.”

My shoulders sagged slightly, the first hint of relief cutting through the rage. “Can I see her?”

Martha hesitated. “She’s…confused. Scared. She keeps asking for her daughter.”

Rosa.

My chest tightened. “She’s in their apartment building; one of their neighbors runs a daycare, and Rosa is there on Mondays.”

I saw Martha exhale in what might have been relief—relief that I clearly knew something about Sofia’s life?—as she held up the bag Sofia had been holding earlier. She handed the whole thing to Torrk but pulled out a wallet first.

“She said the woman’s name is Mrs. Jourdan.” She opened the wallet and handed it to me. “I was hoping the address was in here, but it’s clearly old.”

Sofia Maria Lopez.

I stared down at the Texas driver’s license, at the photo of Sofia smiling—really smiling—her dark hair loose around her shoulders, her eyes bright. The address listed was in Houston.

Houston.

That male had called her his wife.

My stomach twisted.

“Dakvaar.” Kardok’s voice was quiet. “She has a daughter?”

And a husband. I hadn’t known…but I’d feared.

The thought of her belonging to another male—any male who didn’t cherish her, who hurt her—made my vision go red.

Martha was watching me carefully. “She’s asking for you.”

That snapped me out of it. “Me?”

She nodded. “She’s disoriented, but she recognized your voice. Said your name.”

My Kteer purred, a deep, possessive sound.