Page 36 of Twisted Tate

“None of this is your fault, baby girl.” I cup her cheeks. “I swear on my life that I am going to take care of them. Michael Collier is never going to fucking touch you again. None of them are.”

“He’s connected. His family is powerful in our world. You can’t just—”

“Watch me.” I hold her gaze. “I don’t give a shit about any of their connections. My connections are better. Every name you just gave me is a dead man. They just don’t fucking know it yet.”

She stares at me. Then her face crumbles, and she buries her head against my chest.

The sobs come in waves—huge, wracking surges that shake her entire body. I hold her through it, stroking her hair. She’s crying out years of pain, years of fear, years of pretending she was fine when she was dying inside.

I already know how I’m going to fix it. I’m going to make sure she’s well fucked and that every one of the bastards die.

When she finally stops, she lifts her head and wipes her eyes. Her face is blotchy and swollen. And she’s still beautiful.

“I’m sorry.” She shakes her head. “I didn’t mean to do that.”

“You are done apologizing.” I brush tears from her cheeks. “You don’t have anything to be sorry for. Ever.”

Fresh tears spill. “I never put up a fight. Maybe if I’d fought—”

“No.” I grip her chin. “Fucking stop.”

She kisses me. Soft and slow. It’s nothing like the desperate kisses in the shower. It’s so much more.

When she pulls back, her eyes search mine. I don’t know what I’m feeling when I look at her. I’ve never felt it before.

“What happens now?”

“Well, now I need to call my brother.” I reach for my phone. “Fox knows I have you. My father knows something’s going on. We need to bring them in.”

“Can we trust them?”

“I already told you why I started this.” She nods in understanding. “And I trust my family with my life, and yours. This is personal for them, too.”

“I’m nervous, Tate.”

My poor baby girl. She’s emotionally wrecked and her entire world is upside down. And I’m going to make it fucking better for her.

“I’ve got you. Give it all to me, baby girl.” I kiss her brow. “I’ll ask him to come tomorrow. You can tell them as much or as little as you want, and we’ll figure out how to end this. Together.”

She takes a breath. “Okay.”

“Okay?”

“Okay.” Determination settles into her expression. “I want them to pay.”

“And they will, baby girl.”

I pull up Fox’s number on my phone and hit call.

Fox picks up on the second ring. “It’s about fucking time, brother. I was starting to worry you got yourself killed.”

“I need you at the cabin. And bring Ivy. But don’t tell Dad yet. I want to talk to you first.”

“What’s going on? Dad’s stalling the Council, but they’re losing patience. They are starting to question why his Talons can’t find the Donaldson girl.”

“I know. I’ll fucking explain when you get here.” I look at Reese, wearing my clothes, her face still tearstained but her chin lifted. “There’s someone you need to meet. Someone who changes everything about how we handle Jenson Donaldson.”

Fox goes quiet. “She needs you to protect her? The daughter.”