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“I love you too.”
“Hello, did you forget I was here?”
I clenched my jaw at Lila’s annoying voice. There was nothing likeable about the woman. I’d hated her from the first moment I’d met her.
Thea walked inside without a glance at her mom.
“Where’s she going?” Lila called.
Thea ignored her and closed the door behind her like I told her to. Something warmed inside my chest at the thought that she truly trusted me.
Now I had to make sure her trust was justified. “If you don’t walk away right now, I’ll call the cops. And if you ever contact Thea again, she’ll get a restraining order. Do you understand?”
“Who the fuck do you think you’re talking to?”
“I’m talking to the person who thought burning her daughter with a cigarette butt was a good way to teach her a lesson. I’m talking to the person who tried selling her daughter when she was thirteen. I’m talking to the person who forgot to feed, clothe, and enroll her daughter in school. I’m talking to the person who kicked her daughter out of her trailer in the middle of the night in winter because she didn’t want to hear her cries because she had a broken arm and no pain meds. Courtesy of the same person. I’m talking to—”
“Fuck, you’ve turned into an annoying little shit, haven’t you? You always thought you were better than us. But I guess slumming it for a while isn’t beneath you when the pussy is good.”
The way she spoke about her own daughter was disgusting. And I’d had enough. I pulled out my phone, holding it up. “So, what’s it going to be? Cops or leaving?”
She spat on the ground and adjusted her top. “This isn’t worth it. Guess I’ll be back once you’ve had enough of her.”
“Then I guess we’ll never see you again, since I plan on spending the rest of my life with Thea.”
Looking smug, she finally walked toward her car. “I give her a month at most. She’s good, but not that good. I know about the money your grandparents left you. Guess Thea always lands on her feet. Found herself someone else to take care of her.”
She knew way too much for someone who snorted most of her wages. “If she’ll let me, I’ll gladly take care of her. Now, am I making a phone call, or are you leaving?”
Giving me the finger, she returned to her car and pulled away with screeching tires, leaving a cloud of dust in her wake.
The front door of Everleigh’s house opened, and Thea stood there, face even paler than before, if that was possible. I was just glad nobody had been home to witness the Lila show. Not something you wanted a child to see.
“How did you get her to leave?”
Taking two steps at a time, I pulled Thea to me as soon as I was in front of her. She was stiff, her body trembling. I kissed her hair, holding her closer. “Threatened to call the cops.”
“That’s never worked for me. Not even when I followed through with the threat. She doesn’t care if she gets arrested.”
“Guess it’s a good thing you have someone else in your corner now, then.”
We stood there for a long time, holding each other, both lost in our own thoughts. Once Thea stopped trembling, she melted against me. “I’m not going to let her ruin our day.” She leaned back, looking up at me. “Let’s pack. Because we’re about to start our life together.”
Kissing her upturned mouth, I grinned at her. “That’s my girl.” Taking her hand, I led her back to the guesthouse. “This was the last time you’ll ever have to see her again.”
I would make sure of it. There were a few guys at Locked Security who owed me a favor, and I was happy to cash them all in to make sure Lila would never come near Thea again.
As soon as we were back in the house, Thea disappeared. As she walked off, she muttered something about shoes and not having enough suitcases. And that was when I knew she’d be fine.
I settled down on the couch, sure she’d be awhile.
When my phone rang, the display said “Carter.”
There was static once I picked up, and then he said my name.
“Carter? I can’t hear you. The connection is shit.”
There was more crackling, and I could only make out a few words. “Crash-landed… send… not kill her… not sure I’ll be able to—”
