AllFreeNovel
Share Us
And that did all kinds of melty things to Lizzie heart, but she turned her attention back to watching the man’s face go purple. He stopped struggling.
“I think he gets the picture,” Lizzie whispered.
“You get the picture?” Maker asked.
The man just nodded, and when Maker let him go, he slumped to the ground, gasping.
Lizzie felt Maker’s hand, a light touch at her back, and let him lead her toward her car.
“He come here often?” Maker asked, his voice back to its usual gruff depth.
Lizzie shook her head, “First time I’ve seen him.”
“That kinda shit the usual with those guys?”
“Sometimes they get mouthy, but I’ve never been grabbed before.”
Maker stopped, growled, and turned around.
Lizzie reached for his arm, the first time she’s knowingly touched him, and the tips of her fingers lit up at the contact.
“It’s okay,” Lizzie said, looking over her shoulder at the man who’d made it to his hands and knees but was still wheezing. “You were here.”
They started back toward her car.
“Happened to be,” Maker agreed. “Might not have been though.”
“But you were, so let’s focus on that,” Lizzie gave him her eyes and smiled. “Thank you. Not sure what I would have done….” she let that thought hang and then shrugged. “So thank you.”
“You need anything else?” Maker asked, taking the car keys from Lizzie’s hand and opening her door.
“I just wanna sleep, Maker,” Lizzie said, propping an arm on the car. “I wanna sleep and feel safe.”
“I can give you that,” Maker said.
Lizzie frowned and looked up, “You can?”
Maker moved closer, angling himself in the open door, one arm on the window, one on the roof, and leaned in, “Whatever you’ve got in your life that’s scaring you, I’m worse.”
“You wanna follow me home?” Lizzie asked, eyes flashing with relief.
“Yeah,” Maker said. “I do.”
Chapter Six
Think About the Cards You’re Holding
Anna
Walking into the music and laughter of the clubhouse was like walking back in time.
How many Saturdays had I spent holding court with Gate while the brothers and their women danced and drank into the wee hours of Sunday morning and then either dealt with their convictions at church or slept in just to wake up for an afternoon of football and comfort food.
Those had been the best years of my life, and sad as it was, I knew I’d never find that kind of happy again.
So I sucked up my disappointment and followed Stella through the etched metal front doors, plastered a smile on my face, and held a ridiculously blue baby gift in a death grip.
“Hey, chicas!” Layla’s voice traveled over the music.
