“Auggie!”
She screamed again.His name this time.He shoved open her bedroom door so hard he thought it broke.And then he saw…
The man with his arm around her waist, yanking on her.He had his hand over her mouth.What in the hell?
“Get your damned hands off of her.”Cal looked into Bruce Tyler’s face.What in the hell was Tyler doing there now?What was he after?“I have waited to meet you for a long, long time.Get your hands off of her now.Before I rip you apart.”
“Cal!”
He would never forget the look on her face when he dove.For her father.For the man who had hurt her, hurt her sisters, hurt his…
Cal wrapped his fists in the man’s worn flannel shirt.He yanked the man away from her.Cal pulled his fist back and did what he hadlongwanted to do.
This…this was for his sister, who had nearly died because of this bastard.It was for Meyra and Dylan and Sage—women he liked and respected, women this man had hurt.
But mostly…it was for Auggie and her eight beautiful, wonderful, loving little sisters he had hurt over and over again.Who had deserved so much better thanBruce.
Cal threw another punch.Neverhad he despised a man more than he did the one in front of him now.
32
This was hernightmare.
Bruce was back.
Auggie had always known he was still out there.And since she’d wakened in the hospital to find out what he had done, about the little girls who needed her so much, she had justknownshe would see him again.This was the monster in her dreams—and he had always been.
Thank God Junie and Em still had all the girls.Thank God the girls were far away now.
Cal slammed his fist into her father’s face.Bruce cursed.But it was obvious—Cal was so much stronger.
Then…Bruce was running toward the door.Cal followed.
Auggie tried to keep up with the two men, but there was no way she could.She hadn’t put the brace on after her shower; there was no way she could physically keep up with the two men.
They were fighting now, in the kitchen.Cal was on top of him.Auggie yelled his name, when her father slammed his fist into Cal’s face.Cal just roared.Auggie didn’t know what todo.
She had to do something—Cal was still hurt from the wreck.His ribs were broken, he’d had a mild concussion.He could bekilledif her father struck him wrong.And her father was strong.Just as tall as Cal, but heavier.Cal was lean and toned and younger—but her father was so much heavier.And Cal was still hurting from before.
Her father scrambled to his feet.Cursing and…laughing.Why was he laughing?He was beyond insane.“Found yourself a boyfriend, baby girl?Daddy didn’t give permission!”
He ran—almost hobbled, more like it to the door—Cal was right behind him.
The girls…the girls were cominghomesoon.
She didn’t want the girls to seehim.She just didn’t know what to do now.
She didn’t want the girls to know about this.She just didn’t.
But she wasn’t going to just stand there and do nothing.Auggie followed.
33
Cal was cursing—hisdamned ribs, and Bruce Tyler.The man had gotten lucky.That was the only way the bastard had gotten away.Cal stayed where he’d landed, then heaved in a breath.He needed to get to her.Make sure that bastard hadn’t hurt her.
What had Bruce wanted here?Cal didn’t delude himself, there was no way in hell Bruce was there to see his daughters.Terrorize them, more likely.
No.That guy had been aftersomething.Looking for something, was his first bet.
