“I appreciate that, sir.” But I don’t think Paige wants to press charges. She’s concerned about the effect this will have on her business and doesn’t want people talking about her, even if she has every right.
“Do you mind if I keep these?” Peter indicates the papers.
“Of course.”
I pull myself out of my chair and lean on my good leg to shake the hand Peter offers.
“Thank you for coming to me with this. I know just how to handle it.”
“I knew you would, sir.”
He holds open the door to his office. “Do you mind seeing yourself out? I want to speak to Chad right away.”
“Of course.”
I walk to the entryway, only mildly limping, and pull the heavy door open. As I shut the door behind me, a black SUV pulls up in the driveway, and a young man leaps out of it. He’s got floppy blond hair and wears a crumpled polo shirt.
My fists clench at my sides as anger surges through me.
Chad jogs up the steps and looks me up and down, frowning. “Can I help you?”
I lurch toward him and, in one quick movement, have him pinned against a pillar. Pain jolts up my thigh, fueling my anger.
Chad’s eyes go wide. “What the fuck?”
My forearm pins him against the pillar, and I get up in his face. “You mess with my woman or child again, and you’ll regret it.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he splutters.
“I’m talking about Paige. You stay away from her and her property. You don’t look at her, you don’t speak to her, and you don’t troll her online.”
“It was just for laughs. Can’t she take a joke?”
“It was beyond a joke. And if you try anything like that again”—I roll my forearm up his chest so it presses against his neck—“I’ve got an entire team of ex-Navy SEALs in my corner. And we’ll come for you.”
His eyes bulge out of his head, and his face goes red. I apply more pressure as he gasps for air. His arms flail by his sides, and a surge of rage courses through me.
But then I think of Paige and Noah. I’m no good to them if I let my anger get the better of me.
I release my hold on him, and he sags against the pillar, clutching his throat. Then I hobble down the stairs, not sparing him a backward glance.
Marcus is leaning against the pickup waiting for me. “You good?” he asks.
I walk toward the car, holding down the pain. I’ll need a few days in bed, and I’ll be back in my chair for a while, but it was worth it. “Yup.”
As Marcus gets in the driver’s seat, I ease myself into the passenger seat. “You look like you took care of business.”
As we pull out of the Huntingtons’ driveway, a smile spreads across my face as I respond, “I did.”
I can still protect my woman and child.
29
PAIGE
Iknock on the door to Ryan’s room and push it open gently. He’s in bed, with the prosthetic leg resting up against the wall and his wheelchair tucked in beside the bed. He sits up when he sees me and winces.
“Is it sore?”
