I searched his expression for any hint Tiny was playing me.All I found was sincere concern and fierce determination.“Thank you.”My voice was soft.Even I could hear the fear, but I took a deep breath and let it out slowly.“Just your presence is reassuring.I hate to be a bother --”
“You’re not.”He held my gaze with his steady one.“Use my number.I’m only a phone call away.Even if all you want is for me to sit outside your door.”He gestured to our apartment door.“I’ll sit out here between you and the hallway.No one’s gettin’ past me to you guys.”
I sucked in a breath as tears spilled over my eyes and down my cheeks.I hastily turned away and brushed at my face.“I know.Thank you, Tiny.I owe you and Violet and Caleb more than I’ll ever be able to repay.”
“Just stay away from the windows as much as you can, honey.Keep the girls away too.We’ve all got your back, but I will always stand between the three of you and any danger.No matter who or what.”I’d never had anyone make that promise I thought might keep it.I knew absolutely without question Tiny would live up to his promise.
Before I could think about it too much, I reached for him.I intended to give him a hug, but even on my tiptoes, I had trouble getting my arms around his neck.Tiny leaned down and enveloped me in those impossibly large arms and immediately, all the tension left my body.He was warm and strong and so Goddamned gentle as he protected me from the outside world.It was only a brief moment, but I knew I’d always remember how safe I felt for those precious few seconds.
When I pulled away, I couldn’t help but look up at him.While I dreaded seeing a look of pity, there was a small part of me inside begging to know if he felt this same pull toward me I was feeling for him.He looked down into my gaze and suddenly, I was falling forward.Or maybe he was leaning down toward me.
I sucked in a shuddering breath a moment before our lips met in a gentle press.That was all it was, but I felt the impact all the way to my toes.Sure, there was more than a spark of lust inside me, but mostly, I wanted to sag against him in relief.Not because I was kissing him or could still feel arousal after everything I’d lived through with Andy.Because an overwhelming sense of safety and peace enveloped me when his lips touched mine and I knew in my very bones this man would always put himself between me and the girls and any threat headed our way.Whether we were a couple or not.It was all there in that chaste kiss.
Now I was afraid, pure and simple.Not of Tiny.Never him.I feared for myself.Because, if he continued to see us every day like he had been, I couldn’t imagine a scenario where I didn’t miss him for the rest of my life when he left.
Once inside the apartment, I pulled the blinds tight and triple-checked the window locks.The twins watched me intently.Kira shed her shoes, then pressed her back to the wall and kept her eyes fixed on the door.Zelda, arms crossed, watched me instead.She probably wanted to ask something but didn’t want her sister to hear.
I went through the motions of preparing for bed.All the while, I strained to hear any noise from the hallway or outside, certain I’d catch the metallic purr of the BMW’s engine or the telltale staccato of Andy’s angry footsteps on the stairs even though I knew he couldn’t get inside the building, let alone up to my apartment.
When I heard movement outside our door, I froze, fingers tightening on the edge of the Formica table.A gentle knock.I nearly came out of my skin.
“It’s me,” Violet called softly through the wood.
I cracked the door and saw her standing alone, concern etched deep into her pale features.“Knight’s almost finished tinkering with the cameras,” she said.“He and Tiny will be here most of the night.Riot’s watching the gate.They’ve even got a few of the brothers keeping watch on the only road in or out of this area.He’s not getting past us now.”Her gaze flicked past me, toward the twins.“You can sleep easy tonight, Penny.We’ve all got your back.”
Sleep easy.The phrase sounded obscene.“Thank you,” I managed.“Is he still out there?”
She shook her head.“Not since dusk.But we’re not taking chances.”
“Can I…” I didn’t finish the question.I didn’t want to leave the girls alone, but I also didn’t want them anywhere near Andy if he came back.“Never mind.”
Violet nodded, as if I’d said something important.“If you want, I’ll stay in the room with them.I can bring a laptop and get some work done while they sleep.”
I hesitated, glancing at the twins.Kira was watching cartoons on mute, but Zelda’s eyes were on me, waiting.I nodded, not trusting myself to speak.
Violet followed me back into the apartment and set up at the kitchen table, her laptop glowing blue in the half-dark.“Go on,” she said quietly.“If you need anything, just knock on the wall.”
I slipped out and walked the halls.On the main floor, the common area was empty except for Tiny, who stood by the entry with his arms folded and his gaze fixed on the darkened window.
He didn’t look up as I approached, but I saw his jaw clench.“You all right?”he asked, still watching the lot outside.
“Not really,” I said, because there was no point in lying to a man who’d already seen me at my lowest.“Is he coming back?”
“Don’t know,” Tiny said.“Probably.When he does, he and I are havin’ a come-to-Jesus meeting, so let him come.”
I peered out the window beside him.Nothing moved on the lot.“He’s never been this direct before,” I said quietly.“I thought he’d try to charm his way in.Talk to the staff, pretend he was worried about the girls.This is new.”
Tiny snorted.“Sometimes, when a guy knows he’s about to lose, he doubles down on the crazy.”
We stood in silence for a while, his presence comforting.I found myself leaning toward the warmth that radiated from his body, letting it shore up the places inside me crumbling under the pressure.
The moment shattered when the phone in my pocket buzzed again.
Andy:The girls need their father.You’re traumatizing them.If you make me come up, I’ll call the police.How do you think this looks?
I felt the rage crawl up my throat, sour and choking.I held out the phone so Tiny could read it.He read the text, then looked at me, his expression unreadable.“He’s going to try to scare you into coming out by making you look unstable.”
“He’s good at that,” I said, bitterness slipping out.“Used to have me doubting my own memory.There were times I thought I was going crazy.”
