Tiny’s phone buzzed in his back pocket, and he pulled it out, reading the text.His jaw tightened, but there was an almost maniacal gleam in his eyes.The man was looking forward to whatever was about to happen.“You do exactly what I say.Understand?”His expression was firm, a man expecting to be obeyed.Strangely, I’d seen the same look from Andy, but… different.Tiny was most definitely capable of violence.A man his size who’d been in prison would have to be.The difference was subtle, and I couldn’t quite put my finger on it.But I thought maybe I felt differently because this dangerous mien he showed now meant he was intervening on my behalf rather than wanting to hurt me.
I nodded.“What’s happening?”
“He’s here.And I’m going out to meet him.”
The intercom in the lobby crackled.“Uh, Ms.Penny?There’s a man at the door?He says you called him and told him to meet you here.”
I felt myself go cold.“No,” I said, but my voice was too soft for the mic to pick up.
Tiny turned sharply and started toward the lobby.“Motherfucker’s got balls.Or, more likely, thinks he can bribe us.”He gave me one more firm look.“Stay here, honey.”His voice was gentle as ever, which belied the anger in his movements.
I followed anyway, moving without realizing I was going to.By the time I caught up, Andy was at the glass.He’d ditched the suit for designer jeans and a Henley that still managed to look expensive.His hair was perfect, not a strand out of place, but his face was red with fury.He pounded on the glass with the flat of his hand, making the whole door rattle in its frame.
“Penny.”His voice echoed through the empty lobby.“I know you have my girls in there.I have a right to see my kids.Don’t make me get a judge involved.”It was a threat.I knew Andy had judges back in Memphis in his pocket.It wasn’t a stretch to think some of his judge pals knew judges in Nashville and had sway here.If he chose to, I had no doubt he could take both my girls from me.
I shrank back, instinctively looking for cover.But Tiny just squared his shoulders and shoved open the door.Since the windows were one way, Andy couldn’t see inside.So when Tiny took two steps out the door, placing himself between Andy and the only entrance on this side of the building, he didn’t say a word.He just… stood there.Unmoving.
Andy took a couple of steps back, startled by the sight of the giant in his club colors blocking his view inside the building.For a moment, Andy looked afraid.His eyes got wide, and I could actually see a sheen of sweat appear beneath the lights in the parking lot.Then the calculation began.He smiled.“What ‘cha got there, Penny?You get your own goon squad now?That’s cute.”
He shifted, catching sight of me behind Tiny’s bulk.Then he looked up at the larger man.“You really think this muscle-bound retard’s going to keep you safe?”he jeered.“You think I don’t know how to get through a bunch of dumb, criminal bikers?That’s who you’re trusting with my daughters?”He looked back at me.“Let me see my daughters.You owe me that much.”
Tiny’s voice was so calm it barely seemed real.“Go home.You’re not getting in tonight.Or any other night.”
Andy sneered.“Is that what this is about?You think you can scare me with your bulk and your attitude, fat motherfucker?I could buy and sell you, you piece of shit.”Then Andy shifted tactics, dropping his voice and trying to sound reasonable.“Penny, be sensible.You know this isn’t a good look for you.The judge isn’t going to like it if you keep my children from me.I’m not the enemy.I just want to work things out.”His eyes flicked back to Tiny, and then he laughed.“Jesus Christ.Penny, you realize who you’re dealing with, don’t you?Ask any cop what happens to women who hang around biker gangs.You think you’re escaping a nightmare, but you’re just walking into a worse one.”
My hands shook, but I held my ground.The world had taught me that men like Andy always got their way, always talked their way back in, but right now I had a wall of muscle and stubbornness between him and us.Tiny didn’t move.He waited until the only sound was Andy’s heavy breathing as he looked at me.
Finally, Andy seemed to give up, but I didn’t need his warning to know it was only a temporary retreat.“This isn’t over,” he snarled, turning away.“You’ll regret this, Penny.You will.”
He stalked back to his car.As I watched the taillights retreat down the road, my whole body trembled so hard I thought I’d collapse.Tiny didn’t look at me right away.He waited until the sound of the engine faded, then turned, his eyes searching my face.“You good?”
I let out a laugh that was closer to a sob.“Not even close,” I whispered.“But I will be.”
He reached out, as if to touch my shoulder, then seemed to think better of it and let his hand fall.“If you want to hit something, I can get you a pillow,” he said softly.
I snorted, surprised at the absurdity of the offer, and a real laugh broke through the haze of fear.“Sounds like really good therapy.”
He nodded, then jerked his chin toward the elevators.“Let’s get you back to your girls.”
I followed, numb but moving, and didn’t even notice until we were halfway to my floor that he was walking just behind me the whole way.I wanted to turn and say thank you, but the words stuck in my throat.If I spoke now, I knew I’d break down in front of this man, and I couldn’t do that.Not yet.Maybe not ever.
Once inside the apartment, Kira was already in bed, curled around Mr.Hoppers, but Zelda was waiting in the dark by the window, watching the street.She saw me come in and asked, “Did he go away?”
“For now,” I said, and knelt beside her.“We’re safe.Tiny made sure.”
She nodded, pressing her face against my shoulder.“He doesn’t scare easy, does he?”
“Who, Tiny?”I asked.
“Yeah.He’s not afraid of Dad.”
“He really isn’t,” I confirmed with a small smile.“Let’s get some sleep.Violet said Caleb was coming by in the morning to take you down for breakfast if you and Kira want to go ahead.”
“I like it here, Mommy.”Zelda spoke softly, sounding almost vulnerable.“No one’s scary to us.Only to people like Dad.”
“I know, baby.I like it here too.”
Zelda wrapped her thin arms around my waist, and we hugged each other for a long time before she let me go.Then she went to bed, but in her sister’s room.No doubt she’d sleep in there for several days until she felt certain the threat was over.Zelda would always protect her sister.No matter what.
