“I will make the capacity for it with the governor,” Dr. Carpenter said. “I think it’s great for pups. We require a bit older for the first responders program, but that would be fantastic for pups who get tossed out of juvie. We know the statistics of what becomes of them.”
Yeah, they ended up in prison. I knew dozens with that exact story. “I’d like to help if you’re willing to let me.”
“Same,” my manager told Dr. Carpenter, nodding when the doctor seemed surprised. “You’re not the only one who believes in giving second chances. Ms. Reed gave me mine even if I wasn’t in prison. She simply swooped in before I landed there.”
“You were worth taking the chance,” she said with a tired smile.
“I’m glad you thought so. I’d like to have that faith in others now.”
Okay, now I understood why Aurora had put so much faith in Ms. Reed and this place to figure out what was really going on. I remembered what happened with her and turned towards the couch… Only to find her awake and watching us.
“How are you?” I asked quietly, not wanting to spook her.
“Embarrassed on many levels,” she whispered. “Grateful.”
“I think we need to have a talk,” I hedged.
She started to nod but then froze. “There’s not much I can tell because it’s not—Ellie is your boss and it’s not my place to tell her story or—”
“Aurora, you can’t never have people in your life because you would tell them my past,” Ms. Reed said gently. “You know the parts he doesn’t need to know. The rest isyourstory and I’m just someone who was in it.” She met my gaze. “He’s smart enough to know I would lay waste to him if he tried to use it against either of us.”
My lips twitched. “I am, but for the record, you are not as scary as you think you are.”
“Oh, she is, but you’re just used to predators who are more boisterous and full of themselves, pup,” Dr. Capenter chuckled darkly.
Okay then.
“Let’s get you home, Mrs. Reed,” the bodyguard said when I went to focus back on Aurora. She visibly flinched at being called that and I growled.
“Use her maiden name if you want to keep professional and not use her first name,” I snapped. “You can see that makes her uncomfortable.”
Aurora looked near tears as she hung her head. “My family said I am unable to use their name after I shamed them—”
“Fuck that, Aurora,” I said firmly as I knelt down next to her. I moved my hand under her chin and made her look at me. “Fine, let them erase you from their family tree. Don’t be part of their family, but you were still born with that name. No matter what they say, they can’t fucking change that. Thegodscan’t change that. It’s your name too.”
“I don’t know,” she whispered, sounding so lost that again it was like a kicked puppy.
“Fine, then just pick anything else for now,” I pushed. “Be Aurora Bond because you’re hotter than any fucking Bond girl I’ve ever seen. Pick something badass that makes you feel like you can get through this.” That made me think of something.“Who’s your favorite character? If you know four languages, you’ve read a lot. Pick a last name of someone you like.”
Her eyes stopped being so sad and then slowly filled with something like hope. “Thank you, Creed. I’ll try that.”
“Good.” I let out a slow breath. “Family sucks, but they only win if you let them defeat you. Take this chance to show them you don’t need them and thrive without them.”
She studied me a moment. “Who are you trying to tell that to?”
I nodded, knowing it was fair. “I say it to myself every damn day in the mirror. It’s working, so listen to me.”
“I do.” Her cheeks flushed deeply. “You’ve helped me a lot.”
I ignored when Ms. Reed sighed heavily, clearly getting there was something going on already and she didn’t like it. Yeah, well… I wanted to say I didn’t either, but Aurora made me feel things I didn’t know I could, so even if I was an idiot and chicks were trouble, I wasn’t going to lie about how I felt.
Plus, she was the reason I had a chance at maybe getting my life back on track to that second chance I’d hoped for.
I realized something and swore under my breath. “I don’t know how we’re going to talk if you’re uncomfortable being alone with me.”
“Why is she uncomfortable being alone with you?” Ms. Reed demanded, her tone cold and hard.
“I’m not anymore,” Aurora told me firmly before looking at Ellie. “I’m not. Not after he saved me from Andrew. I was before because…”
