“Yeah.”
There is a look in her eyes I can’t read.“What did you tell him?Why was he following me?”
“My instructions were to watch and sit tight.If Roger,” I see her expression tense, “became threatening, move in until I arrived.The primary goal the safety of your daughter and you.”
Her shoulders drop an inch, tension fighting with something else.Relief maybe.Maybe anger.“Threatening,” she repeats.
“He was in your doorway.You couldn’t get him to leave.Regardless of what may or may not have come out of his mouth, the threat was present.Dipshit followed his orders.”
She swallows.“Followed his orders,” she repeats on a whisper.
“The prospect did what he was told.”
Silence fills the room for a second.From Quinn’s room, nothing.Still asleep.Good kid.Heavy sleeper.
Lucy rubs her palms over her knees.“I don’t know how I’m supposed to feel about this.”
“That’s fair.”
She watches me carefully with a fire building in her eyes.“You sent a biker to watch my house.”
“Prospect.”
Her eyes narrow.“That doesn’t make it better, Tucker.”
“No,” I admit.“Probably not.”
She lets out a shaky breath and leans back against the couch cushions, staring at the wall over my shoulder.“You can’t just decide things like that for me.I don’t even know you.”
“I know.”I reply with the truth.
“Do you?”She lets out an exasperated huff.
“Yes.”
Her eyes come back to mine, frustrated and bright.“Because it doesn’t sound like you get it.”
I take the hit because I earned it.“You’re right.I apologize for not making you aware of my intentions.”
That throws her.I can see it.She expected pushback.Maybe a growl.Maybe me digging in.Instead, I nod once and say it again.
“You’re right.I should’ve told you.And I’m sorry that you experienced the fear of an unknown man stepping in on your behalf.Even if the intention was good, the execution came up short.That’s on me, Lucy.”
The room goes still.Lucy studies me like she’s not sure she heard that correctly.I hold her gaze.“I’m not apologizing for making sure you were safe,” I explain.“I’ll never apologize for that.But I am telling you I should’ve found a better way than putting someone on your house without your knowledge.”
She blinks.Then looks down at her hands.“That’s unexpectedly reasonable.”
I huff a laugh.“Don’t tell anybody.”
Her mouth twitches again.Progress.I glance toward the front window where blue-red lights are beginning to sweep faintly across the far wall.
Sheriff finally decided to show up.As much money as the Kings pour into the district he should come when we call and a hell of a lot faster than this.
“Looks like someone called it in,” I share.
Lucy stiffens.“The police?”
“Probably sheriff’s deputy.He’ll see a drunk asshole in the road and hear whatever story dipshit and Roger tries to tell him.”
