He studies her another second, then nods.“All right.Stay inside.I’ll sort it.”
He heads back down the steps, and I close the door again once he’s gone.
Lucy turns to me slowly.“You really just said not particularly to a cop.Tucker, I don’t think that’s legal.”
“First, I live by a code, not a man made law.Second, I didn’t lie because I don’t lie.Sometimes the truth hurts.If I gave him the truth, the next trespass order might be against me.I was wrong, I worked that shit out with you.But I don’t need a cop with time on his hands reading into some shit or Roger having an attorney dig in and find some shit that fucks up the legalities of what is about to happen to the drunk asshole on the curb.”
Her eyes close briefly like she’s deciding whether to be appalled or amused.“Unbelievable.”
“I’ve been called worse.”That gets me a real look.
And in it, I catch the moment the edge of terror finally starts to wear off.Not all the way.She’s still shaken.Still pale.But the worst of it passed somewhere between me checking on Quinn and her hearing me admit she had every right to be pissed.
I move back toward the chair but don’t sit this time.“Now the trash has been taken out,” I say quietly.“You can rest easy.”
She lets out a breath that sounds almost like defeat.“I don’t even know what that means anymore.”
The honesty in it hits hard.I lean one shoulder against the wall, giving her space and not enough space all at once.“Means tonight’s over.”
“What about tomorrow?”
“We deal with tomorrow, when tomorrow comes.”She looks up at me.
“You say that like it’s simple.”
“It can be.”
She gives me a stern look.“For you maybe.”
“No.”I shake my head.“For you too.”
She studies me, doubtful.
I don’t blame her.There’s a lot she doesn’t know about me.About the club.About what we can do when we decide someone’s become a problem.And I’m not about to dump all that on her tonight.
Instead, I go with the truth she needs most.
“Roger doesn’t get to show up drunk and scare you in your own home.Not anymore.”
Her face contorts.“You can’t promise that.”
I hold her gaze.“Watch me.”
The words land heavy between us.Maybe too heavy.Lucy looks away first, but I catch the little shiver that runs through her.Not fear this time.
Something else.
I definitely don’t need to think about that.Outside, the deputy is hauling Roger to his feet and steering him toward the cruiser.The muffled protest through the window is almost funny.Almost.
Lucy hears it too.Her shoulders loosen another fraction.Then she wraps the robe tighter and looks toward the hallway.
“I should check on Quinn.”
“She’s still out.You need to sleep, babe.”
“I know.I just,” She exhales.“I need to see her.”
I nod.“Go.”
