“With you, behind you, inside you, all of it,” Erys assured, popping to his feet. He kept her close as they walked. Keeping her on the inside of the sidewalk away from passing traffic, holding her hand, protecting and leading her, all stemming from the need growing in him to be everything he could to her. To be the best at it so he could house all that she was.
Inside the coffee shop, the way Remedy coiled herself around his arm offered him comfort.
“You’re doing the right thing taking care of him,” she started. “Relax. They have our numbers if we need to run back.”
Erys wrapped his arms around her. The mere scent of her put his nervous system at ease, her in his arms settled the residual thoughts from his mind overworking.
“You’re right. The minute he cuts a fool in that scan, they’re telling us to come get his ass,” Erys laughed softly into her curls.
“Remedy?” Her name came out in a scoff that alerted Erys, whoever was calling it wasn’t someone his woman needed to be in contact with. The tension that stiffened her body also told him that. They both looked in the direction of her name being called.
A man in his late sixties, skin a shade lighter than hers. The same upturned eyes Remedy had peered at them. “Why are you over here?”
Remedy released Erys and straightened her spine. She was preparing herself to speak but Erys put her behind him and stood in his position as her protector.
“We haven’t met,” Erys stated. “Major Erys Moore.”
The man raised his brows, coupled with arrogant laughter. “And that’s the felon you chose?”
“It’s the woman you refused. So what’s up? Dr. Worthy?” Erys asked.
“Here you go doc-” Paul’s words fell short, finding the standoff between men and Remedy’s eyes full of assurance. “Remedy. I have an order of protection.”
“If anyone should have an order of protection, it should be her but you’re a bitch. Like to beat women and hide your hand,” Erys gritted only loud enough for them to hear. “I’ll give you two bitches an option each, get fuckin’ lost or get fuckin’ lost.”
“This is my city,” Paul spoke arrogantly. “I’ll have her arrested for violating her probation and you’ll be back where you came from.”
Erys grinned. “I dare you to touch her. Let alone look at her.”
“I’m her father,” Dr. Worthy declared, as if that were going to change Erys’ disposition.
His smile grew. “Nah. I’m daddy now. Get your fuckin’ ass out of here before I revert into who I used to be.”
Erys glared at them while they weighed their options. When the duo of bitch ass men realized Erys would break jaws, crush ribs, and snatch souls behind Remedy, they moved out of their space. Unfortunately for them, seeing their faces had awakened the beast Erys had lying dormant. He was going to erase their existences but before then, he was going to know everything there was about his targets.
He turned to her and cupped her face. A trio of kisses to her lips to bring her back center and his closeness to soothe her anxiety. “You listening?”
“Yeah,” she spoke just above a whisper.
“It’s handled. Now what coffee do you want, Paradise?”
22
“You alright?” Erys asked, his lips pressed against her temple as she leaned on him.
“I’m fine,” she breathed. “Running into them was bound to happen and honestly, I’m handling it better than I thought I was going to. It just sucks because that stupid voice in the back of my head wants to know why they would choose my abuser over me.”
Erys laced his fingers in hers. They sat on the park bench watching the children skip along the brick-laid path with their parents. Lovers walked hand in hand, friends eased by, and business people made their way to their respective places. Remedy didn’t need his voice, in the moment she needed to hear her own and know that she was going to be fine.
“Like what have I done that was so horrible that hating me is their default? And it’s not a question that if it’s answered is going to make me perform again. But there’s this sad little girl in me who needs to know. For closure.”
“I’m learning that if that inner child isn’t healed, we hold on to it and pass it on to our kids. Ernie got shit he never healed from that was passed down to me. It’s rage and I can see where it came from,” Erys shared.
Remedy shifted. “I never thought about passing it down because I never thought about having kids.
Erys’ brows fused. “Why? Most women want it all.”
Remedy let a loaded laugh leave her lips. “You should learn your lady isn’t most women. That dream of having and wanting it all has never been one I’ve been afforded. Children included. I have one ovary. They said my likelihood of having them was the same as having two but after the one ruptured it never happened again.”
