When she was in my arms, I could protect her. Fuck the world for all it had done.
“Safe space,” I whispered. “With me, you’re safe. Always.”
She huddled deeper. I took a breath and tried to find the right words.
“Ye should never have been used and hurt in the way ye were. Ye did nothing wrong. I know it’s too little, too late, but you’re owed those words. I can’t change the past, but I can guarantee the future. We already agreed we’d stop those who hurt ye from ever doing it to anyone else. We can add to that the challenge and punishment of the others who should’ve protected ye. But most of all,” I tipped up her chin, my heart aching at her new tears, “no one will ever hurt ye again.”
“Are you still obsessed with me?”
“Aye, always will be.”
I clamped down on further words because I couldn’t be sure of what was going to come out. She was so strong, I didn’t think she needed me, but I’d prove my worth all the same.
For a long moment, I just held her.
I tried to focus on comfort, but my thoughts leaned to vengeance. Over and over.
Dixie stroked my arm then shifted to see my face. “You’re so tense, and you have an odd look in your eye. One I’ve seen on the nights you go out hunting. Going somewhere?”
“I don’t want to leave ye.”
“But?”
“I have preparation to do.”
She only gazed at me. I stared straight back. I wasn’t asking permission. She was mine now, and I would act for her in the same way I had for myself.
“No, not like that,” she finally said.
My fingers gripped the quilt. “Why?”
“You’re planning a blood frenzy of revenge. I don’t deserve you for how good it feels that you’d do it for me. But I want something else.”
“Name it.”
“I want to bring it all down.”
I stalled, my brain revising every plan I’d made.
Dixie spoke faster. “Everything that happened to me is tied to a wider problem, and the police can only do so much. I’m certain now that Denise’s husband was used to women being brought in for sex. That’s why he behaved like he did. He was just another rich man who was or is a customer of this trafficking, and no one’s even talking about him and his type. The businessmen at the top of the chain. Only how a family company has dirty secrets. The person most in the firing line is Mila, and she’s suffering. Sullivan is still alive, isn’t he?”
My phone buzzed from my jeans on the floor. I’d only partially dressed for our conversation.
Dixie eyed the pile of clothes. “Better get it. It could be important.”
I snatched it up without losing hold of her and read the text.
Damien: Sorry to report, your P is D.
I palmed my face. Held the screen up so Dixie could read it.
Her eyes widened. “What’s that code for? Your penis is delicious? Why is he sorry about that?”
Christ, I fucking adored her. Even after telling me the worst things that had happened to her, she was ready with a joke.
I shook my head. “Prisoner is dead. Damien is a new employee who’s shite with code.”
“Your prisoner?” Her mouth dropped open. “Wait, Sullivan? He’s dead? How?”
