Page 16 of Let Me Protect You

Summer grabs my attention as she runs around the living room like she had ice cream and candy for dinner. Then she leaps into my arms from a few feet away and tackles me back onto the couch. I fall sideways, and we land in a heap, giggling. The pureness of her joy pulls me out of my misery.

“Auntie!” she screams as I tickle her side. “Okay, okay, I stop!”

Serenity shows up a second later with a handful of clothing and rolls her eyes. “I can’t leave you alone for two minutes, huh?”

I accept the outfit with an apologetic smile. “Thank you.” When I unfold the clothes, I find an old pair of pink, floral pajamas. They are a little worn out, but the material is soft. “Did you get these from Mom’s?”

“Yes. I found all your old clothes in our room.”

Seeing all my old stuff from her house, I can’t stop the words that tumble out of my mouth. “I still miss Mom. If she were here, she’d wrap me in a hug until I didn’t feel so numb.”

Serenity bristles and looks away. What was that look on her face just now? She turned too fast for me to catch it, but it looked like … guilt?

She glances back at me with tears in her eyes. “I do, too. But don’t worry. We have each other.” She reaches out, grabs my hand, and pulls me in for the embrace I crave. We never talk about our mother. Serenity always avoids the topic, and I guess today is no exception. After a minute, she pulls back. “Come on. You can bunk with Summer as usual.”

When Serenity motions for me to follow her upstairs, I dig my heels into the floor. She turns to me and raises an eyebrow, but not before I catch sight of the jagged scar on the back of her left shoulder. My blood boils at the thought that I’ll never be able to tell her piece of shit husband what I think about him now that he’s dead. If not for him, she wouldn’t have been attacked by loan sharks, and she wouldn’t have the pile of debt that she can’t dig out of.

Behind her, about twenty pictures of Serenity, Paul, and Summer line the staircase wall—a constant reminder that he existed.

Since I didn’t marry Victor on Everlasting Love, I didn’t win the bonus money. I had earned money weekly, but for the hours they made us work, it was well below minimum wage, and it wouldn’t be enough to pay off everything Paul owed. Not even close.

I wish he were here so he could explain himself. All I want is to help her, but instead, I brought another threat to her home. No matter how much Elias makes me angry, he’s right. I have to tell her. I saw firsthand what would happen, no matter if a child is in the home, if I continue to be around them.

Motioning around the living room, I say, “I can’t stay here.”

Serenity waves a hand. “Yes, you can. I know it might be a little cramped in Summer’s room, but if you live here long term, I can make some space in my room for her, and you’ll have hers all to yourself.”

I close my eyes and try to take a deep, calming breath. My hands start to shake.

How on earth can I tell her this? While I was gone, she called me any spare moment she had, even if it was during her drive to pick up Summer from daycare. I don’t want to break her heart, especially after Paul’s betrayal put her through so much. But I cannot stay here.

I word vomit everything about the plan I made with Elias and then move to her side. Holding her hand, I wait as she soaks everything in.

“I-I finally got you back, and now you have to leave me again.” She speaks through her tears. “Shit. I knew Elias was your bodyguard without you telling me after everything that happened, but I was expecting you to stay with me. Please tell me he won’t have you locked up in some dungeon.”

I huff out a weak laugh. “Hopefully no dungeon. I’ll see you as much as I can. I assume I’ll be able to visit you, and we’ll just have a frustrating and overbearing bodyguard.”

“He was insufferable in all his broodiness after you left. I can only imagine how he’ll be now.”

A dark figure moves outside the living room window, catching my attention. I jump to my feet. Serenity moves to follow me, but I push her toward the staircase. “Take Summer and hide.”

As I head toward the back door, Serenity yells, “I’ll put Summer upstairs, and then I’ll go get my shotgun.”

Her what?

Chapter 9

Harmony

Irush into the kitchen and grab a knife before sneaking out the back door. Do I know how to use a sharp object to injure someone? No, but there’s no way I’ll allow some creep to hurt my family. They’re all I have left, and they haven’t done anything wrong. This is my problem. And I’ll be the one to fix it. I won’t leave another mess for Serenity to clean up.

I bypass my shoes and head straight for the back door with my makeshift weapon in hand. There’s no time to waste.

I tiptoe on bare feet through the thick snow in my sister’s backyard. My toes hurt as they start to freeze again, but I’ll worry about that later. Only a soft glow from the moon beams down on me. How can I do anything with no proper light?

Keeping one hand on the side of the house while holding my knife out in front of me with the other, I round the corner. The street lamppost lights up the front of the house enough for me to spot a figure. I increase my speed and curse under my breath at the loud crunching of snow. If I can reach him before he sees me, I’ll have the upper hand, and I need it. I gulp. He looks huge and bulky.

I slow my pace, hesitating. I’ve never been in a single fist—or knife—fight my entire life. My body shakes, and I can barely keep my grip on my makeshift weapon. Am I scared? Or just freezing? Maybe I should go back inside and call Elias. If I lock us all upstairs until he comes, perhaps we’ll be okay.