Page 69 of Ruthless Protector

Willa: We can’t fuck if you’re in the pen, big man.

I barked out a laugh, the sound unexpected, rusty.

Van walked back in. “Got a lead.” He looked at me, where I was standing, the look on my face that obviously hadn’t quite lost all of the I’m-gonna-end-this-motherfucker, then down at the sniveling and bleeding asshole on the floor, and back to me.

“I’ll stay with him,” he said, wisely. “Zeke and Ruby are already on their way. They’ll meet you there.”

Van rattled off the location and I headed out, quickly tapping out a reply to Willa as I went. You just saved someone’s life.

I hit send, and then a thought raced through me that almost had me stumbling.

Every moment I spent with Willa, I felt like one of the shattered pieces inside me had been put back in place. No, I couldn’t be fixed—what almost happened back there was proof of that. No matter how many pieces were glued back together, the cracks would always be there, but each piece that got put back, meant that gaping hole inside me, didn’t feel quite so big, so empty.

I realized Willa was saving someone’s life.

Mine.

* * *

Willa

The next couple of weeks went by so fast. My shifts at Stilettos, making sure Tilly and I had enough time together, just the two of us, and when she was asleep, either Jude or I making use of the internal stairs to Jude’s place for a midnight visit.

Every time I left his bedroom, or him mine, I told myself it had to be the last, but then I’d hear his bike when he got home, or he’d let himself in and tap on my bedroom door, all big and brooding and sexy as all get out, and I was lost.

And truthfully, I’d been happy for the distraction. The news was grim. Another woman, a prostitute, had gone missing in the city this week. The police had no leads, and since Fiona, no more bodies had been found. Raul was edgy and security was at an all-time high. I appreciated it, of course, but it also made me nervous.

After my meeting with child welfare, a visit with Trent had been organized. I’d done my best to prepare Tilly, but neither of us were ready when we woke up that morning, knowing Trent would be coming. I’d asked Fay to be there, because I knew he wouldn’t threaten me with her in the house. Tilly sure as hell didn’t need to see that.

I’d purposely kept the visit from Jude. I had a feeling he’d make sure he was there, and if he was, he’d recognize Trent as the asshole who set me up at the poker game. He’d demand answers, answers I couldn’t give him yet. Tilly and I didn’t need that kind of drama, not today.

Fay arrived, and now Tilly and I were sitting on the couch, her hand clutching mine so tight it had to be hurting her. Trent had never been physically violent to Tilly, but she’d seen him and her mother using drugs, had seen what it did to Rebecca. She told me once she was afraid he’d make her take drugs, like he had her mom.

I also found out after she moved in with me, that he’d said a lot of not so nice things to her when he wanted her out of the way. Rebecca had tried to shield her, but her addiction had come first, no matter how much she’d loved her daughter.

There was a loud knock at the door, and Tilly jumped.

Fay’s gaze shot to mine and the look in her eyes took me back. Mama-bear-ready-to-defend-her-cubs. My heart warmed, and I stood on shaky legs, squeezing her shoulder as I walked past. Tilly scooted up the couch, so she was by Fay, and Fay wrapped a protective arm around her.

I still couldn’t believe how lucky I was to have her.

Her and Jude.

Right then, I wished he was there with us. Big and strong, his calming presence there to make Tilly feel safe.

To keep me from falling apart.

Drawing in a steadying breath, I opened the door.

Trent stood there, a wide smarmy grin on his face. He looked like he had someone else’s clothes on. Someone bigger than him. His hair was slicked back, his skin shiny with a layer of sweat.

“Where’s my baby girl? I bet she’s dying to see her daddy,” he said, then leaned in to say something to me, something only I’d hear, but I jerked back out of range. His eyes narrowed, but I ignored that too. If he had something to say, some threat to make, he could do it when Tilly wasn’t nearby.

“You better come in.”

He walked by me and his gaze slid to Fay. “What’s she doing here?”

I forced myself to look at him. “This is my support person.”