Chapter 18 LEO #2
It had never bothered me before, the careful looks and suspicious stares.
The Tin Kings had caused a lot of chaos in Clifton Forge and I’d earned my reputation.
Fight first, talk later. Anyone who’d lived here long enough knew who I was and if they had a problem with me, they could go fuck themselves.
But today, it bothered me. Maybe it was the accident. Or maybe it was because she didn’t ask for my name.
Dale must have shared his disapproval of me around the office.
Hell, this is a bad idea.
I raked my hand through my hair and straightened my T-shirt. I’d gone for black today and it disguised a grease smudge on the hem.
“Leo.” Dale’s expression was stony as he came out of his office wearing a starched white button-down and pressed khaki pants. “Is something wrong?”
Other than the fact that I’d almost been crushed today? “No. Got a minute?”
He waved me back without a word, and when we got into his office, I closed the door. There was a small round table in one corner with four chairs. Behind Dale’s desk there was a set of drawers and a bookshelf.
The bottom half was filled with books and binders, but the top two rows had been reserved for framed photos. And in each one, Cass’s face smiled my way. Even the one of her and Seraphina, taken at her birthday barbeque last month.
Dale moved behind his desk, taking a chair.
I stayed on my feet and got to the point. “I’m asking Cass to marry me.”
“No.” His fists balled on his desk.
“I’ll ask her with or without your permission, Dale. But I’d like to have it.”
“No.”
A waste of my time. Damn it. I wasn’t sure what to say to make him change his mind, other than the truth. “You told me months ago that I didn’t deserve Cass. Maybe you’re right.”
“I am right.”
“Fair enough. But the way I see it, she deserves me.”
I walked to the bookshelf and picked up Cass’s framed senior picture.
She didn’t look a lot different now. Yes, she’d grown into a beautiful woman, but she’d always have youthful features.
Claudia was the same way. One day, I hoped to be the old man, weathered and gray, with the beautiful firecracker on my arm.
“I love her,” I whispered. “I’ll always love her. No man will fight for her the way I will.”
Cass deserved me. No man would love her more.
Dale sighed. “My answer remains no.”
I returned the photo to its shelf. I’d ask Cass anyway, with or without Dale’s blessing. The ring was in my sock drawer at home, waiting.
I strode for the door, but the moment I put my hand on the knob, Dale stopped me.
“Leo.”
I glanced back.
“Claudia’s father told me no when I asked him for her hand.
I was pissed about it for years. We have a good relationship now, but it wasn’t always that way.
I asked him once why he said no. He told me I’d understand it when Cassie was older.
He was right. I understand. I’d say no to anyone because she’s my daughter.
Maybe you’ll get it when Seraphina meets someone who loves her. ”
He swallowed hard and his eyes turned glassy. “If I say yes, that means I’ve lost her. I’m not the one who is in charge of keeping her safe anymore. Not that I kept her safe. Those bastards took her and . . . I wasn’t there.”
“That wasn’t your fault.”
“Do you honestly think I’ll ever feel otherwise?”
“No.” I hadn’t even been a part of Cass’s life at that point and I felt guilty for not having kept the Warriors out of Clifton Forge.
“My answer is no,” he said. “I just . . . I can’t say yes. To anyone. But if I had to, I’d say yes to you.”
That was more than I’d expected today. “Thank you.”
“Protect them.”
“With my life.” I nodded and let myself out of his office, leaving the courthouse to meet Emmett.
“How’d that go?”
I straddled my bike, breathing easier than I had ten minutes ago. “Better than expected.”
“How are you feeling?”
“I’m all right.”
“You sure?”
“Can’t believe that happened.” I shook my head, some of the fear creeping in. “Remember those days when we’d have a gun in our boot or holstered under our vest?”
He patted his boot, probably where he had a Glock stowed.
Some habits didn’t die just because we didn’t pull on our cuts each morning and wear the patch around town.
I didn’t wear my weapons any longer, but there was a pistol locked in the compartment under my seat.
Another was hidden in my truck. And I had a small arsenal in my home safe.
“It’s one thing to face off with another man and know he might pull the trigger before you,” I said. “It’s another to trust in a machine that should work and didn’t. That jack was new.”
“I know.” He shook his head. “It shouldn’t have broken.”
“Had to be faulty from the manufacturer. Shit happens, right?” I waved it off. “I’ll be fine. But you aren’t going to find me beneath a car anytime soon.”
“Glad you’re okay.” He blew out a deep breath. “For what it’s worth, I agree with you about the clubhouse.”
I groaned. “I can’t believe I said that out loud. Dash was pissed.”
“He’ll get over it.” He turned the key to his bike. “See you tomorrow.”
“Yeah.” I nodded as the roar of his engine filled the air, then started my own machine, aiming it in the opposite direction, toward home.
Cass was going to find out about the accident eventually. As much as I wanted to keep it from her, I realized on the drive home that we couldn’t have that kind of a secret. She’d have my balls when she found out, so I’d tell her what happened.
Just not today.
The house was quiet when I walked inside and keyed in the code on the alarm panel. I stepped out of my boots and padded to the nursery, finding Seraphina asleep in her crib.
My heart twisted as I took in her dear face.
I wasn’t a praying man, but the fact that I’d survived today, maybe I’d have to start. Whatever angel was looking out for me, I owed them for making that noise and getting me out from under that car in time.
After one more minute with my daughter, I left her alone to sleep and searched the house for Cass, finding her in the bedroom.
Not sleeping peacefully.
Her beautiful face was twisted in pain. Her hand was strangling a corner of her pillow. I rushed to her side and shook her shoulders. “Babe, wake up.”
She gasped, her eyes flying open. “Leo?”
“What’s wrong?” I brushed the hair from her face as she blinked, coming out of her nightmare.
“Just a bad dream.” She shoved up to a seat. “What are you doing home?”
“Missed you.” I pulled her to me and kissed the top of her hair. “What was your dream about?”
“Nothing.” She waved it off and stood, but I caught her hand before she could run away.
“It was about the kidnapping.”
Her body tensed.
It had been over a year and from what I could tell, she hadn’t talked about it. Not to me. To the girls. To Claudia or Dale. She was keeping it all inside and I hadn’t pressed because so far, it hadn’t seemed to bother her.
How long had she been hiding these nightmares? What other side effects was she suffering alone?
“You need to talk about it. At some point, you need to talk about it.”
Cass’s shoulders slumped but she allowed me to pull her onto my lap. “It’s easier to pretend it didn’t happen.”
“Do you have these dreams a lot?” This wasn’t something I’d seen at night, though I slept hard.
“Only when you’re gone.”
There was comfort there, knowing I kept the demons at bay. But I didn’t want her battling them on her own. I knew the rough details from Scarlett, but I wanted Cass’s story. I wanted her everything.
I’d promised Dale I’d protect her. Even if that was from herself.
“Tell me,” I begged. “Please.”