Chapter 39
thirty-nine
I pull into the private garage under Nick’s brownstone and am out of my truck before the engine’s fully turned off.
I curse his fancy elevator for taking an eternity, and when I finally enter the mahogany enclosure, I try to focus on my breathing instead of the need to break something with my bare hands.
Like Damien’s neck.
The doors open and I’m out in a flash, walking toward the voices coming from the living room.
I know I won’t be able to calm the fuck down until I have eyes on Daisy and can confirm for myself that she is unharmed and unaffected by whatever the hell Damien pulled tonight.
“I’m thinking a restraining order should do the trick,” Nick says as I turn the corner and immediately lay eyes on Daisy, who’s sitting on the oversized chair by the fireplace.
I’m vaguely aware that my sister is here along with others, but I push that to the back of my mind as I head straight for my girl.
“Luke!” She stands quickly, but before she has the chance to take a step toward me, I’m on her, pulling her up into my arms. “I’m okay, I promise.” Her hands wrap around me and slowly start to play with the hairs at the nape of my neck.
“Gimme a minute. I need to hold you for a minute longer to make sure.”
“I’m okay, I promise. Hate that this happened. I don’t want you to worry.”
I ease back until I can stare into her beautiful brown eyes. “I’ll always worry when it comes to you, Daisy.” I straighten and run my hands up and down her arms, gently squeezing. She flinches slightly, leaning one arm out of my reach as discreetly as possible.
My eyes zero in on her arm and I’m two seconds away from pulling down her sleeve when she raises her hands and says, “It didn’t bruise. I already checked.”
My blood boils, and it’s clear I’m not the only one who’s irate.
“Say that again for me, sis? You’re telling me this fucker put his hands on you?”
Luisa steps into Nick’s arms, but his gaze is pinned on my girl, who’s nervously biting her lip.
My sister claps her hands, forcing the attention away from Daisy momentarily.
“Okay, fellas, this is how it’s going to go.
Daisy and the rest of us ladies will tell you everything that went down.
And you’re going to listen quietly. Without exerting any toxic, alpha-male energy that Daisy clearly doesn’t need after running into what we can all agree is her massive asshole of an ex.
So sit, have a glass of water or a horse tranquilizer for all I care, simmer the fuck down, and let Daisy process.
Because from what I’ve seen, all she’s worried about is not stressing you out.
” She points to Nick. “And making sure you knew that she didn’t betray you.
” She points to me next and dread pools in my gut knowing that Daisy was more concerned about me and my feelings than whatever the hell that piece of shit just put her through.
“Give the woman some breathing room and… and… Luisa, do you know how to make that Fair Trade martini from scratch by any chance? Because that douchebag interrupted right as I got my last drink, and it messed with the happy buzz I had going. It’s been forever since I had a girls’ night out and I’ll be damned if it ends like this. ”
Nick grumbles. “So Coach, that’s your sister?”
I nod. “The one and only.”
He keeps his frown in place, looking between me and Val. “I think I like her. Though she does talk a lot more than you do.”
I shrug, and Val and I say “adopted” at the same time.
Daisy slips from my side and pulls Val into a fierce hug, which my sister seems to return with equal vigor.
“Well, you heard the woman. A round of refreshments before we spill the shitty chisme,” Luisa states as she starts to pull Nick toward the kitchen with her, Isa and Mateo trailing behind.
My heart still aches thinking of what Daisy must have gone through tonight. But my sister is right. My girl is a people pleaser through and through, and I need to be careful not to let my instinct to keep her safe cause her to doubt our relationship.
I love her for wanting to protect my heart from the ache it once felt, but what I feel for Daisy cannot be compared to my last relationship, not by a long shot.
And I know my girl would rather swear off sweets for the rest of her life than cause me purposeful harm, so I’m going to have to have a little chat about her well-intentioned but unnecessary concerns.
Later, we all sit around the fireplace, listening intently as the girls recount the story. Of how he ambushed them, kissed Daisy’s cheek, grabbed her arm, and tried to threaten her into coming home all while having a photographer outside taking photos.
I manage to keep my temper at bay and keep a soothing hand on Daisy’s arm the entire time, tracing odd patterns, attempting to remove the feel of his touch.
But as Nick goes into media mogul mode about next steps, all I can do is stare at my knuckles, knowing I’m about to get them bloodied for her.
Because no one touches my girl and walks away unscathed.