Chapter 33 #2
I came here to protect her. I gave up everything to protect her. Every decision I’ve made from the moment I found that Ace of Hearts card in her empty house—it was all to protect her.
And still, I fucked it up.
First my mom, now Lucy? Am I going to get her killed too?.
“Goddammit,” I whisper, dragging a hand over my face. “What have I done?”
A strong grip settles on my shoulder, making me nearly jump out of my skin until I realize it’s Harry. The moonlight through the window glistens silver in his dark brown eyes and defines the concern shadowing the furrows in his brow.
“You did what any good man would’ve done, kid. You tried to protect somebody you love.”
I want to believe him. Goddamn do I want to believe him.
But I shake my head.
“You said it yourself. Our women are always collateral damage. If I never came here, Lucy would still be safe.” The words taste like poison.
“Castle knowing who she is? That’s my fault.
What happened last night? He did it to force my hand.
My fault.” My voice softens in defeat. “Don’t try to make me feel better about it, Harry. ”
“Yeah, you’re right. You Fury men are shit at protecting the ones you love.”
Despite everything, a humorless laugh escapes me. He sighs.
“But you tried. Ain’t no shame in that.” His expression hardens. “What’s done is done. Lucy will get hurt again if you don’t finish it. After this?” He jerks his chin toward Frog. “Castle’s gonna have to go down too, you know.”
“I know.”
“Good.” He pats my shoulder once. “Now’s the time to find out what you can. You gonna be able to finish this, or do I need to step in?”
His bushy eyebrow climbs his wrinkled forehead, a little excited twinkle in his eye at the prospect.
“No. These are my mistakes. My problems that I’ve caused the rest of you. I’ll take care of it. All of it.”
His shoulders sag just a little, so I tease, “Like you could help anyway, old man.”
He scowls immediately and shakes his head.
“You try my patience, boy.” Then he steps back into the corner and waves toward Frog. “Get on with it. We ain’t got all night to dilly-dally.”
I blow out a breath and mentally walk through everything we’ve talked about before I come to a question that’s been nagging me.
“If Castle knew who we were right after I got here, why’d he wait to send y’all into the Smoke and Mirrors Room last night? Why not sooner?”
“Aside from the fact that I was recovering from the beating you gave me a few days back? Fuck if I know.” Frog shrugs. “The man’s got more bets and side bets running than a Vegas casino. He’ll use anything to his advantage. The man’s always got a plan.”
The words prickle cold sweat on my brow as X’s voice echoes in my head.
“The only thing I know for sure is that he always has a plan.”
“Does X know who we are?”
Frog barks out a hoarse laugh. “Please. That goody-two-shoes? Mr. ‘I protect my girls?’” He shakes his head. “Castle don’t let him in on shit. Hell, he didn’t tell me anything at first either.” His smile slowly returns. “But I would’ve figured it out at some point. You don’t forget eyes like that.”
Darkness flashes over his face and he licks blood from his split lip before smirking. “And it just felt right having her in my hands again, you know? It’s been years since the bitch fought me. Felt like old times—”
Rage is a blinding light in my vision as my hands wrap around his throat before I consciously decide to move, crashing the chair backward and sending us both to the floor. With me on top, I squeeze increasingly harder with every word.
“Don’t. Ever. Talk about her. Like that. Again.”
His sweaty face turns purple, and the eye that still opens bulges out. His mouth works soundlessly and his tongue lolls to the side as he fights for air, growing limp, until I’m yanked by my shoulders and hauled to the side.
“Enough!”
I scramble up back to my feet, but Harry steps between us, both hands raised.
“Enough, Hatton.”
“The fuck, Harry?” I snap. “You heard that sick bastard. Everything he’s done?”
“I did.”
“I can’t—”
I suck in a hard breath through my nose and thread my hands through my hair as I pace.
Frog coughs and gasps like a fish behind Harry. I return my glare back to the old man.
“I know I’m supposed to be level-headed right now. But I fucking can’t, Harry. He drugged her. He killed her cat. He…” My voice breaks. “He touched her.”
I swallow hard, but the words still nearly choke me. “He’s the reason she’s a runner, Harry. He’s the reason she—” I stab a finger into my chest. “He’s the reason she ran from me.”
The rage on Harry’s face nearly matches my own, but at the last, his shoulders sag.
“I know kid. Which is exactly why you need to make sure this job is done right. Get everything you need, understand me?”
“Goddammit.” I plant my hands on my hips and force myself to breathe.
Control. I need control.
Something I’ve never been particularly good at but…
Finally I nod.
Harry raises an eyebrow. “You good?”
“Yeah.” I nod again, more emphatically this time. “I’m good.”
“Okay.” His pointed look says he doesn’t quite believe me. Not sure I believe me either, so I don’t blame him.
But he turns around and wrestles the chair upright again.