Chapter 10
Darius
By the time I get back it’s full dark and there’s a guy getting into a van and pulling out, waving at me like we’re best buddies even though I have no idea who the hell he is.
I take the porch steps two at a time and rap on the door.
It opens and Fee is standing there like some kind of avenging angel.
She points at me and her finger slams into my chest, digging in like she’s trying to rip my heart out with her fingernail.
“You better not try anything. Or I’ll make sure that you regret it, buddy. ”
I have to say…I’m terrified. “I promise you, Fee. I’m not going to hurt Harp. She means too much to me.”
“Keep that in mind.” She storms out and Monroe follows after her like her one-man clean-up crew.
He grins. “Good luck, my friend. I know you told Harper what happened but make sure you know what the hell you want before you do something you can’t take back.”
I nod at him and he follows his goddess.
I turn to find my own little goddess. My angel is staring off into space, her arms crossed and her body still.
“You alright, angel?”
“I don’t think I am,” she sighs. “You know, I’ve traveled all over the world and stayed in some crappy ass places. But I’ve never felt as scared as I do right now in my own home.”
Her fear-filled eyes find me. “I don’t like that feeling. And I sure as hell don’t like that someone took away my safety in my own hometown.”
I have a feeling I know who it was and I’m gonna take Monroe and have a chat with him tomorrow. You don’t break into a girl’s house and play in her panty drawer and then expect that nothing’s going to happen to you.
Not with me anyway. I’m gonna kill that fucker. And I’m gonna enjoy it.
Because nobody should make my angel look at her own house and feel the kind of fear I see lurking in her sweet eyes.
That fucker’s got it coming.
The light’s flicker and I hear Harper’s breath catch, her eyes shifting nervously. “It’s a storm, angel. You’re safe. I’m here.”
I move closer to her. “You got any candles in case the power goes out?”
She nods and scurries out of the room. And like a magnet, I head over to the cabinet in the corner.
My lips curl when I open the doors and see the old games.
I pick up our old beat-up Go Fish cards.
Harper comes in the room and groans. “Oh tell me you’re not thinking about that game right now. I can’t think.”
That’s exactly why I’m holding them.
I wink at her and shuffle the deck. “Worried I’ll beat your ass?”
She huffs just like I knew she would. “You’re dreaming! I always beat you.”
With those words, we set up the candles and then sit down at the table. “Prepare to get your ass kicked, sweetheart!”
She snorts and her eyes sparkle. My heart beats faster, my palms sweating.
Every time she looks at me I can’t help myself. I want her. I’ve always wanted her. I’ve lost everything that made my life worth living. In the most horrific way possible.
But there’s still life and hope out there and right now it’s sitting right in front of me and it’s wearing a pretty smile and a wicked twinkle in her soft gray eyes.
We deal out the cards and I grin. “Ladies first.”
She grins. “Prepare to go down, buddy.”
Lord, she has no idea how true those words are. I’m already falling and no matter how hard I try, I don’t think that’s ever going to change.
I am in love with my angel. Have been for a lifetime. And though life has taken some twists and turns, with her right now, I’m alright.
“You have a dog?” she says and I wink.
“Go fish, baby!”
Hours later, we’re both giggling and half-lit after drinking a glass or two of wine.
Like an idiot, I can’t help saying, “I’ve missed you, angel.”
Her shimmery eyes look up and I swear she can see all the way to my soul.
“I missed you too.”
And then she falls over and I swear and catch her as she falls off the chair.
I chuckle when she sighs and sinks into me. The curve of her cheek rests right in the crook of my arm and she fits me like she’s been made for me.
I can’t believe that she’s here and so am I.
The lights flicker and thunder rolls. Then the lights go out and I groan, reaching out for my phone to turn on the flashlight. I take slow, careful steps.
Because there’s no way in hell that I’d let anything happen to my angel after I’ve finally found her again.
I slip into her room and settle her on her bed but then I look around and I can’t leave her in here alone. That damn drawer is still open. I can almost smell the smell of him in here.
I sigh and cover her lightly with a blanket and then I slip off my boots and my jeans, laying down on top of the covers.
I close my eyes and I’m sure that I’m never going to fall asleep. It’s been so long since I had a full night of sleep.
But I hear the soft sigh of her breath and my heart slows, a smile curling my lips.
And I slip into the first bit of real sleep I think I’ve had in forever.