Revelation (The Protectors 7)

“Ethan, I need you to give me your word that Lucy is with you by choice and that you haven’t touched her.”

I stiffened at that. I knew, in theory, that some people who looked at our situation might think my relationship with the young girl was inappropriate and there were even some out there who’d been convinced it was, but actually hearing the words made bile creep up the back of my throat.

“I swear on my life that I would never hurt her. I’ve never laid a hand on her in anger or in any other way that you’re thinking,” I managed to get out.

Cain’s eyes lifted to meet mine and he studied me for the longest time.

Making sure I was telling the truth, no doubt. I held my ground because of all the things I wanted…no, needed him to believe about me, it was this.

Cain finally nodded and then his hand was cupping my neck as he fiercely whispered, “I know you won’t believe this, but I’m going to say it anyway. I don’t lie, Ethan, and I detest people who do. If you can’t tell me the truth, then don’t say anything at all.”

I managed a shaky nod, though I had no idea why I was even responding to the crazy statement. People lied every second of every day.

But in my gut, I knew he wasn’t talking about the little white lies people told each other every day to keep the peace or to make their lives easier or to not hurt the feelings of someone they cared about. No, what he was talking about went deeper.

I wanted to believe him…badly. But, how could I?

“Why are you telling me this?” I asked.

“Because I’m about to make you a promise that I want you to hang onto for as long as it takes for you to tell Ronan everything.”

I shook my head because there was no way in hell I was telling the man anything beyond the lies I’d come up with about who Lucy and I really were. So what if Cain would hate me for it? I didn’t owe him anything.

Cain stopped my shaking head by cupping the back of it in a way that I was forced to keep my attention solely on him.

“If you think for even one second after you and Ronan are done talking that you’re not better off accepting his help, I will help you leave. No matter what. Even if Ronan says you’re not going anywhere…if he calls the cops…doesn’t matter. If you want to go, I will get you and Lucy out of there and I will take you wherever you want to go, no questions asked. And you will never have to see any of us ever again.”

The promise was a startling one and I couldn’t believe it. But the way he was holding onto me, his eyes boring into mine, I so badly wanted to.

I tried to pull away, but he wouldn’t let me. His body pressed against mine as he continued to hold on to me. I started to put my hands at his waist simply because I didn’t know what else to do with them, but he stiffened as soon as I brought them up so I immediately dropped them again.

“That’s why,” Cain whispered as his gaze fell to my hands and stayed there for several long seconds. I had no clue what he was talking about, but then he was looking in my eyes again. “Your question last night about seeing you as a threat. I can see that your hands are empty and I know you’re no threat to me, but my brain still thinks you are. It’s telling me to search you for a weapon again, even though I know you don’t have one.”

His voice was so low, I barely heard it.

But I had and I was reeling from his admission.

“I let someone get too close once and it cost me everything,” Cain murmured. “I’m not going to make that mistake again.”

I nodded, even though I didn’t truly understand what he meant. But whatever had happened to him, it had left its mark in a big way and I understood his message loud and clear.

Hands off. Full stop.

“Swear on the most important person in your life that you’re telling me the truth about letting me and Lucy go,” I said. It was a stupid demand, but I needed it just the same.

“I can’t,” he said quietly.

I immediately tried to escape his hold, but he refused to release me. “I can’t because I don’t have anyone important in my life.” He paused for a moment before he finally said, “This truck…this fucking truck is the only thing I have that I give a shit about. So if you want me to swear on a piece of metal that I meant what I said, I’ll do it.”