Catching Teardrops (MAC Security 5)

“You should talk to Luke about it.”

“I did… when we were at the cabin.” I swallow, wondering how much I should tell them. “I found out how to get my GED, but I… I didn’t have the money to take the tests.” Evan opens his mouth, but I cut him off before he gets a chance to talk. “But now I’m working here, I can save up and book my tests.”

They’re both silent for a beat, and I wonder whether I spoke out of turn. But when Ty says, “You have a plan. I like it,” I smile up at him, a warm feeling rushing through me at his praise.

“Secure cell,” Evan says as he places something on the top of the laptop. He puts something else on there, a little device the size of a quarter. “Panic button.”

“Panic, what?”

“Just in case.” He shrugs. “If you’re in trouble, you click this, and it alerts all of us and sends us your location.”

“Will I ever need to use it?” I ask, my brows lowering.

“Hopefully not, it’s just a precaution.”

He sits back down. “I’ll make you a fob to the gates for when you get a car and need to come and go.”

“I…”

“Come on,” Ty says, tilting his head toward the door I know is an office. “He’s filling your head with too many things.” I follow him across the mats. “One day at a time. First thing, this is the office.” He points to a desk to the right, opposite a sofa. “This will be your desk.”

He walks me through what I need to do—the admin I need to input—and tells me I have to use the desktop to do it. He then shows me the filing system and ends with, “You need to be at each meeting every morning, and sign this.” He hands me a folder. “What’s said in this warehouse stays here.” His gaze turns serious and I sign the non-disclosure agreement without reading it, knowing I wouldn’t tell anyone—not that I have anyone to tell anyway.

“You can start with these.” He hands me three folders, walking me through the first one as he stands next to me, and when I’ve done it, I think I have the hang of it and tell him so.

“Good.” He steps back. “That pile over there needs to be done.” My eyes widen at the size of it. “Told you we were behind.”

“Yeah.” I snort. “That’s an understatement.”

I get my head down, trying to make a dent in the pile, and before I know it, a couple of hours have gone by. I lean back in my seat before looking over at Ty where he sits at the other desk. Just as I’m about to ask him if he wants a drink, the warehouse door slams shut.

“Ty!” My stomach flutters at the sound of Luke’s voice. “I need to talk to you about Lily.” His footsteps come closer. “Her dad—” He cuts himself off as he walks into the office, his gaze zoning in on me. “What are you doing?”

“Erm… working?”

He frowns, turning his attention to Ty who stands up and walks over to the other side of my desk.

“We need the help.”

“So, you thought you’d bring her in here?”

I stand up, my hands twisting around each other as my stomach bottoms out. “I’m sorry, I should have asked first.”

“Fuck,” he spits, taking two big steps toward me before his hands frame my face and tilts it back. “I didn’t mean it like that, darlin’. I just… you don’t have to be working here. I’ll take care of you.”

My nostrils flare as I step back. “I don’t need you to take care of me. I’m not going to sit in that house all day waiting for you to come home. I’m my own person and—”

“He knows where you are.” My face pales, my body knowing what he means before he continues. “Your dad came to the precinct. He knows you’re here.”

“Shit,” Ty whispers. “Did Charlie tell you?”

“Yeah,” Luke answers, not looking away from me. “He can’t get in here, I’ll make sure of that. But you do need me to take care of you.” He steps forward. “Just like I need you.”

A lump makes its way into my throat at his words and the flames stoking in his eyes. “You do?” I ask on a breath.

He moves forward, and I step back, my back colliding with the wall. “I do.” He places his palm on my cheek, his thumb rubbing back and forth. “I love you, Lily King.” My breath stutters out of me. “I’ve loved you since before I should have, and there’s no way I’m gonna let him near you again. I promise you, angel.” He leans his forehead against mine. “I promise.”

A tear escapes my eye, trailing down my cheek and then over his hand. “I love you, too.”