“As you wish. I merely wanted to make their life a little more comfortable. I find your family . . . inspiring.”
He looks taken aback, then remembers himself. “Well, don’t be looking at us as your hashtag-couples goals. We’ve got our own troubles. Read a fucking romance book or something if that’s your kink, Angeline.”
His wave is dismissive, but I can hear the notes in his voice, the pride on his face. He recognizes how special his relationship is, a woman strong enough to withstand the life he leads. The thought burns in my mind, and I turn back to Allie to find her staring at me like she’s never seen me before, like something confusing just clicked in her mind.
The ride to my house is quiet, each of us lost in thought. Even TJ is quiet, perhaps assisted by occasional glances from Logan. I’m analyzing the events of the evening, making a note to call Silas for follow-up on the trafficking victims. I trust him or I wouldn’t have let them take the truck, but a call to ensure they are cared for sends the appropriate message.
I’m focusing on the business side because I’m not sure what’s going on in Allie’s head, and that, quite honestly, terrifies me. I glance down at our joined hands and rub a soothing circle on the back of her hand, hoping she can feel the depth of my feelings in the bare touch.
We pull up to my place, and Logan looks to me for orders. “Head back to the club to check in. Call me with a report.”
He nods, and I help Allie out of the car and lead her to the front door while TJ trails along behind us. As soon as we get inside, it all hits her, and I can see the weariness weighing on her. She slumps, and I hold her close. She buries her head in my chest and I rub her back in calming strokes. She sniffles a bit and then stands tall, still trying to be strong.
“I’m going to go clean up.”
She walks down the hall to the bathroom, and I think she needs this moment alone more than she needs to clean up the few shadows of makeup still on her face.
TJ watches her go too, and as the door closes, he turns to me, his hands down by his sides but the tension coiled in his body telling me he’s more than ready to fight if that’s what it comes to.
“Is this where you try to take me out, tell Allie that I left, and create some cover story about how I died in service?”
It’s not a bad idea. It would solve a lot of my problems, take the devil who tells her to run from me off Allison’s shoulder.
Instead, I chuckle and casually wipe at my ring with my handkerchief. “You said ‘try,’ but if I wanted you dead, you would be already. I have not killed you, nor do I intend to, because it would hurt her. And that is the last thing I want.”
“Why?”
I look into TJ’s eyes, deadly serious. “I love her.”
He huffs a humorless laugh, shaking his head in rejection of my words. “Love her? And this is how you show her?”
I shrug, turning my back to him and walking away. “It’s what she asked for. Transparency. No secrets. Follow me.”
I can feel TJ’s confusion at my apparent disregard for his posture or his words, but after a moment, he follows me into the living room, where he stops, looking around.
“Nice place.”
I don’t say a word as I walk over to my wet bar and hold up a decanter. “Drink?”
He nods, and I pour three tumblers of scotch. Allie comes in, looking freshly scrubbed with her hair piled on top of her head. She has on one of my long-sleeved T-shirts, so big it’s almost a dress on her, and a pair of my gym socks. If her brother weren’t here and things weren’t so questionable, I’d snatch her up and carry her to my bed.
I like her in my space, in my clothes, raw and bare-faced with no walls between us. But looking into her eyes, I can see there is still a wall. It’s not brick. It’s made of the questions, the doubts, the fear she has of me. And I have perhaps this one and only chance to knock it down before the foundations settle and it becomes permanent.
I offer her the crystal tumbler, helping to steady her hand for a moment when she shakes. “Drink, Allison. It’ll settle you.”
She nods and tosses back the scotch like a shot. I take the tumbler, rinsing it out and setting it aside as she sits on the couch. TJ takes the spot next to her, pointedly looking at me, daring me to move him or her.