“Marv! You’re meant to be on my side.”
“I am, sweet girl. I’m trying to keep you safe and alive. I won’t always be around to rescue you. And not sure this old body could have done much more to protect you.”
“You did a great job, Marv. Thank you.” She tried to step away from Duke to hug the old man, but Duke wouldn’t let her go.
She nudged him in his side and he glared down at her. “Can you let me go?”
“No,” he snapped.
She sighed.
Marv chuckled. “Quite right, too. You were mine, sweet girl, I wouldn’t be letting you out of my sight for a long while. I’d also make sure you didn’t sit down for a week.”
She groaned. “Don’t give him ideas.”
“I don’t need them, but I do agree,” Duke said. “Come on, I want to get you inside where I can check you over properly.”
She sighed. “Thanks again, Marv.”
Duke gave him a short nod and guided her out of the alley. She shuddered as they passed his truck. The scratch down the side was deep and the two tires were fully deflated.
“We need to call the police. That guy will be long gone by now, though and I didn’t see his face. It was hidden by his hood. I’m so sorry.”
He simply grunted and led her into the shop. Thankfully there was no one in the front room, she wasn’t feeling up to dealing with anyone right then. He led her into his office and over to the sofa.
He sat down and pulled her onto his lap, just holding her. She held him back, her arms around his neck.
“Fuck. Fuck,” he muttered in a low, shaken voice. “He had a goddamn motherfucking knife.”
“I know,” she whispered.
“And you ran toward him. You ran towards a man holding a goddamn knife.” His voice had grown harder. Sharper.
Uh-oh.
He drew her back so he could look at her. She dropped her gaze from the rage blazing in his eyes.
“What the fuck were you thinking, Sunny! You don’t ever, ever run towards the person holding a weapon.”
“I didn’t know he had a knife!”
“But you saw him marking up my truck. You knew he wasn’t up to any good.”
“I thought he’d run off!”
“Well, you were wrong. He could have fucking hurt you! What you should have done, and what you will do if anything like that fucking happens again, is turn on your heel and get your little ass back to safety. Back to me!”
He shook her lightly. “Nothing can happen to you. Do you understand me?”
She might have been annoyed at his grouchy orders if she couldn’t see the fear on his face. The idea of something happening to her had really shaken him.
Because he really does care about you.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I wasn’t thinking.”
“Well, start,” he snapped then he let out a long breath and ran his fingers through his hair. “Sorry. I just. . .I can’t believe you were fucking attacked. In fucking daylight and if that old, homeless guy hadn’t been there...”
He was almost shaking and she gathered him into her arms. “I’m all right, Duke.”