Just One Look

I suppose that day is actually saving my ass. It’s on the necklace she’s been wearing since I gave it to her. It can be a bitch to get off. You actually need two people to get the clasp to release.

I hop in my car and take off. I share my location with West, knowing he won’t be far behind. I race across town, wondering where the hell her father is taking her. We’ve now entered the warehouse district.

I take a sharp turn and push the gas pedal down to the floor to catch up with him. He’s driving slowly, trying not to draw attention to himself. I drop back a few blocks, waiting for him to park before I make a move. I don’t want him to start driving like a maniac if he spots me.

He takes a few more turns before he parks the van. I watch as another man steps out of the passenger side. I lean over to pull a gun out from under the passenger seat, my eyes never leaving the van.

When my hand wraps around it, I click the safety off and slip from the car. I stay along the building, running to catch up to them. Fawn fights her father, trying to get free from his hold. He lifts his hand to hit her.

“I’ll fucking kill you, John.” I train the gun on him. He drops his hand, spinning around to face me. Fawn’s eyes go wide when she sees me. I can see the relief on her face.

The other man pulls out a gun. I don’t even think about it—I fire the gun, hitting him in the thigh. Fawn lets out a scream as he crumples to the ground next to, his gun skidding across the concrete.

“Stop right there.” John pulls out a knife. I don’t stop. I keep heading right for him. “I said stop!” he shouts again.

“If you cut her, I’ll shoot you in the fucking head,” I growl as I close in on him. He pushes Fawn. She stumbles into me, and he takes off running. I wrap my arm around Fawn. She buries her face in my chest and begins to cry. I’ve never felt the level of rage that I do in this moment.

I fire a second shot. John howls as he hits the ground. I toss the gun away, hearing sirens close in on us.

“I knew you’d find me.”

I hold her tight. “I will always come for you.” She lifts her head, and that’s when I see her cheek is red. “Who hit you?” I grit out.

“John,” she answers, not calling him her father.

Two cop cars come to a stop. West jumps out of one, taking in the scene. He shakes his head.

“Call an ambulance,” he orders. I’m still not sure what I’m going to do about John, but I’m not going to kill him in front of Fawn. She doesn't need to see that.

“You okay?” I rub my hands up and down her back.

“Yes, they were going to try and get money from you.” Of course my sweet Fawn has guilt in her fucking eyes that shouldn’t be there. She has no idea I’d give everything I have for her.

“I figured.” It would have worked too. I watch as John starts to try to stand. I release my hold on Fawn, walking over toward him.

“I’m sorry. We weren’t going to hurt her, I swear.” He starts to piss himself.

“You hit her.”

“It was an accident!” I don’t even respond to his pathetic response. I punch him square in the nose. I hear the crack as he falls back onto the ground. He cries out in pain. I might not have to deal with him at all. Whoever he owes money to will be catching up with him soon.

“Are you ready to go home?”

“Can we?” I can see the hope in her eyes.

“We can do anything you want.” I’ll deal with this shit later. They can come out to the house to get my statement.

“Take me home, Roman.”

I do exactly that.

22

Fawn

I tuck Ace into bed after reading him his favorite bedtime story. It took me a while to convince him that I was okay and that no one was going to take me from him again. Roman watches me from the chair in the corner of Ace’s room. He hasn’t left my side since we got home.

The car ride home was quiet. I could see the tension in Roman’s body. I know he’s trying to keep it together, but I can tell he’s probably holding on by a very thin thread. He tried to get me to rest when we got home, but I insisted on putting Ace to bed. I didn’t want to change anything up or make this out to be anything bigger than it needed to be in front of Ace.