"I don't care. I've never met someone more giving. Don't shut me out when I'm just starting to find my way in. A friendship is good, but I want more." She brushed her fingers over my lips as her eyes moved down to my mouth. "Lots more."
"Fuck," I growled and leaned down, kissing her hard before moving toward the bike and taking her free hand in mine. "You women know exactly what the hell to say to get your way, don't you?"
She laughed and got on the bike behind me, wrapping her arms tightly around me. "I was just telling the truth. If you'd rather hear lies..."
"No, but don't say I didn't warn you." I handed her my helmet and pulled on my own. We'd barely gotten to know anything about each other, and here I was being forced to take her out to my mother's house. She would get a full view of the shitty life I lived if Daniel actually did show up. Nothing could have frightened me more.
What if he tried to hurt Valentine? What if the bastard brought a gun this time or friends?
So many what ifs, and yet I couldn't deny her request to be with me. I'd protect her and my mother. It seemed impossible, but maybe I was over thinking things. Daniel wasn't likely to be out at the house, unless he was high.
Val's arms tightened around me and she lay flush against me, causing goosebumps to break out all over my body. I wanted her so damn badly to be a part of my life, but the fact that my want was turning into need was far more terrifying.
My heart dropped into my stomach when I pulled up to the house. Daniel's rusty old Buick was sitting beside the house.
After turning the bike off, I threw up the kickstand and ripped off my helmet.
"Fuck. He's here. Call 911, Val, and don't come into the house. Okay? Please." I took off toward the house, taking the stairs two at a time. The only comfort I had was that my mother wasn't screaming, but maybe that was because she was already dead.
Please God, no.
*
I raced into the house, not thinking about anything but saving my mother. I made it to the bedroom in time to see Daniel crawl on top of her and sit on her chest. A scream left me as I launched myself at him, ripping him backward and pressing his face into the ground.
"Mom, tell me you're alright." I pressed my knee into the back of his neck and tried to get a hold of myself.
"I'm okay. I'm just glad you're here." She moved to the edge of the bed as Daniel threw himself around on the floor.
"Good. I have a friend outside. Her name is Val. Go out there and talk with her while I deal with this creep. Okay?" I looked up, half expecting her to look bloody again. She didn't.
"Okay." She was crying as she ran from the room.
"You're such a piece of shit. You're lucky I have something worth living for or I'd kill you right now." I pressed my knee into his neck harder, and he gave a strangled sound.
The echo of the cop siren coming down the street caused me to pull back a little, which was a mistake I should have been smart enough not to make.
Daniel turned over, taking me with him before slamming his body on top of mine. Something glimmered as the light caught it, and I realized that he had a knife.
I didn't have time to move, but I didn't need to. The look on his face as the baseball bat hit him in the shoulder was priceless. I was shocked to see Val standing behind him with terror on her pretty features.
"Give me that." I scrambled to my feet and grabbed the bat from her as the cops walked in.
"Drop the bat, son. Now!" one of the cops yelled as he lifted his gun toward me.
Of all things I didn't want the girl beside me to see, this had to be at the very top of the list. I dropped the bat and lifted my hands into the air as one of the cops moved in and pulled my arms behind my back.
"Wait. He didn't do anything. This creep attacked his mother!" Val wasn't going to be quiet, which was so fucking endearing that I almost told her then that I was going to marry her one day, but I didn't.
"We'll sort it out. Get outside now, miss, or we'll cuff you, too." The cop glared at her.
"No the fuck you won't." Her chin lifted, and I couldn't help but smirk.
"Her daddy will shut your whole force down. She's David Scott's daughter." I laughed as one of the cops gasped.
"Alright, I don't care who you are. Out!" The bigger of the two pointed to the door, and she finally turned and walked out.
The two cops mumbled about how ridiculous the night had already been, and now this. I was beyond trying to hold in my emotions. Laughter bubbled up out of me, and I was sure it was because I was cracking. I'd have to tell Sam the next day, and he'd know that there was no way I could make this shit up. My life was just this weird at times.