Abandon Ship (Anchored 4)

Make love to her?

Adore her?

I will gladly do any and all of those things.

I will do all of that and more if it means Piper keeps looking at me like she’s drowning and I’m the only one who can rescue her from the sea.

She swallows hard.

“Will you stay with me, Maddox?”

I press an easy kiss to her forehead.

“With pleasure.”

“You really don’t mind?”

“I really don’t mind.”

Odessa grabs her purse and then comes back to Piper.

“You call me if you need anything,” she says. “I know you probably want some time alone with your boy, but call me anytime, day or night. Tomorrow, when you go to the police station with those,” she jerks her head toward the letters. “I’ll come along if you want me to. You know, for moral support.”

“What about work?” Piper asks carefully, and I realize that she’s the most selfless person in the damn world. Here she is, struggling to make it through the day, and she’s worried about her friend’s job.

“I’ll figure it out, Piper, but you come first, okay?”

She nods. “Thanks, Odessa.”

Odessa gives her friend one last hug, and then I walk her to the door. When we reach the front of the house, Odessa turns to me.

“You’re a good man, Maddox.”

“I wouldn’t make that promise,” I tell her. I’ve done plenty of bad things in my life, hurt plenty of people, of women. I’ve had my lows and my highs and I’ve had the in-betweens. I’ve messed up, but I won’t screw things up with Piper. I’ll do anything for that woman, even if it means staying up all night so she can sleep. Even if it means sitting guard at her house until Tad goes right back to jail where he belongs.

“You don’t have to,” Odessa says. “I can see it in her eyes.” She reaches up and plants a soft kiss on my cheek, and she offers me a hug. It’s not anything sexual. She’s not making a move on her friend’s man. She’s just showing love because Odessa is kind to everyone she meets. She’s like Piper in that way. She’s caring, and she’s kind.

Then Odessa pushes past me, walks to her car parked on the street, and leaves the house. I watch for a second as she drives away, and then I close the door, lock it, and return to where Piper is sitting in the kitchen.

“Did you drive here separately?” She asks. I head behind her to one of the counters and grab a plate of food Odessa prepared while we were showering.

“Eat, and I’ll answer all of your questions,” I tell her, placing it in front of her. I take a seat next to her at the table.

“Deal,” Piper says, and picks up a fork.

“I thought you would protest more.”

“I’m very hungry, and Odessa is an incredible cook. She works at a daycare full of picky eaters. She can make anyone eat anything, and her food is delicious.” She grabs a forkful of egg and begins to chew, and then she turns back to me.

“I followed Odessa here,” I tell her. “I was going to ride with her, but this seemed just as well. I parked down the street.” I don’t tell her that if her abuser is already watching her house, I don’t want him to know I’m here. He may have seen me at the do

or, but if he hasn’t, I don’t want to do him any favors and let him know I’m here. If he comes for Piper – and he’d better not fucking come – I’ll be ready, but he won’t.

The bastard won’t know what hit him.

“You didn’t have to come,” she says. “But I appreciate it.”

“So you’ve actually never had a regular Dom,” I comment, and she chuckles.