Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 25067 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 125(@200wpm)___ 100(@250wpm)___ 84(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25067 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 125(@200wpm)___ 100(@250wpm)___ 84(@300wpm)
“I can’t thank you enough for this,” Trinity said quietly, looking at me with those big, pretty brown eyes.
“I don’t want your thanks,” I told her, meaning it. “I just want you safe, Trinity. I want you both safe, and I’ll stop at nothing to protect you both.” I sighed. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here yesterday.”
Tears welled in her eyes. Immediately, I tugged her to me, wrapping one arm around her and holding the back of her with my other hand. “The signs weren’t there,” she cried into my chest. Her shoulders shook as she began falling apart. “They weren’t there, Jimmie.”
Fuck, my heart was breaking for her.
“I know, baby,” I rasped, burying my face in her hair. “I didn’t see any either. But it’s okay. You two are with me now, and he’ll touch either of you again over my dead fucking body.”
Chapter Six
Jimmie
The sun was just beginning to set when I pulled up in front of my double-wide mobile home. Trinity was asleep in the passenger seat, her head resting against the window, and she was snoring softly. I’d given Wyatt my phone to occupy him a couple of hours ago and asked him to remain quiet so his mom could get some rest.
God knew she needed it.
I shifted the truck into park but left it running, not wanting to disturb Trinity just yet. Turning to Wyatt, I held my finger to my lips, instructing him to be quiet. He nodded. I pushed open my door and got out, then rounded the truck to unfasten him from his booster seat and lift him down from the truck.
Byron and Dylan pulled in behind me, and Byron turned his car off. The two of them got out just as I shut the back door to my truck. “Can you take him inside?” I asked. “I need to wake Trinity up.”
Byron swept Wyatt up into his arms without a word. Wyatt smiled. “Hi, Uncle Byron.”
“Hey, kid,” he gruffly responded. “You hungry? I think your dad has a pizza we can pop into the oven.”
Pizza was a staple in my house, which Byron knew. Of course, there was fucking pizza.
“I’ll go ahead and start hauling stuff inside while Byron handles him,” Dylan told me. “You want her stuff in the spare room?”
I wanted her things in my room, but I didn’t say that. She was just getting out of an engagement. She’d been happy and secure in her relationship, and they’d been so close to finalizing all their wedding plans. Not even twenty-four hours ago, her happily ever after had been shattered and blown to pieces when she’d been violated while trying to protect our son.
“Yeah,” I told him as I grabbed the doorhandle to the front passenger door. “Thanks.”
Dylan moved to the back of the truck and lowered the tailgate. Blowing out a soft breath, I gently opened the door, quickly putting my hand inside the crack to catch her head before she fell over. Her eyes snapped open, and she jerked away, her breathing labored. I quickly opened the door the rest of the way and moved so she could see me.
“Easy, baby,” I soothed, holding my hands up by my head so she could clearly see them. I wouldn’t touch her without her explicit permission. Not when she was panicking like this. “It’s just me, Trinity.”
Her chin wobbled, and tears blurred her pretty brown eyes. She lifted her hands and pressed her fingers into her eyes, drawing in a ragged breath. “I’m sorry,” she croaked, her voice as ragged as her breathing.
I kept my hands up, even though I wanted to do nothing more than wrap her in my arms and hold her so she could safely fall apart. “Nothing to apologize for,” I promised her. “Just take a minute to get yourself together, okay? Wyatt is inside with Byron, and Byron is making him pizza. Dylan is taking your stuff into my guest bedroom. I’m gonna help him move stuff. You take your time getting yourself together.”
She sniffled and nodded, her fingertips still pressed to her eyes. Even though my chest was aching for her and every instinct pushed me to stay near her, I stepped away and headed toward the back of the truck. Grabbing two of the suitcases, I pulled them down and headed toward the porch. Wyatt and Byron were on the couch watching a cartoon when I walked inside, and Wyatt was snacking on a bag of chips. The smell of pizza was permeating the air as it cooked. No doubt, Byron hadn’t waited for the oven to preheat and had just thrown it in.
I settled the suitcases along the wall with the other bags Dylan had brought into Trinity’s room, then headed back outside. Trinity was on the porch when I walked out, and she stopped me with a hand to my arm. Immediately, I turned, giving her my attention.