Page 90 of Twisted Hearts
“Will you let me help?”
“I’ll talk to Jaxon.”
Her chin wobbled as she nodded. She flung herself into my arms so quick and so hard I stumbled back a step, wrapping her up and burying my face in her shoulder. Like the night before, she clung to me, burrowing into me like she wanted to be fused with my body.
I held her there while she expelled pent-up emotions, pent-up fears, and all the worry she’d held inside for who knew how long.
As she clung to me, I made my own silent vow.
Daniel Johanssen would never lay a hand on Addi again, or I’d kill him.
* * *
After Addi calmed down,I finally managed to get some food in her. We showered, and I took care of her. I ignored the erection being so close to her caused and took the time to care for her without giving in to my carnal urges.
How long had it been since she’d craved that kind of caring and actually received it? Her mom might have had a moment of decency the day Addi fled her wedding, but I suspected she wasn’t the warmest woman in the world.
As for me, my instinct was to care for her. I’d do it for as long as she needed me to.
While Addi got ready, throwing on a sweatshirt of mine and sliding into a pair of her leggings, I took my own shower and got dressed, gave myself a quick shave, and did my hair.
Once I called Jaxon, his hesitation was brief compared to mine. He didn’t like it either, but he agreed. The quickest way to pull everyone looking for Addi out of hiding was to keep her out of hiding.
She had to work. We talked to Malcolm, shortened her shift, and I promised I’d fill him in on the details as soon as we got there.
We were now sitting and standing around the conference table at the office. Charlie was there, along with Mason and Jaxon. Others were still out, waiting for the Johanssens to reach town, and the guy who had been in Charleston, who’d seen them load into the SUV, was still there keeping an eye on Matthew.
One way or another, we’d wrap this up.
Jaxon stood at the head of the table, body coiled tight and ready for war. Next to me, Addi sat, leaning into my chair, her hand gripping mine so tightly she was at risk of breaking the skin.
I didn’t say a goddamn word about it.
Jaxon turned his steely onyx eyes on Addi, and she sat up straight. “You will not go anywhere alone. I don’t care if you need to pee or go to the kitchen. Malcolm will be at the bar with you. You donotleave it unless someone is there to escort you anywhere. Ifanyonemakes you feel uncomfortable, you let Malcolm know. He’ll let us know. We’ll take care of it. I don’t give a shit if someone sneezes in the wrong direction and scares you.”
“Got it.” Addi sounded confident, but her body shook so badly I squeezed her arm.
His gaze switched to Charlie. “You will sit at the corner of the bar, nearest the restrooms. She needs to go, you go with her. You do not take your eyes off her for a second.”
Charlie, usually the one to be quick with a sarcastic comment, nodded resolutely. “Of course, Jax.”
He dished out orders to the rest. As for me, he didn’t need to tell me anything, because I wouldn’t be taking my eyes off her all night long either.
“All right,” Jaxon said, and for once, in a move so unlike anything I’d heard from him yet, he softened his voice and turned back to Addi. “You change your mind aboutanyof this, don’t worry about it. Don’t think you’re weak. It takes strength to do what you’re doing, and it takes strength to let others handle it…just different kinds. Atanypoint, if you don’t want a part in this, say the word and we get you out, okay?”
Addi swallowed and blinked harshly. “I hear you. Thanks.”
28
Addi
Pretending this was another day at work took greater acting skills than I currently possessed. All around the bar, there were men and women staged in various positions with their focus directly on me even when they weren’t actually watching me.
I couldfeeltheir focus. It was a constant itch at the base of my neck. I was jumpy, unfocused, and yet every time I made a mistake, Malcolm placed his hand at my shoulder and told me everything was going to be okay. Then he’d proceed to fix my mistake like nothing happened in the first place.
My tips were going to be shit, but all I really cared about was finding whoever had ransacked my apartment and having Shawn do whatever was needed to make sure it’d never happen again.
Over the last few weeks, I’d learned too much—about the kind of guy my father was, the kind of men he associated with, and the kind of men I’d not only allowed myself to be involved with, but that my mom stayed with.
