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I have to stand, to back away to keep my anger from spilling onto her innocence. Gripping my skull, I squeeze, then take a deep breath and drop my hands.
“And …” She looks down, her gaze on the floor instead of on me. “He, um, he—” Her voice cracks, tears shattering her words.
I return to her and pull her up and into my arms. “Shh.” Stroking her back, I kiss her forehead. “You can tell me.”
When she trembles, I want to burn Trent’s house down with him and his parents in it.
She sniffles again, then the words spill out in a torrent. “He took nudes of me through the window. I didn’t know. But he said if I didn’t do what he said that he’d send them to the whole school.”
I keep stroking her as she cries, as my mind goes to so many blood-soaked places that I should be afraid, should be terrified of what I’m capable of. But I’m not. I’ll do anything for Evangeline. She should never feel this sort of anguish or shame.
“You did nothing wrong.” I stroke her back.
“I just feel so ashamed.” She sobs. “Like I’m dirty.”
“No. Shh.” I sit on the bed and hold her in my lap, rocking her gently. “This isn’t your fault. It’s Trent’s. And you don’t have to worry about it. I’ll get the photos and take care of it.”
“How?” She clings to me, her tears wetting my throat.
“I’ll handle it.” I kiss her cheek, her temple, her hair. “Don’t be ashamed. You always hold your head high, babydoll. He’s nothing. You’re everything.”
“If he sends those out, I’ll get booted from school. I won’t get into college. I won’t be able to support Grams or—”
“He won’t. I promise.” I keep rocking her until she calms again, her breathing evening out. Leaving her won’t be easy, but I have some business in the big house next door, so I stand and ease her onto the bed. “I’m going to get those pics. Stay here. I’ve got some moving guys on the way.”
“What?”
“Yeah, Grams just got a new gig, pays better, and the hours are easier.”
She wipes her eyes. “Where?”
“Some uppity crime family.” I smirk. “Davinci, I think is their name.”
She jumps to her feet. “Are you serious?”
“Definitely.” I kiss her again, unable to resist. Her hands go around my neck and she holds me tight.
“I can’t believe it,” she breathes against my mouth.
“Believe it, babydoll.” I step back. “I’ll go handle business. You start packing, then boss the guys around when they get here with boxes and the moving truck, okay?”
“I-I guess?” She tangles her fingers together, then shakes her head.
“What?”
She seems to wobble on the edge of something, something big. Nibbling her lip, wringing her hands, as if she’s silently arguing with herself. But then she stops. I watch as she stands straighter, then shoots a glare at the window and the house beyond. The look on her face is fierce, and my cock goes hard as a beautiful sort of fury seems to roll from her.
“I’m going with you.” She swallows hard and wipes the last of her tears.
“No.”
“Yes.” She reaches to her nightstand and grabs a ponytail holder and whips her hair up. “I’m done with this.”
“With what?”
“I don’t want to be weak. I don’t want to be afraid of men like Trent. This is something I need to handle. I should’ve done it this morning when he threatened me, but I was scared. I’m still scared, but I have to use my claws.”
“You don’t have to—”
“I do.” She shakes her arms out. “If I have you with me, I can do this. Right?” Her gaze is open, honest, and she needs more from me than I want to give. I don’t want to take her into danger. I don’t want Trent within a mile radius of her. But I’m already beginning to learn that love isn’t easy. It doesn’t go the way you want or the way you expect. Just like the steel in Evangeline’s spine, love surprises you when you least expect it.
And you can’t fight it. Not when it’s real.
I reach out, and she takes my hand. “Come on, babydoll, let’s see how sharp those claws really are.”
