Page 10 of The Biker and the Single Mom

"Oh. Okay." Disappointment flickered across her face before she hid it. "Luna and I can⁠—"

"Stay here. Make yourself at home." The words came out too rough. "I'll be back for lunch."

I left before I did something stupid.

The clinic was quiet. I threw myself into organizing supplies that didn't need organizing, checking equipment that was already checked, doing anything to keep from thinking about Rory in my apartment.

It didn't work.

My hands shook as I inventoried the drug cabinet. Not from PTSD, but from pure sexual frustration mixed with the bone-deep certainty that I was the wrong man for her. She needed someone whole. Someone without nightmares and shaking hands and a medical discharge that said I was too damaged for service.

The clinic door opened. Rory stood there, Luna's hand in hers.

“My phone." She held it out. "It’s ringing. I didn't answer but..”I don’t know what do do.”

Her phone rang again before she finished. She pulled it from her pocket, glanced at the screen, and went pale.

"Matt," she whispered.

Every protective instinct I had roared to life. "Give it to me."

She handed it over without argument. I answered, my voice flat and cold. "She's done. Stop calling."

Silence. Then: "Who the fuck is this?"

"Someone who respects the word no."

"Listen to me very carefully." Matt's voice dripped with controlled rage, the kind that meant he was used to people obeying him. "That's my wife⁠—"

"Ex-wife."

"—and my daughter, and this little game is over. Tell Rory she has twenty-four hours to come home before I make her life very difficult."

"You threatening her?"

"I'm promising her. I'll find her. I always do. And when I do⁠—"

"Try it." My words came out lethal, the same tone I'd used on insurgents who thought they could intimidate me. "See what happens. You come near her or that little girl, and you'll learn real quick what happens to men who hurt women."

"You don't know who you're fucking with⁠—"

"Neither do you." I hung up. Crushed the phone in my hand, plastic cracking, screen shattering. Rory needed a new number anyway. One Matt didn't have.

"Doc—" Rory's voice shook.

"He won't stop," she whispered. "He never stops. I've changed numbers three times and he always finds me. Uses his cop resources, his connections, his⁠—"

"He's a coward." I pulled her close, wrapping my arms around her. Luna pressed against both of us, silent and scared. "Men like him are bullies who only function when they have power over someone. He's got no jurisdiction here. No power. And he sure as hell doesn't have you anymore."

She fit against me like she was designed to be there. Her curves aligned with my body, her head tucking under my chin like she belonged there.

"How do you know he'll stop?" Her words muffled against my chest.

"Because I'll make him stop." The promise came out fierce. "He comes near you or Luna, and he'll wish he hadn't."

She pulled back enough to look up at me. "You can't fight a cop."

"Watch me."