My cock jolts with the need to see her in action in a courtroom.
I step closer to her rather than backing down like I’m sure she’s expecting, but she doesn’t turn around to face me when she’s done making the bed.
I press myself against her back, but keep my arms hanging at my sides. I don’t want her to feel trapped, but I’m desperate to touch her.
“If you need to go somewhere, I’ll take you. If you need to do something outside of this clubhouse, I’m going to be there with you.” I lean in closer, my mouth right beside her ear. “If it’s me that you have a problem with, I’ll make arrangements for someone else to help, but until we find the psycho who is trying to hurt you, you’re not doing things alone.”
“I’ve been alone my entire life. I don’t—”
“You’re not alone any longer,” I hiss. “And the sooner you accept that, the easier this is going to be on both of us.”
When she stiffens, I realize maybe I took things a little too far.
“And before you rail on me and make demands, just think about what’s going on. I’d love nothing more than to spare you all the details, but you don’t seem the type to appreciate that level of protection.” I spin her around to face me, hating the tears pooling on her lashes that she’s trying so hard not to let fall. “The shit that went down with the cops yesterday and the fire are already uploaded to the Farmington Whistleblower website.”
Her eyes widen, a tear rolling down her cheek.
I don’t mention that the caption on the house fire was Drug Dealing Attorney’s House Burns Down After Drug Deal Gone Wrong. She doesn’t need all the details.
“The information being online is horrible, and I’m not trying to minimize it,” I continue. “But the fact remains that whoever is doing this is always around. They’re taking pictures of what they’ve done, and they are waiting to get your reaction. I have a no doubt they know you’re here.”
Her eyes widen even further, and her body begins to tremble under my hands.
“You’re safe here. I can guarantee it.”
She should’ve been safe at her house with me there, but I can’t focus on my failures right now. I know she’s safe here. Someone may be messing with her in the community, but this clubhouse hasn’t been breached since Kincaid and Emmalyn first got together decades ago, and it only happened then because they allowed it.
My arms are around her before she can crumple to the floor, and all I can do is hold her while she sobs.
“I just don’t know why this is happening,” she manages through her tears.
When her tears seem to be slowing, I sit on the bed and pull her onto my lap.
“I know it’s Sunday, and it’s Christmas, but I seriously think we need to focus on this problem so we can solve it sooner.”
She nods, as if she’s in full agreement, and it makes me wonder if she’s just as ready to get all of this over with or if the holidays have never meant anything to her.
I’m saddened to think it’s the latter.
“We need to go through your files at the office so we can narrow it down.”
“I don’t know that it’s someone from work.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mentioned growing up in foster care, and the only time I’ve faced anyone who outwardly despised me was some of them.”
“Foster parents?”
“Some. I never hesitated to tell my caseworker when there was a problem in a home or if someone was being treated unfairly, but there are also kids I was in care with that didn’t like it. A lot of kids in foster care have to pick between evils.”
“How so?”
Faith wipes her hands over her face to swipe away fallen tears before speaking again. “Living in a home with a foster parent who yelled a lot was better than living in one where they had to worry about who was sneaking into their room at night. When I was younger, I reported both because either situation was horrible to live in. I don’t know if I thought I’d eventually find a good set of foster parents or what, but I reported all injustices.”
“You were a kid,” I console. “And all of those things should be reported.”
“My point is, some kids went from homes that were bad because of emotional abuse to homes where physical and sexual abuse took place, and they blamed me for that.”
“Has anyone from your past contacted you about this?”
“Not for a really long time.”
“But it’s not impossible that one of those people are just now seeking revenge.”
“I guess not.”
“I’m going to need a list to get to Max.”
She nods but leans her head into my chest. I’m anxious to get to work, but she seems to need a little more comfort.