As soon as I see it, I cross to her, wrapping my arm around her to pull her up against my thigh. She leans into me gratefully.
Belle gives me a small, approving smile before she goes back to cleaning the cuts and scrapes on Snow's arm.
"I turned eighteen three months ago," Snow says. "Two days later, the brakes went out in my car. Luckily, I was able to get stopped without causing an accident. A month later, they went out again. This time, I did cause an accident. I flipped the car."
My blood boils.
"I wasn't hurt, but the car was totaled. The sheriff took me home. I still remember the look on her face when she saw me standing there with him. She was angry," Snow whispers. "Like seeing me there ruined everything. I realized then that my brakes weren't going out by accident, but I didn't have any proof."
"What a horrible woman," Belle says, squeezing her hand as she packs items back into the first aid kit, seemingly satisfied now that she's doctored Snow's scratches.
"Three weeks ago, she gave me proof. She tried to push me down the stairs," Snow says, making Belle gasp.
Fury pumps through me hot and fast. I've never killed a woman before. I've never even considered it. But in this moment, for the first time ever, I consider ending one woman's life... Delilah Buchanan. It's less than she deserves for the hell she's put Snow through. After losing her father, that evil, heartless bitch tried to kill her not once, not twice, not three times, but four. Four times, she's tried to end Snow's life. For months, she's tormented her.
"The look of hatred on her face terrified me," Snow whisper, shuddering at the memory. I don't know if she even realizes that tears drip down her cheeks, but seeing them there fucking destroys me. "I pretended I tripped, waited until she left, and I ran. I h-haven't been back since."
"You're never going back there," Belle declares, her voice quivering as she fights tears, too. "You'll stay right here with us until the sheriff deals with that evil witch."
Dante nods his agreement, his eyes dark and his jaw clenched with anger.
We aren't going to the sheriff," I say.
"Why not?" Belle demands.
"Because he'll have to involve the feds. And as soon as the feds find out that Delilah has been using it to help traffic drugs into the country for a cartel, they'll seize everything," I say quietly. "Snow will lose her father’s company."
Belle's expression falls.
Snow pales, her bottom lip quivering. "I can't go to him anyway," she mumbles. "She put out a missing person's report on me. Who knows what lies she's told him about me at this point? He's not likely to believe anything I tell him, and I have no proof."
"She doesn't get to tell them anymore, Magic," I growl. "I'm going to handle the situation."
"So what then?" Dante asks, looking at me. "When he comes sniffing around, we've never even heard her name?"
"Yep."
Dante purses his lips.
"You can't lie for me!" Snow cries, shaking her head in protest. "I can leave. I can go...somewhere."
"Hell no," I growl, pulling her up into my arms. "You just spent three weeks living in the woods with nothing but a pack of dogs to protect you. You aren't going anywhere, Magic."
"But..."
I press my finger to her lips, not caring if Dante and Belle are watching us in rapt attention. "You're staying right here where you belong, sweet Snow. That's final."
More tears well in her eyes, threatening to spill over. The sight makes my fucking chest ache. After everything she's been through, she's worried about causing problems for us.
If Delilah Buchanan isn't shaking in her fucking heels right now in terror, she should be. I'll snap the handcuffs on my own wrists if it means taking that bitch down too.
"Dimitri," Snow whispers. "I don't want anything to happen to you."
It's already happened, Magic. My life and my heart are yours.
"Everything will be okay," I vow, not because I know it will be, but because I won't fucking quit until everything in her world is utterly perfect.
Chapter Six
Snow
"Hey," I murmur, blushing when I pull the door to my suite open to find Dimitri on the other side, grinning at me. He's already dressed for the day in a suit that fits him far too well, but I'm still in my borrowed pajamas. He should definitely wear suits more because wow. He looks good.
"Magic," he says, his soft gaze running over me in meticulous scrutiny. "Did you sleep okay?"
I nod, scraping my hair back from my face. "Yeah."
For some reason, I felt like he was with me all night. I dreamed that he whispered to me in the dark, promising me that everything would be okay and that I would be safe for the rest of my life. It was probably my imagination, but it soothed me. I think I needed that after dredging everything up for him and Dante last night.