Protector

by Kate Stone

  “I have you, I have you,” I began to soothe as she buried her wet face in my neck. “Take your time, okay?”

  A few minutes passed before her breathing began to even and her tears slowed. I was expecting an explanation of what just happened, but instead, Lilly sprang up straight and with her big pouty eyes pleaded with me, “You have to go help Mrs. Kent. You have to right now.”

  “What?” A million little pieces were beginning to connect in my head, especially when I saw the bruises on her temples. That prick had done something… Why Lilly, though? Didn’t he understand the fury that would come down on him for laying a finger on any woman in this town? His wife. I was on my feet, a hurricane of hatred churning inside of my chest.

  “I’ll tell you later,” she urged. “We have to help Mrs. Kent.”

  “Stay here,” I instructed Lilly as earnestly as I could before turning to leave. My focus was zeroed in on Tyler’s house, my nostrils already flaring. If had been a more patient, smarter man, I would have called my brother and gotten some back up on the way. It didn’t feel like there was any time for that, since Kylie Kent, Tyler’s wife, was in immediate danger. The Watchdogs had suspected Kent was beating his wife for a long time now, but since she never left the house, we had no proof until now.

  I didn’t bother knocking, I immediately reached for the door knob. When it didn’t give way, I took a step back before kicking the door in. “Kent!” I bellowed throughout the small house. “Get your ass out here.”

  Turning the corner to head down the hallway, a door flew upon and out jumped Tyler. He tried to bum-rush me, but I swung a fist back and got him square in the nose. In his stumble back, Tyler grabbed hold of my shirt and pull me with him. From then on, it was a brutal wrestling match, nothing but knuckles, elbows, and knees. Even though Tyler was a good portion smaller than me, he knew how to hold his own. Then again, judging by the smell of his breath, it all could have been liquid strength.

  Moments after he split my lip by clipping me with his wedding ring, I got on top of him and began pummeling his face. “You bastard!” I screamed. “You should know better than to touch a woman! What kind of spineless prick must you be to hurt someone who can’t put up a fair fight?”

  Tyler sprung his legs up to kick me off him. I got to my feet quicker than he could by virtue of being sober. Grabbing the back of his shirt, I chucked Tyler down the hall. Tyler regained his balance as I stalked over to him and he squared up. “Hitting an officer is a felony. Thought your kind would know that by now.”

  While I knew that was an attempt to hit below the belt, all it did was pour gas on my fire. My dad and another Watchdog leader were killed in a brawl with cops after my dad took a swing at a deputy. It gave them the right to open fire, even though my dad and his best friend, Dennis, weren’t armed with even a pocketknife. Grabbing him by the head, I brought my knee up to greet his face. “What the hell is wrong with you?! You’re supposed to protect this community, not slap it around. Kylie is just as much of this town as you are.”

  “She’s a good for nothing whore,” he spat with venom. “What goes on in my home is none of your business.” He squirmed as I kept him in a tight grip by the roots of his hair.

  “That was true until you made it known what was going on in here. Now I know, pal. I can promise you, you’ll never see Kylie again unless you decide to haunt her after your very untimely death,” I hissed in his ear.

  He let out a sickening laugh, showing off his bloody teeth. “You’ll never convince her to leave me. She knows she wouldn’t be able to go anywhere in this county after that.”

  “Newsflash, asshole, she hasn’t been seen anywhere but here in over a year. I am sure she would welcome a fresh start as far away from you as possible.”

  I took the opportunity to spit on him, and then slammed him on the ground and stomped on the center of his back. With my adrenaline pumping and senses heightened, I heard a small shuffling noise at the other end of the hall. Lilly. Part of me wanted to be upset she had come over and put herself in danger, but then again I shouldn’t expect anything less than her. There was no time to wonder how long she had been there or how she would feel about me after the fact if she had.

  “Go check on Kylie. I’ll be there in a moment.”

  She crept past us before dashing into the bedroom. Bending over, I scooped the now broken and bloodied Tyler off the ground and dragged him into the living room. Tossing him on the couch like he were a coat, I stared down at him. Some of the other guys would talk about how satisfying it was to get their hands on a son of a bitch like Tyler Kent, but I felt nothing. My chest was hollow of pride or joy, because at the end of the day I should have never had to do that in the first place. Men like that should know better than to abuse their wives and neighbors. In the morning, Tyler may try to excuse his behavior, saying that it only happened because he was piss drunk.

  Even in a blackout, there wasn’t a single reason under the sun to hit a woman, or anyone. Of course he would still try to hide behind his badge. Which would be crappy, but as long as we got Kylie out of there, nothing else mattered. He wouldn’t start anything with us because it would bring suspicion on him to do so after Kylie up and left him. If he left us alone, he could spin her leaving any way he wanted.

  “You stay where you’re at. If I catch you wrecking any of Kylie’s stuff or crossing your property line, you’ll have some broken ribs to explain to the sheriff along with your busted face when you go back to work.”

  He groaned in response. Going to the bedroom, my heart fractured at the sight of Lilly kneeled in front of a sobbing Kylie, doing her best to clean up her bloodied and swollen face with some cotton balls and peroxide. With gentleness, I helped Kylie get out of the house and over to Lilly’s. Once she was on the couch and Lilly was tending to her with a first-aid kit, I stepped outside to give James a call. Telling him everything I knew, James then agreed to send a couple of guys over to keep an eye on Tyler and pack up Kylie’s belongings so she wouldn’t have to step a foot back in that house.

  The next hour was all business. Lilly patched Kylie up the best she could until Cellie arrived. Cellie, who had taken the classes to be a paramedic but could not get licensed because of her criminal record, determined that Kylie needed treatment for a fractured cheekbone and concussion. Kylie clung to Cellie, not for a moment had she stopped crying, as she helped her outside. Following them out to make sure they got to the car okay, I headed over to James and Jericho who reassured me all of Kylie’s stuff would be packed and waiting on her once she left the hospital. Brian would sit with Tyler the rest of the night to be there the moment he woke up to give him one last run down of the expectations of his behavior in the days to come.

  There was only one last matter to attend to: Lilly.

  Walking back into her house and locking the door behind me, I headed into the kitchen to wash my hands and face, not wanting to startle her any more than I might have up to that point. Cautiously approaching her bedroom door, I could make out her silhouette sitting up in the bed with her knees to her chest. Giving a gentle rap on the door, I asked in a near whisper, “Mind if I come in?”

  She shook her head no so I crossed the floor and sat on the edge of the bed. To my surprise, she moved over and crawled into my lap, hugging my neck tightly. This time Lilly didn’t cry, but she was still shaking. “I’m sorry I doubted you,” she rasped.

  “Hey, who were you supposed to believe, a policeman or a gruffy biker with too many tattoos?” My hands glided over her back tenderly, worried that she may have more bruises than I could see.

  “This isn’t the life I saw for me here,” she whispered. “I thought I was being carefree but responsible at the same time, picking such a secure job in a new place that seemed so quaint and relaxing… I haven’t been here a week and I’ve been thrown into the midst of war between a gang and a very corrupt police force. I’m supposed to work with the cops, you know? How am I supposed to do that after t
onight?”

  “The county line isn’t too far, maybe you can get a position in the next county over,” I tried to comfort but my voice was uneven from the mass swelling in my airway. “Lilly…” I breathed into her hair before gingerly peeling her back so I could look her in the face. “I’m sorry I got you mixed up in all this… You were probably going to experience some of it living next to Kent and working with CPS, but you didn’t have to experience it this intensely or so fast. I thought I was just being playful and having fun, but I should have told you everything the moment I saw you lived next to Kent. In my head I saw it as more of a nuisance than an actual threat because I thought of how he affected us rather than how he could have impacted you. It’s like the universe is working against us… No matter what, though, I want what is best for you. The Watchdogs will help you get a clean break if that’s what you want.”

  Her green eyes shimmered in the moonlight and her brows knitted together. “I don’t think I can live here anymore…” I sucked in a deep breath to keep my composure. At that moment, however, she rested a tender hand on my cheek and I felt my resolve begin to crumble. “I don’t know what I want to do yet but I know that I don’t want to just let you go… We just met and all that, but no one has filled me with more excitement or made me feel so protected. You mean… something to me. I want to figure out what.”

  Laying a hand over hers, I held eye contact. Her words filled my heart with every word they could have possibly wanted to hear. Yet, it didn’t feel right. “Staying involved with me means staying in the midst of this madness, Lilly. I’m not leaving the Watchdogs or town.”

  “I’m not asking you to. I wouldn’t ask that of you, not ever. I have to figure my own life out now, but I know I want it to involve you. At least long enough to see if there is something here beyond infatuation.”

  There it was, she melted me completely. I still didn’t know the details of what happened between her and Tyler, but she was brave enough to want to see what there could be between us. Tucking the hair between her ears, I brought her closer, “I think I may be a little crazy about you.”

  “You have to be to show up unannounced like that after I banished you,” she teased, a weary grin tugging at the corners of her plush lips.

  It was only then I realized how insane the timing of the evening was. “Maybe the universe is beginning to work in our favor,” I proposed as my lips began to mirror hers.

  To my surprise, both of her hands found my face then and pressed a passionate, heartfelt kiss to my wounded lips. I didn’t mind or wince, but embraced it. I felt her tongue graze my lip and my entire body shuttered. The physical side of me wanted to ravish her as a way to get out the remaining adrenaline I had while also expressing how much I adored her and would treat her with immense care. It wasn’t the time for either of us, and she needed he rest. Despite my desire for her, I pried away from her lips and rested my forehead on her chin. “I should probably head out.”

  “Stay here tonight. Please?” Her voice was quiet and maybe a little embarrassed. “I don’t want to be alone.”

  “I’ll stay,” I assured her. “Let’s get some rest, though. I know tomorrow is going to be a long day for everyone.”

  With that, we undressed and crawled under the covers. Laying on my back, Lilly rested her head on my chest and I enveloped her with my arms. Kissing the top of her head affectionally, I breathed in the scent of her shampoo and closed my eyes. Remarkably, after such a hellish evening, a great sensation of peace fell over me. I had known Lilly for all of three, going on four, days and already laying with her was my happy place. Thoughts of her filled my head while hope for a future together inflated my heart. The name Lilly was lodged deep between my ears as I slipped away into sleep.

  Epilogue – Lilly

  One Month Later

  Never did I think I would move again so quickly, but I was just as giddy as the last time. The Watchdogs had convinced my landlord to allow me to break my lease after what happened with Tyler, and then helped me find a place past the clubhouse that was bigger and cheaper. They even used their trucks to help me move, saving me a fortune on movers.

  That month had been the most pivotal of my life. I quit my job and got a new one in the county over and was lucky enough to get the position of assistant to the head of the department since the previous one quit just a week before I applied. While I wasn’t quite qualified, my new boss Rebecca seemed to love me and was willing to take a chance on me. It also meant that I wouldn’t be going on as many house calls, which was fine with me. I didn’t think I needed any additional excitement outside of the Watchdogs. All that mattered to me was making a difference in children’s lives and ensuring their safety. I would be a step removed from that, but I would still be helping.

  My mind couldn’t stop reeling as I stood by my mailbox, taking in the sight of my new house—a house I had actually managed to buy with the leverage of my new job. I was overwhelmed but in the best way possible.

  An arm wrapped around my waist and I didn’t have to look to know who it was. “The guys are taking in the last of the boxes now,” Wade informed me, kissing my temple. “What do you want for dinner, Ms. Houseowner?”

  “Spaghetti,” I joked, remarking on his hatred of tomatoes—one of the few things that baffled me about him. What baffled me most is how in the world we ended up together.

  “Hmm… How about Chinese? I can get you lo mien. That has noodles so it’s kind of the same thing.”

  “I forgot that you were the one who bought a house today,” I kidded, peering up at him. After a quick peck, I was grinning ear to ear. “Chinese actually sounds great. I’ll ride with you.”

  “In this skirt?” Wade inquired, his hands grabbing my bottom before drifting to the hem of the pencil skirt. Unfortunately, I had to go into the office half way through the move to finish some paperwork. It had made me feel like a jerk to leave the Watchdogs to move my things for me—but they didn’t mind, and they were all smiles when I returned with a few cases of beer. “Why not? I could get used to making the whole countryside jealous that I’m the one who gets to get tangled up in these legs at night.”

  He was all smirks and kisses as he groped me. I wanted to soak it up but instead I batted him away. “James and Cellie are still around.”

  “And?” Wade scoffed. “Let them look. I can promise you, darlin’, they’ve seen worse.”

  “Sick,” I laughed, planting a sweet kiss on his lips.

  His nose brushed against mine. With each passing day, I witnessed the once stoic country boy who was all seduction and bite, transform into an affectionate softy. My modest side didn’t want to admit it had anything to do with me, but I knew it was. Wade had stayed with me every day until the move, and something told me the routine wasn’t switching up any time soon. The crazy part was that I didn’t want it to. We were basically living together upon meeting, but for the time being, it felt like the right thing to do. We were inseparable. One day he would get sick of me, I was sure, and start staying at the McIntyre house again. For the time being, I was soaking up every morning waking up with him at my side and every night I got to use him as my personal body pillow.

  My eyes gazed into his, “I think you were right.”

  “I’m always right, but what about this time?”

  “I think the universe did start working in our favor. I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy. It’s kind of scary.”

  The grin that twisted my stomach in knots peeked through his beard. “Scared? I’m soaring,” he said.

  “Oh? Maybe it’s time to throw Mr. and Mrs. Sweeney in the mix and see if you get scared. My parents could terrify anyone.”

  Wade brushed his lips against mine sweetly. “If it involves you, I’m never scared. I’m only determined to keep you around. Before we go, I want to show you something.” Taking my hand in his, Wade guided me around the exterior of the house. As we started to turn the corner to go to the back yard, he dropped
my hand and took to covering my eyes. Taking small steps forward, he finally came to a stopping point and spoke, “I didn’t want you to miss him… While I know it may not be associated with the best memories, I still wanted you to have it.” What in the world was he talking about? Finally, he lifted my hands and revealed a sapling. The same sapling tree that he had planted in my yard at the last house. Spinning around, I searched his face for an explanation. For the first time, Wade appeared bashful. “When you asked me to plant it for you the first time, you told me to put it where I thought it belonged. I picked outside the kitchen window so that as the years went by, you could watch it grow as you drank your coffee and cooked dinners. I still want you to have that. There’s something magical about it, and something about it reminds me of you… Maybe it just gives me some hope that I’ll be around you long enough to see it grow big and tall.”

  My arms snaked around his neck. “For a rough and tough biker, you sure are soft,” I cooed.

  “Don’t let the guys know,” he chuckled shyly, a blush over his cheeks.

  “Your secret is safe with me.” My heart was filled with adoration for him, astonished that I was lucky enough to unlock all the levels of his deep and complex heart. I thought back to the day we met, which felt like years ago even though it had only been weeks. I had made a comment that on a foundation of lies, nothing could be built. Tears threatened to brim my eyes as I told him tenderly, “I think we are going to build something. We have the strongest foundation I know.”

  There wasn’t a need to explain, the emotion gleaming in his eyes telling me he knew what I was referencing. It had been a wild ride up to that point and I knew it was going to continue to be, but as long as he was the one I was on the rollercoaster with, then I was okay. Sharing one more passionate, loving kiss, Wade and I made our way over to his motorcycle. Hopping on the back and sandwiching to his back, I gave him a squeeze as he took off down the suburban road.