Page 34 of No Turning Back
I put my hand on his arm. “No, Jace, it’s okay.” I look at Sergeant Whitlock. “I don’t know.” It’s an honest answer.
“You don’t know if you have enemies?” He looks at me confused.
I take him in again. He’s almost as tall as Tucker, maybe the same height. He has seafoam green eyes and a dark five o’clock shadow along his chin. He’s built wide, and he keeps checking out my friend, even as he questions me. His body covering her from a possible attack. I remember the first time I met him, I thought he was sexy, but no man holds a candle to Tucker.
“I don’t know if it’s them.” This time it’s the God’s honest truth. I don’t know.
“Who are your enemies?” he asks as Lydia tries to move around his body to get to me.
“I can’t tell you.” I move toward the blade, trying to prove to myself it isn’t them. That I’m not in danger again.
“Don’t touch that,” he says as he stands next to me. “I don’t understand why they’d use a machete. It’s a bit overkill.”
“It’s—” I stop as more red and blue lights show up along with a tow truck. I can’t explain it to them. I’m not even sure who I can tell about my past anymore.
I stand there in shock, watching everyone move around my car. Because I didn’t get close, I didn’t know until now that it has been completely vandalized on the inside too. Red paint is splashed all over the interior. The seats are slashed apart, and Marinda’s car seat is destroyed.
I’m worried about her even though I’ve called and confirmed she is safe. My mom should have made it to her by now. Jace won’t leave my side. He keeps hovering and assuring me his father and grandfather will be here soon. They’ll know what to do, he says. I just nod, going deeper into my head.
Tires squeal, and I look over to see Tucker’s truck racing through the parking lot. Chapelville is over thirty minutes from the zoo, but he made it in twenty. He’s out of the truck and moving toward me as soon as it comes to a stop. Whitlock tries to step between us.
“Get the fuck out of my way before I break you in half,” Tucker growls.
“Settle down. Who are you?”
Tucker points at me. “She is mine.” It’s all he says, and Whitlock moves aside.
Tucker’s long legs eat up the distance, and I can’t move. My legs tremble. I realize my whole body is shaking. I’m scared and not of Tucker. I’m scared of what this could possibly mean.
“Baby,” he says, and wraps me around him.
I start crying. Tears roll down my face. He lifts me up and holds me so tightly I can barely breathe, but it’s exactly what I need in this moment.
He holds me as I shatter apart, and not in a good way. I ignore Jace’s voice as he starts talking. I’m only focused on Tucker and the fear rolling through my body.
Poseidon
* * *
I’ve never been more scared in my life until this moment. Her voice when she said her tires had been slashed gutted me to the core. I couldn’t breathe until the moment she was in my arms.
I look over at her ruined car. It’s not just the tires, the interior is wrecked too. I hold her as her mother pulls up and carries Mari to us. She stands next to us, and I pull her into me too, holding all of them as we watch. All of these women are mine to protect, and I almost failed them. I won’t let that happen again.
“Uncle Poseidon.” I turn at my nephew’s voice. I never saw him. I was so focused on getting to Sydney.
“What are you doing here, Hot Head?” I ask as another vehicle pulls up, and my father and brother jump out.
“I’m doing my community service here. How do you know Syd?”
The use of her nickname from his lips makes my molars grind.
“She’s mine,” I growl, and he looks at her before he looks up at me. I see the moment of hurt flash across his eyes.
“Poseidon, everything okay?” Zeus asks as my dad walks up and introduces himself to Sydney’s mom.
“You’re dating Poseidon?” Hot Head asks Sydney, and she quietly says yes.
We all stand there, continuing to watch as police bag the machete.
