Page 38 of Until Ace

And what kind of parents would just sit aside, happily letting her take care of everything?

What else have they done to her?

“You need to slow down and tell me everything.”

It’s as if she doesn’t hear a word I say. Her movements are jerky, and she tears her hand through her long hair, all the while muttering to herself, “What am I going to do?”

“You’re going to tell me everything,” I demand, but again, the words seem to fly over her head as she continues to pace and mumble under her breath.

Suddenly, she stops once again, turns, and in a horrified whisper, demands, “I can’t. You need to go and get Beverly.”

“Beverly’s safe,” I say in a hard voice so it will penetrate her panicked state. “Cops are crawling all through the building. I promise it’s the safest place in town tonight. Besides, the guys are setting up a regular patrol, so she’ll be looked after until we find out who broke in and get them.”

When she doesn’t seem convinced, I tell her, “She also has a panic button that, when pressed, sounds an alarm at dispatch.”

She’s looking at me like she still doesn’t believe me.

“Baby, I promise you, nothing will happen to her,” I say in a softer tone.

“You’re telling me there are cops in my building, and they’ll stay the whole night?”

“Yes,” I answer firmly.

“Then you need to go get Ida.” She walks toward the door, but I catch her by her wrist.

“Ida?” Why the fuck would I go and get her?

“Yes, Ida. I know she’s old and seems sweet, but that lady is hell on wheels. There’s no way she won’t wander out in the hallway and try to cop a feel. You know no man is safe near that woman. She’s got it in her head, with all the romance novels she reads, that every man she meets or sees is her newest book boyfriend personified. And couple that with her love of that SVU show, your boys are vulnerable. And then we’ll have to go out anyway to bail her out of jail.”

Hearing her words, I can’t help myself. I burst out laughing.

I pull her to me by her wrist, and when her body collides with mine, I wrap my arms around her.

Tilting my head down to look at her, I chuckle. “I think the boys can defend themselves against Ida.”

When she stays quiet, I focus on her. Gone are the fear and the lost look. Gone is the hurt that even mentioning her family brought on. Instead, she gazes up at me with her mouth slightly open, fighting what appears to be a smile.

Fucking hell, she’s beautiful.

I’m going to spend the rest of my life with this woman. The thought comes with certainty.

There’s no doubt in my mind, and it doesn’t scare me.

Here she is, her place trashed, her privacy violated, her sense of security really fucking messed with, but the first thing she thinks of after the initial shock are two old ladies.

The most astounding fact in all of this is that she can still make me laugh.

The moment this realization hits my mind, my whole body feels lighter.

“Ace!” she calls when I don’t move.

My voice sounds deeper than usual when I say, “I’m right here.”

She rolls her eyes before she looks at me again.

Yeah, fuck yeah, I’m going to make a family with her.

Wrapping my arms around her tighter, I make sure I have her eyes on me. “We are not going anywhere. We’re staying here. Both Beverly and Ida are safe. Nothing’s gonna happen to them. And I’ll alert the boys about wandering hands,” I add, chuckling again. Ignoring her doubtful look, I continue, “It’s late. We’re both beat, so we’ll watch some mindless TV until we both drift off. But first, we’re gonna find you something to wear, and we’re going to ice your ankle.”