Daddy in Cowboy Boots (Montana Daddies #9) - Laylah Roberts Page 0,49
Arizona. Saber’s brother is their leader,” Ed said.
“I didn’t know that,” she said quietly. She felt so tiny in Linc’s arms. So defenseless. He wanted to wrap her up in layers of safety and never let her go.
He kissed the top of her head.
“I’ve tried to keep my distance from them. Saber has always creeped me out. Tiger has only been around the last year. I think maybe I heard something about him being with his uncle.”
“Probably training with the Devil’s Kings,” Ed said. “Shit. Marisol, I really wish you’d change your mind about pressing charges.”
“I . . . I don’t know. It’s my word against his.”
“At least let me take photos of your neck. Just in case you change your mind.”
“All right. I suppose we should do that.”
“I don’t want him coming after her,” Linc stated. “I want them gone from town.” And far away from Marisol. The sooner this bastard forgot about her, the better.
“You and me both,” Ed replied dryly. “I’ll go out there, my deputies are still hanging close by so they can go in with me. I’ll have a word. Make Tiger and Saber see that leaving town for good would be the best possible idea.”
“They’ll know I talked to you,” Marisol said worriedly.
“Don’t worry, I won’t mention your name. Your aunt has been with him for a long time?”
“Yes.”
“And she owns several spas, yes?” Ed asked.
“Uh, yes. She’s opened a number across the country. Why?”
“Places where the Devil’s Sinners have set up branches?” Ed asked her.
“Well. I don’t always pay attention, but yeah, I guess so. The last one she opened was in Seattle, but I never worked at that one. I stayed back in San Diego.”
She shivered in Linc’s arms and he tightened his hold on her. “He will not harm you. You’re coming home with me and I will keep you safe.”
Leaning back, she stared up at him with those big hazel eyes. “And who will protect you?”
“That’s not something you need to take on your shoulders,” he told her.
“But it is. Because if something happens to you, it will be my fault. And I’ll never forgive myself.”
He cupped the side of her face. “Nothing is going to happen to me. I live on a ranch with the best security in the state. Every man on the ranch will watch out for and protect you. You wouldn’t be safer anywhere else.”
“He’s right, Marisol,” Ed told her, standing. “You need to go home with Linc and stay with him. Sanctuary Ranch really is the safest place for you right now. I’ll get Steven to take those photos of your neck so I can get out there. Excuse me.” He left the room.
Linc stood and reached out his hand. “Come home with me, Marisol. Let me take care of you.”
“Why would you want to? My life is such a mess. Shouldn’t you want to see the back of me?” she whispered forlornly.
“I want to because I care about you. Yeah, we’ve got some stuff to talk about, to work through. But I’m not going to just let you walk away. I can take care of you. All you need to do is trust me.”
To his relief, he felt her little hand slide into his.
Thank. Fuck.
15
Her hand was firmly engulfed in his. As though he was worried she might run unless she was tethered to him.
That was probably a valid concern. She was still concerned about putting him in danger. Tiger had made his claim on her. And while she had no intentions of ever being with that asshole, she knew that he didn’t care about her thoughts on the matter.
She also had a feeling that Tiger wasn’t used to women kneeing him in the balls and running from him. She shivered.
No, she was pretty sure none of this ended well for her.
Linc led her outside after Steven had taken the photos of her neck. She shivered slightly, even with his jacket still wrapped around her. Silently, he led her to his truck. He opened the door. He already had her backpack in his other hand, he’d refused to let her carry it herself.
“I think you need to start carrying a stepladder around,” she grumbled.
He placed the backpack down in the truck then wrapped his hands around her waist. “You don’t need a stepladder when you have me.”
Aww, that was sweet.
He set her down on the seat then reached across her to do up her seatbelt.