“Searchin’.”
“Max, please –”
His hand at my face slid into my hair and his face got close before he said, “I know this, those ass**les are ass**les because they did what they did and because they did it to a good woman. Learned some things in my life, Duchess, one of the most important, you find a good woman, you take care of her.”
“Please.”
“This happens between us, Duchess, I’d take care of you.”
“Don’t.”
“Die doin’ it,” he vowed.
My breath stuck in my throat as his words wrapped tight around my heart and I made a noise, half gasp, half moan.
“That’s what I’ve learned,” he finished.
“Please stop talking.”
“You don’t believe me?” he asked.
“Can we stop talking now?”
“You’re so far down that path, you think you can’t find your way back.”
“Max –”
“Baby, wake up and look around, that path brought you straight to my f**kin’ house.”
I could take no more. I closed my eyes and turned my head away. If I couldn’t escape him physically, I had to escape him mentally.
His thumb slid along my cheekbone under my bruise and his next words penetrated my mental evasion.
“Shoulda f**ked him up worse.”
I gulped back tears and pressed my cheek into the bed.
“I knew a man laid his hands on you, I would have.”
I shook my head but kept it averted. Max fell quiet but his thumb slid back over my cheekbone then his fingers trailed through my hair then down my neck.
“See you’ve had enough,” he whispered and I nodded.
His weight left me but he wasn’t gone but a second when I was on my feet in front of him.
I opened my eyes and tilted my head back to look at him as both his hands settled at my neck.
“I gotta go into town,” he said. “It’ll give you time.”
I nodded again.
“I wanna know what’s happenin’ with Damon before Mindy gets near town. I need to leave her with you.”
“We’ll be all right,” I assured him and his forehead dropped to mine.
“Nina, I get Mindy sorted out, tonight, I want you to talk to me.”
“Max –”