Page 80 of Delicate Escape

Fuck.

She didn’t want the cops because she didn’t want a paper trail.

I struggled to keep my breathing under control as I tucked her under my arm. “No cops.” I sent Fallon a warning look. She wanted to believe that she could help, that laws and regulations could, but that wasn’t always true.

“Come on,” Kye said gruffly, wrapping an arm around Fallon’s shoulders. “I’ll take you home. I’ll even get you a milkshake on the way.”

Since coming to live with us at sixteen, she was the only person he was openly affectionate with. Maybe because her tender empathy had snuck under his walls. But, sometimes, I swore they could communicate without speaking. Like now, as Fallon stared up at him with challenge in her eyes. Then something shifted, and she simply nodded.

I let out a breath. Fallon could be a crusader and would march right up to the sheriff’s office and file a report herself if she was determined enough.

Pulling Thea tighter against me, I guided us toward the exit. Just before we reached the door, a worried-looking Mara stepped into our path. “Jesus, Shep. Are you okay?”

“Fine.” But my voice was tight, giving away the lie. My knuckles throbbed, and I could feel torn flesh there. I must’ve clipped Russ’s teeth on my punch’s follow-through.

“Do you need to go to the hospital? Get an X-ray?” Mara pressed.

“I’m good, Mara. Just need to get home.”

Mara’s gaze flicked to Thea for the briefest moment, and then she swallowed. “Right. Of course.”

I didn’t have it in me to feel guilty. The anger still pulsed through me, along with the need to get Thea out of there and know she was safe.

Anson held the door, and we stepped outside into the cooler night air. Just as we made it onto the street, the bouncer appeared. John shook his head. A beefy guy a few years younger than me, he’d been born and raised in Sparrow Falls.

“I’m sorry about him,” John muttered, glancing at Thea. “Ma’am, I can call the sheriff’s department if you’d like to press charges. But know he’s been eighty-sixed. He won’t be allowed back.”

Thea gave him a shaky smile. “Thank you. I’m okay. Really.”

“All right. But next time you come in, drinks are on us. We don’t stand for that sort of thing here.”

Thea relaxed into me. “I appreciate that. Thanks for being on it.”

John nodded, clapping me on the shoulder before heading back inside.

“I’ll be on it with a junk-punch,” Rhodes muttered as she moved down the block to where we’d parked.

Anson shook his head as he followed her. “Am I going to have to bail her out of jail tomorrow?”

“The chances are good,” Fallon singsonged.

“It’d be worth it,” Rhodes grumbled.

We all slowed as we made it to our vehicles.

Rhodes studied Thea for a long minute. “You want us to come back with you? I could make you some tea and?—”

Anson wrapped an arm around her shoulders, squeezing. “Shep’s got her, Reckless.”

Rhodes still waited for Thea’s answer.

“I’m okay, really. Getting past freaked and on to pissed.”

Fallon gave Thea a gentle smile. “Pissed is better.”

Thea’s lips twitched. “Agreed.”

Kye sent me a questioning look. “You good? Need backup?”

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