Page 27 of Anders and the Girl Worth Fighting For
“Yeah.” He sounded uncomfortable, like he always did when someone brought her up. “Alright, well, I’m on it. I’ll send you what I find.”
“Thanks.”
I hung up with Tink. I felt marginally better after our call. The screams from Grace’s nightmare still rang in my ears, but at least now we had a plan. Or the start of a plan.
I pulled up the security feed on my phone and settled in for a long night. Logically, I knew I would need to sleep at some point, we weren’t going to resolve this in a day, but I was still too keyed up to sleep right now. Besides, this couch was a bitch to sleep onand I wasn’t near tired enough for the floor.
My thoughts inevitably went to Grace once I was settled. They always went back to Grace. It was so tempting to find her when I got out of the Marines. It wouldn’t even have been hard, of course, since she gave me her actual address in the letters, though I wasn’t sure of the exact timeline of her leaving Bill, so maybe she wouldn’t have been so easy to find.
I didn’t go to her, though. I was broken, and she didn’t need that, especially if she was still married. Turns out she had her own shit to deal with. Maybe we could fix the broken things in ourselves together. I could keep her safe. I would burn the fucking world to the ground if I needed to in order to keep her safe. She was one of the only things keeping me going when I wanted to give up. Just the thought that she existed in the world made me want to be stronger and better. She was a light in the darkness. I could protect that light. I could protect her.
My phone went off just then, reminding me I wasn’t alone in this. I had friends. Other people I’d die for. They’d help me protect her. No world burning required. I shook off my dramatic thoughts.
It was Tink, confirming that he found the right man.
He sent over an old wedding announcement for Grace and Bill. The image filled the screen when I clicked on it. My heart clenched seeing his arm around her. It was the right Bill Witherwood. Of course it was. Tink was good at what he did. Smart as a whip. God knows why he joined the Marines instead of the Air Force, where his brains might have been appreciated a bit more. Or why he joined any military at all. His skills for hacking into anything were trumped only by his skills for blowing shit up. He got us out of some tight spots over the years. Tink is not a man I would mess with. Thank God he is on my side.
I messaged him back, confirming that the photo was of Graceand Bill. She was so beautiful in the photo it made my chest ache. I could tell that even then she wasn’t sure of marrying him. I knew her genuine smile, and that wasn’t it. She was young, too. Too young to be marrying anyone. What the hell were her parents thinking?
Shit, her parents. I should have Tink look into them as well. From what she has told me, her mom married her stepdad when Grace was young. It was George, her stepdad, who introduced her to Bill. I sent their info over to Tink. He messaged me back quickly.
T:Already on it. Figured your brain was addled over the girl you’ve been pining over forever. Now go be with her and leave me alone so I can work.
Be with Grace. Yeah. That would be something. My skin itched to make it happen, but she’s vulnerable and in my care. She doesn’t need to be smothered by a man too desperate to know to back off.
Fuck.
But then she seemed to like my help with her nightmare. That kiss and the way she curled into me before she became self-conscious settled me, calming the beast that hovered near the surface. Every broken and misplaced piece of me clicked into place, fitting perfectly around the woman in my arms.
God dammit.
I was screwed.
Chapter Thirteen
Will you teach me how to fight?” I asked Anders the next day. Nightmares plagued me all night, and in every one of them, I was helpless, at the mercy of whoever wanted to harm me.
I had spent the morning making that list Anders had asked for while he slipped down to the lobby and got the breakfast that he ordered. We were going to have to leave the apartment at some point and stock it with food. We couldn’t keep eating out for every meal.
I could worry about that later, though. I reminded myself. I needed to know how to defend myself, or at the very least know something was coming and not be surprised. I didn’t like being helpless. I had worked so hard to become independent, and I liked it way too much it give it up now.
“Of course,” he replied. He perked up from his position on the couch. He had been on his phone all day, likely researching the names I had given him. He didn’t seem pleased by the list. It was long and included anyone I knew. It had been too many years since I had contact with my grandma, though. My gut told me this list was incomplete, that I was missing something. Of course, my gut didn’t lead me away from a decade long bad marriage, so, really, how trustworthy was it?
I swear I heard him mutter to himself, “why didn’t I think of that” as he moved to the bedroom.
“Give me a minute to change into sweats and clear away a space in the living room,” he called as he closed the door.
“Oh, right now?” I called back, loud enough to be heard through the door. I wasn’t sure I meant this minute, but I guess there was no time to waste. Maybe I expected him to say no or delay.
He walked out a moment later. Grey sweat pants hung low over his hips and a white t-shirt stretched over his chest and arms. My mouth went dry at the image. Maybe I wasn’t ready for self-defense. I stared for only a moment longer. Anders had that smug look on his face I already craved that meant he had caught me staring. The jerk.
“You gonna fight in that?” He asked. I wore a flowing blue dress dotted with white daisies. I hadn’t paid enough attention to what I packed, and I didn’t have many options for outfits.
“Oh. Uh…” I couldn’t finish my sentence. My mouth was too dry.
“If you need to borrow something, we keep the place stocked with changes of clothing and clean socks. Can never have too many clean socks.” He smiled at his private joke. I didn’t get it, but I loved the smile. “I’m sure there’s something that you can wear.” He had moved now from his pose against the bedroom door to fully into the living room so I could get past. I darted by, my cheeks pink.
I had focused so much on wanting to learn to defend myself that I didn’t focus on what that would actually mean. Close physical contact with Anders. I shut the door and leaned against it for a moment, letting my heart rate settle into a better rhythm.
