Page 17 of Protecting His Woman
Vicki blew out a breath.“I know it’s crazy but I love my mom.I know she doesn’t love us at all, and I don’t trust her.None of us do.”
“I take it your family knows?”Damion asked.
“Yes.They all know, and none of them want her home, but there is Betsy, and yet Dhalia is right, she ...could have killed Betsy.”Vicki sighed.“She is never careful with the drugs she uses.Not to mention the men she brings home.”Vicki put a hand to her forehead.“Living with her is a nightmare.I try to get away, and I can’t.She won’t look after the kids.She won’t do anything a mother is supposed to do.She acts like we’re the ones at fault.”
Damion stayed silent.He would have killed this woman in a heartbeat.Annette was not a good person.She was only going to use her daughter to get what she wanted.
If Vicki chose wrong and opted to keep Annette as a civilian, he was going to have to put out a warning.He would finally make his claim that Vicki and her family were untouchable.She would belong to him, and then anyone who tried to hurt them would be attacking him.
“But, if I turn my back on her, doesn’t that make me a terrible person?”Vicki asked.
“There is only so much you can do to save someone, Vicki.Sometimes, you’ve got to let that person deal with the consequences of their actions.”
He hated seeing her cry, but the tears filled her eyes and started to fall down her cheeks.“If it was just me she could target, then I would say, whatever, let her stay safe.But, it’s not just me.There’s Dhalia and Betsy, and if she is willing to throw me under a bus, what will she do to them?Then there’s Smithy and Pete.I don’t even know about Frank.He’s going to The Lords, I just know it, and there is no stopping him.”
Damion stayed perfectly still.
“But I can’t put Betsy and Dhalia at risk.They don’t deserve that.I don’t want her back,” Vicki said.“I know that makes me a horrible person and puts her life at risk, but I don’t want her anywhere near me, Dhalia, or Betsy.I want her to stay away from my family, once and for all.”
Damion went to her and pulled her into his arms.The moment he did, she collapsed and just sobbed.He allowed her to let go, stroking her hair.
“I’ll take care of it,” he said.
She nodded.“I’m a horrible person.”
“No,” Damion said.“You’re a good, strong person, and you are doing what you need to do for your family.”
He cupped her chin, tilting her head back so she had no choice but to look at him.
“Always remember there is only so much you can do to help.It is up to other people to start helping themselves.”
Her lips looked so damn inviting, but he was not going to take his kiss with the memory of her mother still present.Damion was a patient man.He would bide his time.
“Are you ready to head back?”he asked.
“Yes, I am.”Vicki sighed.“Thank you for bringing me here, it is so beautiful.”
He moved back toward his car, opened up the passenger side door, and allowed her to climb inside.Closing the door, he walked to his driver’s side, took one last lingering look at the view, and then climbed in.
Damion turned over the ignition and allowed Vicki to have her peace as he drove her back to the diner.He didn’t get out, and she thanked him, leaned over, and kissed his cheek.
He watched her go, knowing she was going to belong to him.
Pulling out of the parking lot, he made his way toward the Thames’s territory.He already texted Neil to let him know he had an answer.He arrived at the Thames’s land, parked his car, and climbed out.Neil was waiting.
“Damion,” he said.
“Neil.”
“How open do you think Vicki would be to having a paternity test done?”Neil asked, taking him by surprise.
“You want to find out if she is your kid?”
“Yeah, I do.I want to know if I owe that kid ...shit.You know, helping her out or something.”
Damion looked at him, and then sighed.“I will ask her.”
“Are you going to tell me what she decided?”Neil asked.
