Page 45 of Unruly Defender
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
– HENLEY –
I’m not liking thisone damn bit.I glance to my left and watch how Gracy is looking out the window, her hands folded and resting on her lap.I wanted to save her from this part and I know it’s wrong but it’s going to be like pouring salt on already open wounds.
I reach out and take her hand in mine.She instantly leans her body in my direction and I relish in the way we’ve grown close in such a short period of time.The limo comes to a stop and I give her hand one last squeeze to get her attention.
“Whatever is said inside, I know it’s going to be hard for you to hear and understand.But you need to know I’m right here for you, and there are a lot of others around you who also love you and are there for anything you need, okay?”
Her eyes stare into mine and are checking to see if there’s an answer for the unspoken thoughts I just gave her.Until mischief starts to dance in her eyes.
“Also love me,” she muses.“Henley, is this your sneaky way of saying you love me?”
A smile slides across my face, making my cheeks hurt, and I shake my head.“Woman, I’m trying to tell you to brace yourself and all you catch is the love you part?”
She shrugs but I can tell by the flush of her cheeks and the way her gaze hits her lap that she’s feeling vulnerable and this is turning less into a casual discussion or joke.
I place my finger underneath her chin and tip her head up so she can look at me while I give her my words.“We might have just started but the connection we share was locked like a solid unbreakable chain.Whatever the chain is made of, steel, silver, gold, platinum?Does it represent value?Not to me because it’s the meaning behind it that counts, not the name you attach to it.So, adoration, love, head over heels, or the feeling of belonging together...one, the other...it’s all about the feelings expressed between us.And what I feel for you in this moment in time is solid, and I can also tell you it will only become fiercer and stronger.I’m not giving you the exact words right now, but I am warning you...do not walk away from me at any time, because you’re the one holding my heart, Gracelynn.”
Her eyes go wide at my admittance but Clemente breaks our connection when he grunts, “This is why I don’t do the whole love thing.It makes me physically nauseous.”
Gracy glares at him and snaps, “You reap what you sow.You’d do best to open up some or you’ll end up with an ice queen for a wife.”
Clemente shrugs.“I don’t see any problems with it.As long as she melts between the sheets.”
“For fuck’s sake,” Gracy mutters and shakes her head disapprovingly.
“Showtime, folks,” Clemente says and the door of the limo opens.
Just before we head inside, I lean in and whisper right next to Gracy’s ear, “Remember, you have a whole new family at your back.”
She turns and surprises me by grabbing my head and crashing our lips together for a fierce kiss.
When she pulls back she says, “Sunrise, sunset, and everything in between.”
“Everything in between,” I croak.
“Then let’s do this,” she says fiercely and laces her fingers with mine.
The moment we step inside tension thickens the air around us.Clemente checks his gold watch and I know he must have more information than he shared with me.This man has contacts everywhere and can make anything happen.He doesn’t even need the added bodyguards surrounding him because everywhere he goes people know what he represents and the repercussions along with it if something were to happen to him.
The sound of someone stumbling comes from our right and Rush comes around the corner.His face shows lacerations and bruises and his eye is swollen shut.He pulls a gun on us and I roughly shove Gracy behind me.
Clemente is aiming his gun at Rush’s head and releases a humorless chuckle.“Put it away, asshole.You’re a dead man walking as it is, and no one in here is going to join your trip to hell.And it has nothing to do with the beating you took.But, in case you were wondering, I’m delighted to tell you I’m the one you can thank for the little postponement of your nearing death.You little, pitiful speck of a man.Did you really think you could get away with setting up shop in my district without me knowing or agreeing?Not to mention what you did to my family.This has been a long time coming but you’ll know soon enough.I deliberately ordered the cartel to keep you breathing when they gave you the beating and handled Den since he was of no use to me but you?I have plans for you.Plans that involve justice on a different kind of level since my sister deserves it.And seeing she’s the old lady of the man you sent to prison for shit he didn’t do, he deserves his chunk of justice too.”
