Page 66 of Match My Fall
“Wrongroom.”
“Thedelivery notes this room.”
“Ididn’t order one.”
“It’spaid for,”Iadded.Whowould turn down a free pizza, right?
“Thenyou eat it,” he snapped.
Inside,Paigesaid, “Daddy,I’mhungry.Canwe have it?”
“It’snot for us,” he added. “Goto sleep andI’llget you breakfast in the morning.”
Didhe not feed his child after he kidnapped her?Howcould he let her go hungry?Thatshot my pissed off state up another hundred levels.Icared forPaigeand wouldn’t let her go to bed hungry because of this selfish kidnapper.
Furycoursed through my veins asIstomped before the door.Istepped backward, keeping my gaze fixed on the door, and then slammed into it using all my force.
Thedoor snapped open, its wood frame creaking, andIstumbled into the room.
“Valen!”Paigecried.
“Whatthe—”Thorneasked with eyes wide and surprised.
Ididn’t let him finish the sentence beforeItackled him to the ground.Stunned, he soon recovered and fought back.Hewas strong and hit me with magic that slowed me down, but not dead on, and it didn’t stop me.
Wetumbled across the narrow space on the dirty motel floor, bumping into beds and dressers.
“Helpme,Paige,”Thorneshouted.
“How?” she asked in a confused tone.
“Hithim with a lamp!”
“Ican’t hit him,Daddy!It’sValen.”
Priderose through me as this sweet little girl stood up to her ass of a father.
Wetousled some more beforeIrolled on top of him.Hisface was bruised and swollen with a cut near his temple.Iwas sureIdidn’t look much better.
“Usingyour daughter to fight your battles?”Ispat. “That’salmost as bad as kidnapping her.”
“She’smy daughter, you filthy shifter.”Hestared up at me with pure hatred. “Iwon’t have her tainted by you or your mutt child.”
Mywolf rumbled with rage.Iraised my fist, punchedThornein the face, and knocked him out.
Asthe adrenaline lingered in my veins,Irealized whatI’ddone.Paigesaw me knock her dad unconscious.Shameburned through the remaining fury.Wouldshe hate me forever?
WhenIturned to meet her gaze, she stared back wide-eyed. “Areyou alright?”Iasked her in whatIhoped was a gentle tone.
“Yes.”Shenodded quickly, and tears sprang from her eyes.
“CanItake you back home to your mom?”Igulped, bracing for her reaction.MaybeIshould offer that someone else could take her in case she was now afraid of me.
Paigerushed over to me and wrapped her arms around me.Shedidn’t say anything but sobbed.
Surprised,Istood statue still for a few seconds.Thenmy addled brain caught up.Shewas scared but not of me.
Ihugged her back. “It’sgoing to be okay,”Ipromised her.Inthat moment,Ivowed that it would be.I’ddo whatever it took to protect her,Cassandra, and our child.
