Page 13 of Breaking Conviction
“It’s just... you have options, Naomi. I can—I mean,wecan help.” Her light ivory knuckles reddened at the top of her fisted hand. “Sorry, I know I overstepped. I’m just worried. I’ve seen this before—”
“Yeah, working at the clinic, I’m sure you’ve seen it a hundred times—”
“Not at the clinic.”
The words must’ve surprised her because she clammed up and retreated to look out the window.
After a few more silent moments, they were close to her house and he was afraid they’d end on a sour note. Wes didn’t know why it was so important that she knew where he was coming from, he just couldn’t stop himself. His fingers tightened on the steering wheel to keep from reaching over to rescue the hem of her sweater from her fidgeting.
He turned into a pop-up neighborhood, one of those that sprang up in six months with dozens of nice, cookie-cutter craftsman houses and small yards. A car appeared in the rearview mirror and he glanced up to see Hawk’s sedan following behind. He must’ve been close to town already because the BlackStone Securities Facility was twenty minutes outside of Ashland.
Naomi’s eyes darted to the rearview, her back straight until whatever she saw made her relax back into the seat. Wes ground his molars together.
Fuck, this bastard has her terrified.
His tongue was raw from biting back every thought, but he refused to frustrate her any more. It took them a few more turns before she said anything.
“House is second on the right.”
Wes nodded. “Pull into the driveway?”
“Yeah, in front of the left garage door, but not too close and make sure not to get in the way of the right side.”
Wes felt his brow furrow at how precise she was in her instruction. “You don’t want me to pull inside?”
“No, that’s... that’s where Thea’s father… my fiancé’s workshop is.”
There hadn’t been one single pleasant interaction with this woman, so why the fuck did that word pierce something inside him? It was like he was compelled to get through that hard shield she insisted on hitting him with. Maybe it wasn’t her at all. Maybe she was just another woman in his life who needed saving.
Despite trying to minimize his reaction, his knuckles ached to give back tenfold what her fiancé had done to her. More copper seeped from his silent tongue. Fuck, at this rate he wouldn’t be able to eat without searing pain reminding him of her and all the things he couldn’t say.
Wes pulled into her driveway and parked exactly as she’d asked. Before he could get out and open her door, she was already escaping, stumbling out and immediately going to her daughter’s door. While she was helping Thea out of her car seat, Hawk’s car pulled up in front of the house.
“Naomi, I—”
“Say thank you and goodbye to Snake, T.” Naomi lifted Thea onto her hip with a wince. It was almost comical since she was nearly half her mom’s size already.
Thea popped the sucker out of her mouth. “He’s leavin’?” Her lip poked out and Wes’s heart ached to make those lips widen into a toothy grin again.
“Yeah, baby, he’s leavin’ and we need to go inside. Your daddy will be home in a bit.”
Thea nodded and smiled slightly at Wes, waving her small hand. “Bye Wes, thank you for playin’ with me.”
Wes mustered up a smile back. “It was nice to meet you Princess T.” He bowed and even though he felt like a fool, her giggle made it worth it, until he straightened back up and saw the anger written on Naomi’s face again.
She mumbled a thanks and goodbye before heading to the garage, entering a code and opening the right door, revealing a pristine, empty parking space.
Bet that fucker parks there while he makes her park outside.
The thought made his legs tense with the urge to go after them, but he backed away, afraid he’d do just that if he didn’t distance himself. He watched them take the short steps inside the garage and enter the house without another glance.
When the door slammed, something inside Wes jolted and panic seized the quickening pulse in his veins. He couldn’t shake the feeling that he was making the biggest mistake of his life, letting Naomi walk back into that house. But she was an adult. Not only that, but a soon-to-be-marriedadult, to her child’s father. Wes needed to back the hell off and let this relative stranger live her own fucking life.
Wes pivoted and marched to Hawk’s sedan, refusing to look back before he opened the passenger side and collapsed into the seat.
Hawk’s left elbow rested on top of the door panel, with his other hand on the top of the steering wheel. His left index finger rubbed his lips back and forth while he slowly shook his head, his dark eyes staring in thought at the house.
Ellie called him a younger, military version of Idris Elba, and Wes had never thought of it before. Hawk was just his team lead and friend, a brother in arms. But right then, with his determined scowl and singular focus, Wes saw it.
