Page 30 of Blade
Mace laughs. “I think Blade would slap me upside the head if I brought you anything basic, June.” He opens the laptop next and spins it to face her. “I got you all set up here. You can add your own password. I used your name for now, June period Brien, but you should change it.”
“Thank you.” She fingers the keys. “This is more high-tech than the phone. I’m scared to touch it.”
I step closer to her on her other side, stroke her hair, and tip her head back. “Don’t fret over this, Little one. It’s just a computer. We don’t keep things around the office that aren’t top-of-the-line.”
“But…”
“No buts.”
She sighs. “Fine.”
I bend down and kiss her, not giving a single fuck that Mace is watching. “Sassy girl.”
She leans into me.
Mace clears his throat. “I’ll head back downstairs. I think Cannon is coming up soon.”
“I figured.” I keep a hand on June and meet her gaze. “How about we get you moved over to the table so you can familiarize yourself with the computer before your class starts.”
She rolls her eyes. “You’re still afraid I’ll fall off this stool, aren’t you?”
I lift her off said stool and set her on her feet. “Definitely, Miss Sassy.” I give her bottom a gentle swat and nod toward the table before carrying the laptop and phone over for her.
After pulling out the chair and pushing it in for her when she sits, I tip her head back again. “I’m going to walk Mace to the elevator. Stay put, naughty girl.”
Another eye roll. “So bossy.”
Mace laughs as he looks at me. “She has no idea.”
“Ha ha.” I join Mace and follow him out of the apartment, closing the door behind me so we can talk on the landing.
“How’s she doing?” Mace asks.
“As good as can be expected.”
“Cannon filled me in. I assume we’ll be hunting down the giant dickhead soon.”
“Yes.”
“I’ve already started my search. He wasn’t hard to find. I have an address.”
“Good. I figured that might be the case. I’d rather not ask June where they were living. The less she knows, the better. It’s possible he’s still in the same house, but he could have moved. It’s been three years since she escaped his abuse.”
Mace nods. “I’ll get more details and see if he hired someone to toss her apartment. Cannon hasn’t pulled any prints that aren’t yours or hers so far. Hers were obvious.”
“Didn’t figure he would. All the more likely that her ex wasn’t the one who broke in. Probably hired someone to either take her or scare the fuck out of her. I’m just damn glad she wasn’t home at the time.”
“Smart girl.” Mace gives my shoulder a squeeze before he steps into the elevator. “So happy for you.”
I smile. I’ve been doing that a lot lately. It’s a new feeling. Happiness.
I wouldn’t have described myself as unhappy before. I was living. I have a good life. I love my job. Business is booming. I have a great team that’s constantly growing as our clients increase. But was I truly happy? No. I realize that now. One glance at June and my world came into focus.
When I step back into the apartment, I find June focused on the computer. She’s trying to maneuver the mouse with her broken arm. Her brow is furrowed. It tugs at my heartstrings.
I hurry over and pull up a chair next to her. “Honey, that has to hurt.”
She blows out a breath. “Yes, but I tried the other hand, and my brain wouldn’t communicate with my left hand. Let’s face it. I’m not ambidextrous. This is going to be a pain in the ass.”
