Page 38 of Hell of a Mess
“She’s not staying here,” Mal nearly yelled as he pointed at me.
I took a drink from my glass, not bothering to react.
“Mal, she’s almost thirty years old. She’s not a kid,” Fender argued.
I was with Fender on that. She was definitely not a kid.
“I don’t give a fuck if she’s fifty! I’m not leaving her with Luther, for God’s sake!” Mal said my name as if it were a curse.
I smirked and tapped out a cigarette I wouldn’t be able to light in the house, but wanted in my mouth just for the taste and habit.
“I understand,” Linc told him.
I knew Linc would happily send her packing to Mal’s if I let him. But I’d already spoken to Linc. He knew where I stood on this.
“But she hasn’t even met you. Not formally. She saw you in thegreat room. And with all the trauma she’s been through, it’s best that you respect her wishes.”
“She knows Locke! Let her go to the boys’ house,” Mal said.
This was getting tedious. “Nope,” I replied, holding the cigarette between my teeth. “She is adjusting. And she’s doing it here.”
Mal sneered at me as he took a step in my direction.
“Mal,” Linc called out in a commanding tone. “She, for some unknown reason, trusts Luther. Let her be for a few days. Give her time.”
Mal glared at Linc. “I have a goddamn daughter, Linc. One I didn’t know existed and has been abused and God knows what else her entire life. She was going by her sister’s name, for Chrissake! She needs some security, and we both know Luther isn’t fucking security.”
Linc shrugged and let out a sigh. “Yeah, well, she is an adult. We have her under our roof. In our protection now. Give it a week. Come around, spend some time with her”—he paused and glanced at me—“while Luther is present since she feels safe with him. Then we can address her moving.”
Mal ran a hand through his hair and continued shooting daggers at me. “If you lay a hand on her,” he warned.
I took the cigarette from my mouth. “I’m not a monster,” I replied. “Jesus, Mal. I fuck willing women who know the score. Not physically and mentally abused ones who are seeking protection.”
That seemed to ease him somewhat, but his angry expression remained intact.
“That’d better be the case,” he threatened.
I rolled my eyes and stuck the cigarette back between my teeth. “Can’t help it I’m so damn charming.”
Mal pointed at me again as he looked at Linc. “See! That shit! I can’t trust him with her.”
Linc gave me a reproachful glance and smiled.
“He is baiting you because he’s a jackass, and that’s what he does. She will be safe from him here. Jayda will be with her most of the time. I’ll make sure of it.”
Mal said nothing but stalked over to the chair where he had tossed his keys and snatched them up. “I want to see her as soon as she’s ready,” he said.
“And you will,” Linc replied.
Mal looked at me one more time with a threatening scowl. I bit back my amused reaction because I was tired of his shouting and shit. When he stalked toward the door, I was relieved that was over. I’d known he was going to fight me on it, but I hadn’t cared. It was what she wanted, and I had promised her she could trust me.
When the door closed behind him, Fender blew out a breath. “That could have been worse.”
“Yeah,” Linc agreed as he studied me.
I cocked an eyebrow, waiting for him to say whatever it was he was going to say.
“Don’t fuck her.”
