Page 6 of Truck Stop Titan

Why me? Why fucking me?

“Okay,” Tucker said. “Give Slade your keys. She’ll drive your car. You get in the back seat with the girl. We can’t stay out here.”

“Keys are in the ignition.” I nodded to Slade before sliding into the back of the sedan and stretching the seatbelt once again around both of our bodies.

Tucker pounded the top of the car. “Go. Go. I’m right behind you.”

# # #

Blood curdling screams echoed through the hallway, bouncing off the mint green paint and driving deadly spikes through my temporal lobes.

Pace.

Pace.

Pace.

My fist met the wall. The pain jetting up my arm did little to distract me from the feral buzzing in my head. I’d stayed too long already. I should’ve left the second I’d laid her in that damn bed.

“I can’t do this.”

Tucker blocked my exit, standing stone still, arms crossed, brow raised.

“I did my part. I got her somewhere safe.” My pointed finger met his chest. “Now it’s on you!”

The guy didn’t budge, but damn, his jaw twitched hard enough to dislocate, the child’s pain clearly grating his nerves, too.

I pounded my head, and resumed pacing, the gut-wrenching screams driving me mad. “I need to hit the road.”

“Doesn’t work that way. We need to do a thorough exam. She’s not letting anyone touch her but you. So, whatever you got to do that’s so important can wait.”

“Jesus fuckin’ Christ.” I stopped dead, turning to face Tucker, ready to draw blood. “You don’t understand. I’m not built for this shit.” Then I realized my mistake—showing weakness. Stumbling, I hit the wall behind me and scrubbed the dirty hair out of my face.

The lines between his eyes deepened, his assessment of my appearance slow and thorough. “You look like shit.” Arms dropped to his sides, he stalked closer. “The fuck’d you get yourself into?”

“Dane!” Slade shrieked. “Get in here. Now!”

Tucker and I shared a stare down, violent tension stifling the air. He nodded toward the room. I shook my head in a slowno. Then turned to leave.

A heavy hand landed on my shoulder, halting my retreat.

Out of instinct I struck, hitting the blond bastard square in the jaw.

Tucker moved fast, landing a jab to my gut, just hard enough to prove he could hold his own in a fight if given cause. “Get your ass in that room. You assumed responsibility the second you pulled that little girl out of whatever hell she was living. Don’t let her down now.”

“Fuck you.” Tucker was right, but still, I didn’t appreciate being told I was wrong. And damn, why was I facing off with the guy? We were on the same side. Her side.

I turned on my heel and entered the room where Tucker’s mom, Leticia, attempted to examine the hysterical child while Slade held her down. Slade was wiped, her face pale and stained with tears, her hair a ratted mess, scratches marring her neck and arms.

God, they were gonna break the tiny thing. Two strides and I scooped the baby into my arms. Hands fisting my hair and pulling tight, she buried her face in my neck. Her breaths steadied when I rubbed her back in slow circles.

The women in the room shared nervous glances, and Slade fell into one of the chairs, rubbing blood off her cheek with the back of her arm.

“Okay,” Leticia whispered, stepping closer. “We need to get this dirty shirt off and clean her up a bit.” She lifted her pale blue eyes to mine. “Can you help me with that?”

“You want me to undress her?” I choked on the words.

“No, Dane. Just hold her. I think she’ll let me do what I need to do if you’re holding her.”

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