Page 55 of The Lost Melody

“Angela isn’t hurting her,” Greg grunts, coming into the room.

Everyone walks too damn quietly here. I’m tempted to put bells on them so I always know where they are.

“You didn’t see the last takedown,” I respond, turning back to watch them outside.

“Lennon needs to be able to protect herself with or without a weapon,” he says, and my lips twist.

I know this, I do, but damn. There’s this pain in my chest every time she drops.

I want to go outside, but I’ll either kill this Angela woman, or yell encouragement at Lennon. Somehow I don’t think either will be helpful, as this isn’t football.

“Logically I know this, I just don’t understand this protective feeling right now,” I growl.

Turner has been watching Lennon quietly, leaning against the wall. Roark couldn’t handle it at all, and left the room the second Lennon was put into a headlock the first time. He’s so large, and most people wouldn’t want to meet him in a dark alley, but his soft spot shows for Lennon.

“Do you want to burn the world down when someone hurts her, even if this is just training and not for real?” Turner asks quietly where he’s holding up the wall.

I nod, and his eyes shoot over to me for half a second before returning to Lennon.

“I felt like that the moment I met her when she was eighteen. It wasn’t because she was terrified of us, and still showed up to meet us that I was immediately drawn to her. Lennon’s huge eyes, pink pouty lips, and intense inner kindness just fucking did it for me. Roark and I were already together by then, then Lennon seamlessly fit,” Turner rumbles as he watches her kick Angela and twist out of her grip.

“Fuck yes, baby girl,” Derek growls and I grunt in agreement.

“Guys, Lennon is seriously fine,” Greg sighs and the three of us flip him off.

This can’t be safe for her, after everything she’s been through the last few days, but it seems we don’t have much choice. The contract I took wants to see proof that I’m working on looking for Lennon, so I showed them how she hasn’t used her credit cards and no cameras have picked up her facial features.

They’re just gonna have to sit tight. It’s barely been twenty-four hours since I took the contract. Dicks. I’m going to make them wait another seventy-two hours before we send Lennon out into the world, and we spring this fake kidnapping.

She already looks better, has color in her cheeks, and while the bruises are turning green, all I see is the smile that’s making an appearance more and more.

“I don’t like it,” I mutter at Greg. “How would you like it if that was your girl?”

I barely feel the surprise as I claim Lennon. I don’t take my eyes off her as she’s able to get out of a chokehold with more ease, and looks more comfortable with blocking Angela as she advances towards her.

“Believe it or not, I actually have some experience with this and Tori,” Greg says, surprising me.

“Really?” I ask, resting my ass back on my calves. My nose was practically glued to the glass a moment ago, and I really don’t want Lennon to see me.

“Yeah, he actually did,” Turner says in a flat voice, eyes never moving. “Come on, Lavender, you can do this… fuck yeah.”

Lennon has Angela pinned to the mat when I glance back over and I bare my teeth in pride.

“I can’t with you all,” Greg chuckles.

“Tell me more about this, it’s actually helping me,” I tell him, eyes trained on Lennon again.

“Tori had a stalker, and Xav was protecting him,” Greg explains.

Even more reason to kill this fucker.

“As much as I wanted to end Anthony, I couldn’t. Xav threatened people I loved, and my hands were tied. Instead, I had to train Tori how to fight, while she was several months pregnant with our baby,” he delivers with no inflection.

I turn so quickly, I fall over. “Pardon?” I ask.

Turner scowls. “This is one of the many reasons I have issues with this fucker,” he says, and it takes me a second to realize he means Greg. “He allowed himself to become complacent in his job, instead of working his way into positions that would allow him to be able to protect the people in his life. The way he can now help us,” he says.

Turner is a tough nut to crack, but I also understand it. Tori is an important person to him.

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