Into the Tide (Cottonwood Cove #1)(45)

I wanted to fucking kill him.

“Hugh!” Brax was grabbing at my arm and trying to pull me off.

“Let him go, Bear.” Lila’s voice pierced through all the noise. She was completely calm, and her tone remained even. “Please take me home.”

I let him go, and he dropped to the floor, coughing and gasping like a little bitch.

A man who violates women is not a man I can feel any empathy for.

“Weren’t you told not to come back here, asshole?” Roddy said, as he clapped me on the back. “Dugger, get him the fuck out of here. And make sure he knows he isn’t welcome back.”

I moved toward Lila, wrapping my arms around her and kissing the top of her head. “Are you all right?”

She didn’t move, and when I pulled back to look at her, she nodded. “I really want to leave.”

A few people had gathered around, including Lila’s friends and Kline, whose eyes were panicked as he hurried over to check on her. Most of the patrons hadn’t even noticed the fight, as this bar was known for this shit.

I didn’t have my fucking car, and I was far too intoxicated to drive even if I did. Karmy was clawing at my back, and Brax pulled her off as I glanced over at Roddy.

I didn’t have to say a word. The dude nodded.

“I’ve got you. Let’s go,” he said. I knew Roddy didn’t drink, but I’d only ever seen him on a motorcycle, so I wasn’t sure how he was getting us home.

“I’m out,” I said to Brax, and I reached for Lila’s hand as she said a quick goodbye to her friends, who were too drunk to completely comprehend what had just happened. Del looked visibly shaken as she kissed Lila’s cheek, and we headed for the door.

Roddy paused at the bar, and the owner tossed him his keys. I pushed Lila in front of me, my hand still holding hers, but I needed my eyes on her as we made our way outside to the parking lot. He pointed at the red truck parked out front, and I held the door open as she climbed inside. I moved her onto my lap and pulled the seat belt across both of us, which made Roddy laugh as he started the engine.

“Damn, dude. I didn’t know she was your girl.” Roddy chuckled.

I didn’t say anything in response, and neither did Lila, who had yet to say much of anything.

Because she was my girl, wasn’t she? Maybe I couldn’t have her, but she was mine.

“I realized she was Tate’s daughter when she first walked in, so thankfully, I didn’t make a move. I wouldn’t want those fists on me.” He chuckled as he headed toward my house. He’d picked up my truck a few times from my place when it wasn’t working and had it towed to his shop.

“That dude wasn’t making a move. He was forcing himself on her.” My arms were wrapped around her so tightly, I looked down to make sure I wasn’t hurting her. Her hand came over mine when my gaze locked with hers.

“Yeah. He’s a bad guy. I didn’t see him come in. The slimy fucker. He’s been hauled into jail a few times for complaints about being too aggressive with women, and we had him banned from the place.”

“Fuck,” I hissed when he pulled down my street. “I should have beat his face in some more.”

Lila’s fingers were gently moving along my knuckles that I hadn’t even noticed were bloody before now. Soothing and calming me the best she could.

I was still raging over what had just happened.

Seeing her struggle like that.

Seeing her eyes full of fear when I finally got him off her.

It did something to me.

“I think you did enough damage to his face. There was a shit ton of blood, and I’m fairly certain you broke his nose and jaw. Killing him wouldn’t help your girl; it would hurt you. You stopped at the right time.” He pulled into the driveway and glanced over at Lila.

“You all right, darlin’?”

She nodded. “Yeah. I’m fine. Just happy to be home.”

Home.

I wish this was her home.

That was the booze talking.

Lila’s home was in Chicago.

I unbuckled us and pushed the door open, lifting her out of the truck before turning and fist-bumping Roddy. “Thank you, man. I owe you. Come get dinner at Reynolds’ this week on me.”

“Damn straight, brother. Those are the best ribs I’ve ever had. Count on it.”

I pushed out of the truck and waved as he backed away. I took her hand and typed the code into the garage keypad and led her inside.

As soon as I closed the door, her body started quaking.

The tears fell then.

I scooped her up into my arms and carried her toward my bedroom, and I set her down on my bed as I moved to the bathroom and started the tub.

I knew it would comfort her.

I didn’t care if it was wrong to have her here. Right now, this was where she needed to be.

This was where I needed her to be.

I came back to the bedroom where she was swiping at her eyes. I bent down in front of her and placed my large hands on each side of her face. “Are you hurt?”

“No. He just scared me. I tried to kick. I tried to push him away, but he just kept pressing against me. He forced his mouth on mine, and I bit him as hard as I could,” she said. Her words were coming fast, and I heard the fear there. “Del tried to help me, but we couldn’t move him. He was too big.”