Damon (The Protectors #1)(31)

“Did you hear a word I said?” He leaned back, his golden eyes sparkling with humor.

Crap. No she didn't because she was too busy drooling over his studly body, but she didn't want to let him know that. With the grin he sported she knew he did anyway. Crap. “Sorry...what?” Smooth Nicole...real smooth.

“I ask you why you haven't taken my head off for giving out our number at headquarters to your clients?” He cocked his eyebrow and damn, didn't that make him even sexier.

Shrugging her shoulders Nicole wiped her hands on a napkin then tossed it on her plate. “I was going to, but I actually thought about it and figured you all are more trained for catching the people responsible than I am.” At his shocked expression she laughed. “Yeah, I know my limits, but if the warriors walked away from this problem tomorrow then I would be back to doing what I was doing before without thought.”

“The 'without thought' is what scares me.” Damon shook his head frowning. “Are you fearless or just think you are lucky enough not to end up dead?”

Nicole eyed him for a long minute. “I was afraid for the first eighteen years of my life. I got tired of being afraid of everything and everyone. I have no idea who my parents are. I grew up in the system. I was not one of the lucky ones that was adopted. I went from family to family trying to fit in. The earliest I remember was when I was six. The man and woman who took me in had wanted children, but couldn't. I was there for six months and happy when she became pregnant. Two weeks later I was sent back into fostering. The next family I swore to myself would love me. I was seven and the first week I was afraid of them. They acted so nice until my case manager left. I was lucky to eat and when I did it was what I could find. I was told that if I said anything about what I saw, which was a lot of drugs and drinking, I would be locked in the closet. I was punished a lot and it took me forever to even be able to open a closet door.”

Damon sat listening anger simmering his blood, but he didn't say a word feeling her need to let this out.

“They got arrested so I was taken out and put back into the system. Two more foster families took me in, but it didn't work out for whatever reason. After that I was in a home for girls until I was sixteen. By then I didn't want a family, so every time anyone came I would act up, dye my hair blue or some other ungodly color and they passed me right up. I had only two more years before I was out on my own. Every time people would come I was afraid to be noticed and wanted. Being wanted and then turned away was worse than anything.” Nicole shifted uncomfortably.

“What happened when you were sixteen Nicole?” Damon leaned toward her.

Nicole swallowed visibly. She had never talked about this to anyone and had no idea why she was talking about it now to a guy she had the hots for in a freakin pizza place. Rubbing her hands nervously she looked away. “It was the last foster family I ever had. It seemed my foster dad had a thing for young girls and my foster mom fed his sickness by doing nothing. It started the second week I was there. He would do and say things that made me uncomfortable. He was good because every time my case manager was there he found a way to stop us from talking alone.” Nicole glanced at him to see his reaction, he just sat listening his face showing no emotion, but she noticed his eyes were darker than before.

“I knew what was coming and was terrified. Every night for weeks I would be in bed and hear him stop outside my door, which had no locks and the doorknob was removed and only put back when the case manager came. I think he was playing mind games. This went on until my seventeenth birthday when I was officially adopted. That night he came to my room and well, tried to do things. I was so afraid and so tired of being afraid. I hid a can of hairspray under my pillow. When he started touching me and stuff I grabbed the can and sprayed him in the eyes. I ran and never looked back.”

Damon had reached over holding her hand rubbing his thumb back and forth on her knuckles. “I'm sorry Nicole.” He would find out who the son of a bitch was and kill him slowly and painfully.

“I didn't tell you this for pity, Damon. I am telling you this so you understand my mindset.” Nicole lifted her chin. “This is why I am like I am with these kids. I know their fear. I have felt it, tasted it and lived it for the first part of my life. I will do everything in my power to keep these kids safe and happy. So when I place one of them in the hands of a monster I take it very personally. I am not afraid for me, but I am terrified for these kids.”

“I don't feel pity for you, Nicole.” Damon stared straight into her eyes. “Far from it. I have never met anyone like you before.”

Nicole snorted trying to lighten the mood. “I bet you haven't.”

Damon smiled then glanced at his watch. “Come on.” He stood digging in his pocket to leave a tip. “We need to be at the warehouse in an hour.”

Moaning Nicole stood. “Ugh...can't we call it a night.”

Holding the door open for her he shook his head. “Mitch would have me fired.”

Surprised when he took her hand in his she glanced up at him. He was scanning the parking lot, alert and ready for trouble. Keeping reality in check she knew his taking her hand was somehow connected to keeping her safe and doing his job, but her heart still skipped a beat at the feel of her hand in his large strong hold.

Damon and Nicole arrived early at the warehouse. They had stopped at her place for her to change, then headed out. Mitch walked in and headed in her direction. Damon was talking to Jared and Duncan while the others who had dribbled in started warming up. Nicole had been hitting a heavy bag when Mitch approached.