Rule (Marked Men #1)(57)

“What’s up kid?” I was checking out my stubbly face in the mirror and decided since I didn’t have any hair at the moment I was just gonna let it go, maybe try and grow it into a goatee or something.

“Hey Mark, sorry to bother you but I have a problem and I need some advice.”

“You piss off that pretty girl of yours?”

I laughed and leaned against the sink. “Yeah but I managed to fix that all on my own, but she is the reason I am calling. She has a lunatic ex who doesn’t seem to want to take no for an answer. He’s been showing up at her work, following her around, calling her a million times a day and he’s a friend of the family so her parents keep making excuses for her to be around him. This weekend he cornered her when she was alone shook her up and grabbed her. He left bruises on her arms and made a bunch of threats about what he’s going to do to her if she doesn’t take him back.”

“I’m surprised you’re not in jail.”

“Well she didn’t tell me about until after we left her parent’s house and I’ve already told him in no uncertain terms to leave her alone.”

“What’s his name?”

“Gabe Davenport.”

There was a low whistle and I could practically see Mark pacing back and forth. “He wouldn’t happen to be Judge George Davenport’s son would he?”

“Probably. He keeps throwing around that there isn’t anything I can do to him because of who his dad is.”

“He might be right. I would say we need to get a personal protection order in place as soon as possible, but there is a good chance if Davenport sees his son is involved it might not get passed.”

“That’s bullshit.”

“It is, but we still need to try otherwise there won’t be anything on file. You need to keep a clear head about this kid. The name Davenport is pretty powerful in our legal system and you don’t want to end up on the wrong side of it.”

I ran an agitated hand over my head. “I’m not going to let him anywhere near her Mark, plain and simple.”

“That’s fine but don’t go looking for trouble. She’s going to be a sitting duck if you go after the son and end up locked up.”

“I’m pissed Mark, not stupid. I want her safe and his guy taken down a notch or two but I’m well aware that me rearranging his face isn’t going to accomplish either of those things, however if he comes at me I make no promises.”

“If he comes at you take him out, but remember guys like this use laws and regulations to fight not bare knuckles and fists. Tell Shaw to be extra careful, tell her to try and be around someone else at all times, look at getting her a Taser or some mace and tell her if he shows up or put his hands on her again to call the police. She can get a harassment order in place if he keeps hounding her and once the police are involved there isn’t much a judge can do to make the report go away. Give her my number just in case, tell her to call me if she has questions or just needs to talk. Like I said that’s a special girl you got there, Kid. You wanna keep an eye on her.”

“I’m doing my best.”

“I know you are and Rule,” I waited a moment while he finished. “It’s good to see you finally settling down. You’ve always reminded me a little of my son, wild and carefree but you needed something to give you purpose. For my son it was fighting for our freedom and protecting his country, for you I think it’s figuring out you are worthy of the kind of love and affection a girl like that can offer. You two take care I’ll be in touch.”

I hung up the phone just as the door swung open and Shaw stuck her head in. “Come on let’s eat so we can go.”

I looked at her, I mean really looked at her and that slippery stuff in my chest suddenly settled right in the center. Her green eyes got wide when I tugged her into the bathroom and pulled her between my spread legs so that she was up against my chest and I rested my chin on the top of her head. Sometimes the difference in our height was just delightful.

“Are you okay?” She put her hands around my waist and gave me a tight hug.

I let out a breath that felt like I had been holding for a hundred years. Suddenly I knew that no matter how my parents felt, no matter what happened in the future near or far I was for once doing the absolute right thing. “Yeah, I’m good. Better than good actually.”

“Okay well I don’t want to be late so come eat some pancakes and take me to school.” She gave my ass a little pat and bounded back out of the room. I shook my head on a little laugh and followed her out. Rome was up and sitting at the table listening to her tell him about the bizarre brunch yesterday but Nash was nowhere in sight. I had let both of them know what was going on with polo shirt yesterday and I think they were both on hyper alert so that I didn’t go off the rails. My brother gave me a questioning look as I sat down, but I wasn’t about to go into detail while Shaw was prancing around feeding us breakfast.

“You still good to come to get her car with me?”

“Yep but I’m going to swing by mom and dad’s while were there, you wanna come?”

I flipped him off because he knew the last thing I wanted to do was see my folks. “Can’t anyways I have an appointment at noon.”

Shaw placed plates in front of both of us and took a seat on my right, she gave me a warm smile and I knew besides feeling right that this is what I had been missing for so long. I felt at home, this girl, my brother, my friends all the things that I had surrounded myself with suddenly made so much sense and I had a clarity that had been missing since Remy’s death. I loved my family, but I had never felt like I was part of them, this world I had developed, this life I was living it was a good one, filled with solid people that saw me for who I was and cared about me anyway. My throat got tight and I had to hide the swell of emotion behind a glass of orange juice otherwise I risked blubbering like a baby. I cleared my throat, “I’m gonna run Shaw to school then come back and get you is that cool?”