Downfall(49)

Only, I wasn’t the only one she could rely on anymore. There was someone else in her corner now. Someone who would never be intimidated by a man like Channing Vincent. A man who knew what it was like to fight for the people you loved. I firmly believed, without him saying a single word, that Solo would stand between Noble and anyone trying to hurt her or take her away.

I let out a surprised noise when I was suddenly yanked across the expanse of couch separating us. “Your ribs!” I didn’t want to hurt him worse than he had to be hurting from the sudden movement, so I let him haul me into his lap. He tucked my head under his chin. For such a tough guy, he was one hell of a good cuddler. I leaned into the caress when he ran his hand down my spine and dropped a kiss on the crown of my head.

“No one is taking that little girl away from you. I don’t care if I have to sell my soul to the men who run this city, I will do whatever it takes to keep you together.”

I rested my forehead against the hollow of his throat and whispered my deepest, most profound desire. “I’d like it if we could all stay together for as long as possible. Our lives have been so much better with you in them.” Even if there was only so much he had to give.

Solo was quiet for a long time, but eventually his arms tightened their hold. “You’ve both brought a lot to my life that I didn’t know I was missing, as well. I’m not about to let anyone take that away.”

I knew it was the kind of promise I couldn’t expect him to keep, but just like I told Noble, I had to give him enough time to prove he could. I was going to have to be patient and believe he was always going to be able to be my hero.

“Am I hurting you?” I hated that he could barely move because Channing decided to play hardball.

A deep chuckle vibrated under my ear. “The ribs don’t feel great, but I’ll live. Just gotta give them time to heal. All the parts of us that break eventually mend with enough time.”

Not only was he hot, great in bed, and wonderfully protective, he was also very smart. My heart had always been somewhat broken from the way it was mistreated in that opulent mansion on the hill. But time and distance from that life had indeed started to stitch it back together. Pretty soon the entire thing would be whole, just in time for me to hand it over to the man who not only stood between me and the rest of the world, but who also taught me how to stand on my own.





Solo



Orley was nervous.

Outwardly she was calm and composed, but her hand was clammy where it was clutched in mine and her fingers were twitching involuntarily. She kept telling Noble to behave and gently repeated the soft reminder that my mom wasn’t like other moms. She told Noble over and over again how special my mother was, and the words did something to my heart. My mom was special. She always had been, even if I was the only one who recognized it before she got injured. It was cute the way Noble nodded so gravely every time Orley prompted her to be good so they would be invited to visit again. The adorable little girl took her assigned task very seriously. The look of determination on her cherubic features was almost an identical match to the one her mother wore when she was focused intently on something.

Since Orley had ripped open her past for me, I figured it was only fitting I take her to meet my mother. I knew so much more about her than her last name, and while most of it wasn’t all that pretty, none of it was enough to scare me off. I was certain every ugly secret she shared seemed as dark and dirty as it could get, but the reality was, I’d witnessed far worse growing up in the city. I understood Channing Vincent was dangerous, especially since he knew Orley was hiding out in the slums right around the corner from his mansion. But he didn’t frighten me a fraction as much as the man I worked for and the man I fought for. He was greedy, manipulative, and used to getting his own way, but he wasn’t what I would consider a serious threat. At least, he wasn’t now that I knew exactly what I was facing. Orley was terrified of him, regardless of how many times I promised to keep both her and Noble safe.

Getting out of the center of the city was a good break for all of us. My mom was having a good day, so it was time for a long overdue visit. I wanted Orley’s mind off Vincent and the past, not that I planned on her tying herself in knots over meeting my mother.

I squeezed the hand practically vibrating in my grasp. “Stop worrying. Mom will love you. Both of you.” I winked at Noble, who was holding Orley’s other hand and the picture she drew for my Mom after her last bad day. “She’s never met a stranger and makes friends with everyone. She’s the staff’s favorite long-term patient, even though she can be a handful.”

Orley wrinkled her nose and huffed out a breath, which sent her dark red hair dancing away from her face. “I’ve never met ‘the parents’ before. I was never with anyone long enough to worry about having to make a good impression on someone who means everything to the person I care about.” Her fingers flexed in mine again. “At the bare minimum, I used to be able to say I was from a good family, but that’s not even the truth. Now all I have is the fact that I’m a single mom who is barely able to pay her bills, hiding from what remains of that not-so-good family. I sound like a real catch.” She rolled her eyes toward the sky and I had to adjust my stride as her steps noticeably slowed. “You can do so much better, and your mom will see it.”

I tugged at her hand and returned to a normal pace, practically dragging her and Noble behind me. “I’ve never brought anyone to meet my mom. This is a first for me, too. And it’s not about being better, it’s about doing what’s right. You’re right for me, and I have no doubt my mom will be able to see it right away.”