Downfall(68)

I was on the floor helping Noble build some kind of LEGO spaceship, assuring her if there were bears in the woods they couldn’t get inside the house, when Solo appeared in the doorway of the playroom. He looked tired and resigned. His mouth was in a flat line that twitched just slightly when Noble caught sight of him and squealed in delight. The LEGOs were immediately forgotten as she rushed toward him, arms extended. He caught her mid-jump when she launched herself at him, lifting her high into the air.

My daughter sounded like she was going to have a heart attack of joy when Solo started smothering her face with smacking kisses. A deep, rumbling chuckle caught my attention and I felt my jaw unhinge slightly when my gaze landed on the tall man standing behind Solo. I always believed Solomon Sanders was going to be the most intimidating man I ever encountered, but I was wrong. The guy standing behind him had an aura of danger I could practically see. He was a giant. Taller and broader than Solo, but just as heavily tattooed. The fact he had a tattoo on his face and a wicked gleam in his pitch-black eyes didn’t make me feel any better about having the guy so close to my daughter.

Solo squeezed Noble until she protested and inclined his head in the direction of the other man. “Orley, this is my boss. He helped me take care of our little problem. He’s also offered to give us a ride back to the city, unless you want to stay here for a couple of days. Been awhile since you were in a house as nice as the one you left behind.”

I leaned back on my hands and looked up at him as he continued to cuddle my daughter. When he explained the entire clandestine plan to me a few days ago, he wasn’t sure how long I was going to have to hide out at this fairytale mansion in the woods, which is why I’d packed a bag. I’d never planned on staying any longer than necessary, even if that view off the back deck was to die for.

“It’s safe to go home?” Because, even though I never intended for it to happen, the cold, hard city was now the place I wanted to be the most. Well, it was a close second next to Solo’s arms. I appreciated the transparency of the city. The way I always knew exactly what I was dealing with and what kind of fight I was facing. I felt like a stronger, better person calling the city my home.

Solo nodded and bent to put Noble on her feet. She immediately skirted around him and ran to the other man. My eyes widened in horror when she pointed at his face and demanded to know, “What’s that?”

The huge man chuckled again and crouched down so he was almost eye level with her. I could see now he was shockingly attractive in a rough and tumble kind of way. When he smiled, it turned his harsh features devastatingly handsome. The men in this town were simply a different breed. I doubted you would be able to find them anywhere else in the world.

“It’s a star.” His voice was a harsh rasp that would’ve made me shiver in trepidation if Solo hadn’t been standing nearby.

“Does it wash off? Do you need some soap?” Noble cocked her head to the side and studied the man carefully. It would’ve been absolutely adorable if he didn’t scare the crap out of me.

“Naw. It’s there for good. I don’t need soap, but I could use a glass of water. Want to show me where the kitchen is?” He shot a knowing look in Solo’s direction as an immediate protest rose to my lips. Every cell in my body protested letting my kid wander off with the scary stranger. But Solo trusted him, and more than that, the man with the face tattoo had helped get Channing off my back somehow, so I owed him. Deep down, I knew there was no way Solo would let Noble wander off with someone who might cause her harm.

“My chick works with all the different foster kids in the city. She’s always had a very soft spot for the little ones, so I’m around kids all the time. I swear, I won’t break her. I’m just gonna grab a drink; you two figure out who’s staying and who’s going. We’ll be right back.” He stuck a wide, tattooed hand out for my daughter to grab and I gaped at his broad back as she happily flounced away babbling more about the tattoo on his face and her best friend, Solo. Apparently, she was really glad we weren’t yelling at each other anymore. Our fake fight earlier in the day had broken her little heart, which meant mine was cracked open and bleeding freely hearing her tell him that.

Solo walked fully into the room, taking a seat on the floor across from me. He reached for a handful of LEGOs, absently clicking them together and popping them apart.

“He really is good with kids. Noble will be fine with him for a few minutes. I wouldn’t have let him take her out of the room if I didn’t trust him with every fiber of my being.” His tone was quiet and almost shy.

“I know you wouldn’t have. I’m still learning how to be a good judge of character. Channing Vincent is really no longer going to be a problem?” It was hard to believe. I’d been on the run and scared for so long, I wasn’t sure how to function without fear behind every action I took.

Solo nodded. “The Boss, and another ‘friend,’” he made air quotes around the words which made me laugh slightly, “made sure he’s out of your hair for at least the next ten to fifteen years. He’s going to have to answer for what he did to your mother. He doesn’t have enough money left to pay for even the cheapest lawyer. So, he might even end up with a longer sentence than fifteen years relying on a public defender to try his case.”

“What do you mean, he doesn’t have any money? He’s one of the richest men in the state.” It was so easy to imagine him buying his way out of any conviction thrown his way. When Solo said they were going to get Channing out of the way, I pictured something much worse than what he was describing. I couldn’t decide if I was happy he wasn’t dead or not. It sort of felt like an anticlimactic ending after everything Channing Vincent had put me through my entire life. At least when I finally got a moment to process things, I could finally grieve for my mother properly, and I would rest easy knowing Channing couldn’t hide behind his money anymore.