Too Sweet (Hayes Brothers #3)(86)

I cuff her wrist, lifting her off the tiles and into my arms in two moves, cradling her fragile frame into my chest, one hand under her thighs, the other around her shoulder blades.

“I’m here,” I say, pressing my lips to her temple when she shudders, nuzzling herself as close to me as physically possible. “I’ve got you, baby. You’re safe.”

I’m both relieved she doesn’t flinch at my closeness and on the verge of letting my rage take the scene. She’s so cold, trembling all over.

Knotting her fingers on my nape, she nuzzles her face under my chin. “I’m okay,” she whispers, sounding seconds from bursting into tears, but trying her hardest not to cry. “I’m not hurt. It’s not my blood.”

“I know. You’re okay.” I turn around, looking at Logan and Theo standing in the doorway. “Come on, I need you.”

I carry Mia out of the restroom, her tears trickling down my skin into my t-shirt. She’s not making a sound, though. I hate that she’s so vulnerable, but I also love that she trusts me enough not to pretend or hide how she feels.

“Shh...” I tut quietly and slide to the floor, readjusting my hold on her. “Shh, baby, you’re safe. I’m here. I take care of you, remember? I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

She nestles her face harder into the crook of my neck, inhaling me in short, ragged breaths. “I’m okay,” she utters again.

I pull out the keys to my car, tossing them to Logan. “There’s a hoodie in the boot and a pack of baby wipes in the glove box. Grab that for me.”

A single nod and barely audible, yeah, sure, is all I get before he jogs away.

Mia’s motionless, silently choking on her tears. All I can do is whisper in her ear and stroke her back as she processes whatever the fuck went down.

Not even two minutes go by before Shawn arrives, followed by four police officers and Logan.

“She said anything yet?” Shawn asks.

“Not yet. Deal with the motherfuckers first. You can interrogate Mia at home.”

He bobs his head, too smart to argue while I’m this close to turning into the goddamn Hulk. On the outside, I’m composed. I’m everything Mia needs: calm, focused, determined.

Everything happening inside is an entirely different matter.

I take the hoodie from Logan and pull it over Mia’s head, not bothering with the sleeves. I tug the fabric until it covers her butt, then press her to me, caging her in my arms.

She’s not talking, and I’m not pushing. Not yet. She needs to calm down first. She’s too stiff. Her muscles have no give. It’s fucking unnatural because she’s always like playdough around me: adjusting to my rhythm, submitting to my dominance. Right now, she’s numb. Detached.

My brothers move away a few extra steps when more cops arrive while I’m wiping blood off Mia’s face.

It’s not easy. Cleaning dried blood off her skin using wet wipes is like cleaning red wine off a carpet with paper towels. I’m not making much progress, but she’s calming down the longer I do this, so I don’t stop.

“You’re so fucking brave,” I whisper, one arm draped across her middle. “You want something to drink?”

She nods softly, and Cody walks away before I can ask anyone to fetch a bottle of water from the bar.

Shawn comes out the restroom, a phone to his ear for a moment before he tucks it away, scratching the back of his head. By the look of him, he’s not seen anything like this before. “Does Mia need medical attention?”

“No,” she whispers. “I’m not hurt.”

He looks her over as if making sure she’s not lying. “Alright, take her home, Nico. Get her cleaned up, and we’ll take her statement later. I’ll need your statements, too,” he tells the triplets.

“We’ll do it at my place,” I say before Shawn pulls Johnny to one side.

Mia grips my shirt tighter, panic etched into her expression when I try to get us off the floor.

“We’re going home. I’m not letting you go, baby.”

I want to.

I want to pass her over to Cody and get my revenge on the two unconscious motherfuckers just behind the wall. I’d risk being detained if it meant punishing the ones who hurt my girl, but regardless of how much pain I could inflict, it wouldn’t help Mia.

She’d spiral deeper into her fear.

There are women walking this earth who’d judge her lack of self-sufficiency. They’d point fingers, try to toughen her up, and teach her what feminism is all about.

The thing is... Mia can take care of herself just fine if she has no choice. She almost raised herself, dogging her mother’s lack of interest, Jimmy’s career, and Aisha’s love of guys and partying.

But she doesn’t want to be independent. She doesn’t want to count only on herself.

And that’s probably why I fell in love with her so fast... because she fits me so well. She’s all I ever wanted without realizing. I needed a girl like her. One who’d consider my protectiveness a good thing, not a leash.

She wants, needs, and expects to be cared for. I want, need, and expect her to let me do that.

We’re a match made in fucking heaven.

THIRTY
Nico

EIGHT.

That’s how many times Mia brushed her teeth before she let me kiss her. It was far from what I wanted. A tight-lip peck.