Page 48 of Ruthless Protector

I stared at him, at his too-close-together blue eyes, the superior tilt to his thin mouth, and I knew I couldn’t win, no matter how wrong, how unfair, or how messed up this was. I would not win. And I hated how helpless that made me. I didn’t want my niece to think she had to sit back and allow people to treat her badly, that there was no damn justice.

“Sometimes, Mr. Clayton, words do a lot more damage than fists. I don’t agree with violence either, but Tilly did the only thing she could when this school failed her. She shouldn’t have to put up with a bully, she shouldn’t have to put up with abuse of any kind, from anyone.” I pointed at him. “You failed her, Mr. Clayton. You made it so she had no other choice but do what she did.”

“I don’t agree…there is never any reason to get physical.”

I stood and held my hand out for Tilly. “Bullies come in all shapes and sizes; some on the playground, and some in positions of power, hiding behind big desks. The one thing they all have in common? They’re cowards.”

His eyes narrowed.

Yeah, I’m talking about you, you weaselly fucker.

“If you don’t stand up to them, they’ll keep on mistreating you. I don’t want my niece to think that’s okay, that she shouldn’t protect herself when she needs to. So, we’ll take the two days, Mr. Clayton, because you’ve given us no choice, but if she comes back here and you don’t stop the bullying, you’ll be seeing me again, and I can assure you, I won’t be so friendly.”

I led Tilly from the room, shutting the door softly behind me, and we walked out of the school.

“You’re not mad with me?” Tilly said, when we walked out and headed down the street.

I pulled up short and crouched down, taking both her hands in mine. “No, baby, I’m not.”

“He did pull my hair, Willa, and he’s done it before.”

It took everything in me to stop the rage from coming through in my voice. “I believe you, Tils.” I tweaked her nose. “Of course, that doesn’t mean you should be punching people left and right.”

She nodded. “I know. I just got so mad.”

“You had good reason to be mad. I think Blake might think twice before pulling another girls hair.” I gave her hand a squeeze. “Now, I want you to promise me that you won’t let this, what happened in that office, stop you from protecting yourself if you have to.”

“I promise.”

“Good girl. Now let’s go get some ice cream. Just think how angry that would make grumpy Mr. Clayton.”

Tilly giggled, and the center of my chest warmed at the sound. She’d looked so small and afraid when I’d walked into that office. I never wanted to see her like that again. We walked a little way down the street and I waved down a cab. Tilly scrambled in and I was about to follow when I spotted Trent across the street, watching us.

I quickly climbed in, and pulled the door shut.

Fuck.

* * *

Jethro was back.

He’d come to the club twice last week, both times right when I’d finished my shifts, thank God. Still, his eyes had found me, had followed me, as I’d left the club. The guy was a major creep and after what Jude said about him, he terrified the hell out of me.

He always had a crew with him, usually goons that stood there, looking intimidating. This time, he had a couple of guys I recognized from the poker game. His pasty friend with the light eyes, Donny, was one of them, and another guy from the game, whose name I didn’t know.

They were giving one of the girls their drink order; that’s when Jethro’s eyes came to me and he grinned, in a way that lifted the hair on the back of my neck.

I spun away quickly and headed for the back of the club. I needed to get ready for my dance and I wasn’t sure how I was going to do it with that revolting, twisted prick watching me.

Someone tapped me on the shoulder before I reached the dressing room, and I shrieked and jerked away, getting the fright of my life.

It was Josie, one of the other dancers. My face heated.

“Hey, girl, you all right?” she asked.

“Sorry.” I shook my head. “I guess I’m a little jumpy.”

“Everything okay?”