Page 50 of Ruthless Protector

My back straightened, but I bit back the sharp response sitting on the tip of my tongue. She was Fay’s good friend, she didn’t know me. She was being protective. I could respect that. “We love Fay. We’d never do anything to hurt her…”

Tilly skipped back in then, followed by Fay, so we said our goodbyes and headed home, leaving them to their evening.

We had dinner, and now Tilly was leaning against my side. We were eating chips and watching a movie, when she looked up at me, eyes so wide and lost, I froze for a moment. “What’s wrong, Tils?”

She bit her bottom lip and when she blinked, a tear streaked down her cheek. “Is Dad going to take me away from you?”

My mouth went dry, tingles crawling all over my skin…no, not tingles. Tingles could be pleasant. This felt like a million pins being poked into me repeatedly from the base of my spine to the nape of my neck. “What?” It was all I could manage.

“I saw him, Willa. I saw Dad at school when we got into the cab.” She looked terrified, lost.

Oh God. “No. No, Tils. That won’t happen. I have custody of you, remember. He can’t take you away from me, not without the courts giving him that right back, and that won’t happen.”

She leaned into me, burying her face against my shoulder. “Promise?” she said, voice muffled.

“I promise.” I’d do anything before I let that happen.

I woke two hours later, still on the couch, alone since I’d put Tilly to bed earlier. I thought I’d be awake all night. Seemed my shitty day had wiped me out after all.

I lay there for a moment, listening to the muted chatter coming from the TV, the flickers of light on the ceiling.

Tilly had been so scared tonight. I’d had to sit with her until she fell asleep. Trent wasn’t getting anywhere near her. I wouldn’t let him.

Trent had gone to her school today, had been hanging around outside. Why? I couldn’t believe it was because he wanted to see his daughter, that he’d missed her. Had he followed me there? He’d obviously wanted me to see him.

An icy chill slid through me, like a giant slushy tidal wave submerging me, slow and so cold, I felt frozen to the bone. I had no damned idea what he’d do next. I was losing control of the situation, if I ever was in control in the first place. I needed a lot more money. I needed more shifts. The tips I got today were great, but adding a few night shifts until I had Trent’s money, would get me there a whole lot faster. It would get him to back off for a bit, so I could think.

I also needed to call the school first thing, to make sure they understood that Trent wasn’t allowed anywhere near Tilly. I’d already given them instructions to that effect when I enrolled her, but wasn’t going to leave anything to chance.

Grabbing my phone, I called Raul, and he agreed to give me three night shifts, starting tomorrow. Steph said the girls who worked nights made great money and if I made myself available for more lap dances…maybe even some private dances, I could make the money I needed faster.

My phone beeped.

Jude: You awake?

I let out the breath I was holding. I couldn’t deal with Trent again today. Jude asked if he could message me last time we texted, but then the next night came and he didn’t. I assumed he’d changed his mind, but I’d been wrong apparently.

Yep, just hanging out on the couch.

I forced myself to stare at the TV, a feeble attempt to convince myself I wasn’t lying here, waiting for his reply.

He replied almost instantly. Was going to text yesterday, but things got complicated.

I read that as, I was busy chasing bad guys. The rescue footage I’d seen of him on TV flashed through my mind. Yes, complicated could mean anything where Jude was concerned.

I typed out my response. Did you get your man?

Not yet, should only be another day or two, we’re closing in on him. How’s work?

I thought about Jethro coming in, the lap dances I’d done earlier, the creep with his hands on me, the money I’d made, and for some weird reason, I felt kind of…guilty. I couldn’t help but wonder what Jude would think of me doing that, if he’d hate it. Him and I didn’t owe each other anything. A couple of kisses does not a relationship make. We weren’t really even friends. I couldn’t explain where the feeling came from, I just knew he wouldn’t like it.

Work’s fine. I’m doing a few evening shifts this week, the extra money will be good.

His reply took longer to come, and I wondered if there was some kind of action happening and that was the end of our conversation, but then my phone vibrated with another message.

Don’t do it on my account, I told you not to worry about rent until you’re back on your feet.

Always the nice guy. Though, I couldn’t help but feel like the tone of this text was different. Sharper, maybe. Did he not like the idea of me working nights?