31. Vincent

Chapter 31

I don’t know how Nate convinced Kat to leave her job at the school, but I can’t say I disagree with his way of thinking. Carter might have seemed like he got the message when we went to visit him, but guys like him never really do. I’ve dealt with enough assholes to know his type, and I’d bet my left nut we haven’t seen the last of him.

Which I don’t do lightly. I happen to enjoy having both my nuts, thank you.

I watch the clock on the dash as the minutes tick by and try not to worry, despite the fact that it’s my job.

Well, kind of.

If you look at my paystubs, I’m the Lawson’s chauffeur. But I’m really more of a jack of all trades. I might drive them around, but I’m also a bit of a bodyguard and who they call when they need things handled.

A lot of my job is spent sitting around, either gathering information or waiting on them. I should be used to it, but for whatever reason, waiting for Kat to come out of the school today feels as though it’s taking forever.

It’s strange having a woman around again, but Kat’s good for not only Addison but the guys as well. After what happened the last time, I wasn’t sure their sharing thing could actually work. I understood the idea, and while it sounded like a good way to keep them together, it also sounded highly unlikely to work out.

In fact, I’d seen just how it could fail.

But something’s different this time. Kat’s different, not at all like Natasha. Despite my job and how often I was stuck taking her places, I never liked her, but Nate always chalked it up to jealousy. For some reason, the old asshole still thought I’d settle down someday. Hell, he probably still does.

It’s laughable.

Twenty minutes hadn’t seemed too damn long, but now, as thirty turns to forty, something begins to feel off. How long can it take to tell someone you're quitting and grab your things?

Maybe she could use some help packing things up? She’s so stubborn, I doubt she would ever ask me.

Unable to shake the feeling, I shut the car off and head into the building. I’ve picked Addison up from here dozens of times, but I’ve never been inside. Thankfully, it’s summer and deserted, so I don’t have to worry about dodging a bunch of people.

However, that also means I can’t ask anyone around me for directions.

Why the hell is this school so damn big?

I walk around for a few minutes, taking a few wrong turns before I hear something.

A loud voice rings down the hall, and while I can’t make out what was said, I know it’s a male voice, and I can hear the sharp tone.

That’s all I need, though, because I know Kat’s here somewhere, and suddenly, that bad feeling I had earlier makes a lot more sense.

I should have insisted I came in with her after the damn flowers. I knew it was possible our message to Carter would be ignored, but honestly, I didn’t think he would act so soon.

“He’s old enough to be your father, Katherine! He’s a sick, perverted old man who uses his money to attract beautiful young women like you so he can use you until he’s had his fill and then throw you away for the next one.”

The voice is clear this time, and I just make out what he’s saying past the pounding of blood in my ears. We’d only dealt with Carter one time, but that doesn’t sound like him.

“You’re wrong!” Kat shouts as I round the corner down yet another empty hall. Unlike the rest of the building, one of these rooms has a light on, and it spills out into the hallway like a beacon, calling for me.

I’m fast, well-trained, and in shape, but even with that, somehow, it feels as if it takes forever for me to make it to the door. Like one of those old movies where the hallway gets longer, regardless of how hard the main character tries to make it to the other end.

Thankfully, that’s not actually the case, and I make it to the door, my hand already resting on my gun.

I look in, finding Kat in the room with a man I’ve seen a few times around the school before. I can’t recall his name, but it doesn’t matter much. I know he’s given her issues in the past, and it’s clear he needs to be taught a lesson.

He’s got her trapped, a desk at her back, and him pressed against the front of her, his hands gripping her arms as if to keep her there.

“…never be half the man Nathan is.” Kat’s words are hardly more than a whisper, but it’s impossible to miss the venom in them. It’s adorable, and something I can agree with, but also not her best move considering the fact that she has no idea I’m here, and this guy has already proved he’s a few screws short of a whole working brain.

“What did you say?”

Kat’s eyes fly open, wide, and afraid, and I get the feeling she didn’t realize she said that out loud.

Damn, this girl is going to put these boys in an early grave. I can already see it.

“I think the better question is, what did you say?” I ask, my voice low and husky as I fight with the anger that threatens to leave me beating him bloody without asking questions. It’s a nasty habit I picked up when I was younger. They tried to teach me better ways to handle myself in the military. But all they did was give me more ways to be lethal, which I’ll forever be grateful for.

Kat’s eyes flick up to meet mine over the asshole's head, and the sheer relief that shines back at me is staggering. Nobody ever wants to see me except the guys and the little princess. To anyone without the Lawson last name, I’m their worst nightmare, even if they don’t know it right away.

The piece of shit in front of me seems to be one of the ones who doesn’t get it, judging by the fact that he still holds Kat’s arms as if he has any right to touch her or even look at her.

Pity, but I have no problem educating him.

“What did you say? I didn’t quite hear you before.” I press the barrel of my gun to the back of his head and get the great joy of watching him stiffen.

Good, maybe he’s starting to get it.

Not enough, though.

“No? Nothing to say now? Funny, I swear you were real loud a few minutes ago. Not so brave anymore?” Leaning in closer so that we're damn near cheek to cheek, and I can see the sweat as it beads down his head. “I suggest you take your hands off her before you regret it.”

He hesitates a moment before slowly prying his fingers from her skin, and I can’t help but press the barrel in just a bit harder, seeing the red outline of his fingers and the deep indent from his nails left behind on her skin.

Don’t kill him right here.

He removes his hands but makes no move to back away from her, and I’m guessing that might be due to the gun. Against my better judgment, I let it fall to my side but don’t put it away. I’m still not sold on the fact that I won’t have to shoot this motherfucker right here.

“Are you okay, Kat?” I ask her without taking my eyes off the scum that still stands too close to her for my liking. Something I can see she’s well aware of as her own eyes dart between me and him before finally resting on him.

I see her nod from the corner of my eye, but that somehow doesn’t feel like enough. I can’t blame her for being scared with him here. She doesn’t know me, doesn’t know what I’m capable of, and part of me hopes she never really will, but I need to know she’s okay before I wrap this up and get her the fuck out of here.

“Kat.” I try to keep my tone lighter, knowing she’s probably shaken, but it still comes out huskier than usual, making her startle as her eyes fly back to me. “Are you okay?” I ask again, but seeing the fresh panic in her eyes answer’s my question before she can open her mouth.

“Yes,” she mumbles, nodding, and while she doesn’t sound sure, she doesn’t look away.

She’s strong, she’ll be okay.

With a nod of my own, I reach out, grabbing the little pussy by his collar and hauling him back away from her hard enough that he stumbles over his feet and almost falls. With him on the other side of the room, I step in front of Kat, blocking her view of him and his of her.

Staggering on his feet, the asshole chuckles, shaking his head and looking up at me with a confidence that wasn’t there, not two minutes ago.

Or maybe it’s stupidity?

“Real tough, hiding behind a gun.” The venom he had earlier is gone, and I can hear the slight shake in his words, but he sure tried.

They always do, though, don't they? Everyone wants to believe they’ll be tough in the face of danger, but I’ve found most would much rather run away scared. Something I’d be happy to let him do had he been a regular asshole and not the type that puts his hands on women. My best friend’s woman at that.

“Oh, I assure you, I'm not hiding. I could beat your ass without it just fine.” I shrug because it’s simply a fact, nothing special, but I see the disbelief in his eyes. He wants to call me out on that, but he also doesn’t want to be wrong.

I give him a second, almost hoping he does challenge me, but to my regret, he doesn’t.

That’s fine. I owe him a lesson either way. This one will just be a little less fun for me.

“Now, here’s what's going to happen. You're going to turn around and walk out that door.” I use my gun to point at the door, even though I’m sure he knows where it is. He got in here, after all. “And you're never going to talk to Kat again, ever, in any way. If you see her in public, you don’t know her, no calling her, texting, emailing, nothing.”

It’s more than he deserves—damn near a second chance—but we’re in the middle of a school, and I don’t want to scare Kat any more than she already is.

We can always get better acquainted later, and believe me, I intend to.

“And if I don’t? What are you going to do, shoot me in the middle of a school?”

Or we could get better acquainted now.

Lifting my gun, I once again point it in his direction. The click of the safety rings out around the room louder than should be possible.

His eyes narrow at me before darting past me, no doubt looking for Kat.

The very idea of him looking at her pisses me off enough that I’m moving before I can think better of it. It’s not until I’m in front of him, the barrel of my gun pressed up into the underside of his chin hard enough to snap his mouth shut, that I even realize I’ve moved.

“Keep looking at her and find out. I wouldn’t care if we were in the middle of a church.” I lean in closer and hold his gaze, letting him see how serious I am. “I will put a bullet in your brain if it means keeping her safe, and I won’t even lose a moment of sleep over it.”

His eyes dart from me down toward the gun and back up, and this time, I see the crack, the hint of his fear leaking in.

Good.

Most people can sense danger, can look into my eyes, and realize I’m not joking when I threaten bodily harm. Nate always said it was my crazy leaking through, but I don’t really know what it is. It doesn’t matter beyond the fact that it works.

He takes a step back, and I let him, keeping my gun and eyes trained on him as he moves away slowly toward the door. All the while reminding myself this is what I wanted. I want him to leave. I want him as far from Kat as he can be…

But I also want to make him bleed for what he did to her.

I offered him this way out, and now that he’s taking it, I can’t help but feel regret.

I should just handle him now.

I’ve made up my mind, ready to go after him, but I only make it one step before a small pressure on my back stops me in my tracks.

The asshole slips out the door, and I hear his feet as they slap the ground, no doubt running at his full speed down the hall.

It wouldn’t be fast enough if I had my way. No way the asshole could outrun me, and even if he could, there's no outrunning a bullet.

With a huff, I let it go. Turning to face the little beauty I need to focus my energy on now.

“Kat.”

Her arm is still outstretched. Her hand that once rested on my back now hangs in the air between us. She doesn’t look at me; instead, her head’s tilted down, her eyes hidden by her downward gaze as well. But I don’t need to see her eyes to know this has shaken her.

How could it not?

“Kat,” I say her name again in hopes of grabbing her attention, but still, she doesn’t so much as move.

I flick the safety back on my gun before tucking it back in its holster. She didn’t seem to have any issues with the gun. She hardly even seemed to register it when I came in, but the last thing I need is another thing that might trigger her.

“Hey, Kat. How about we get you out of here?” I ask her, moving forward until my chest bumps into her still outstretched hand. Something about having her hand on me like that feels oddly personal, not to mention it’s in the way. Reaching up, I gently push her arm aside, and she lets it fall down at her side.

“I’ll come back and get your boxes later. Or you can leave it all here. I’m sure there isn’t anything here that can’t be replaced, and lord knows Nate would be happy to do it.”

I’d hoped to coax some of her stubborn fire from her. I remember the way she reacted when I tried to give her that Black Card. You would have thought I was trying to give her a severed finger or something terrible with the way she refused it. But even now, despite the fact that I’m sure she would hate the idea of him repurchasing her things, even if he were more than happy he would be to do it, she remains mute, her eyes still downcast.

It’s frustrating because I know it’s all his fault, but I can’t help feeling guilty for not being here. If I’d come in with her or come to check on her sooner, she wouldn’t have had to deal with him like that.

Reaching out, I hook my finger under her chin before gently pressing up, tilting her chin up until we're eye to eye, and what I find makes me ready to chase that fucker down and put a bullet in his skull.

Tears well in her beautiful green eyes, but she doesn’t let them fall. Her eyes are wide, fear shining back at me as I look into them, and damn if she isn’t innocent.

Innocent and beautiful.

“Come on, Little Beauty, let's get you home.”

I’m not gentle; it’s never been who I am. The best I can hope for is to muster up a few nice words, a hug for Addy, and some tough love for the guys, but right now, I want to be. I can tell it’s what Kat needs, and I might suck at it, but I can try.

Slinging my arm around her shoulder, I pull her into my side with the intention of guiding her back out to the car. Only that doesn’t happen because the second she’s nestled into my side, her arms wrap around me and squeeze. For someone so small, she’s got a hell of a grip. It’s on the tip of my tongue to tease her about it until I feel the warmth soak through my shirt and feel her tiny body damn near convulse.

I don’t say a word, unsure if I’ll make the situation better or worse. Instead, I just stand there, one hand rubbing circles in her back in what I hope is a soothing way as I let her get it all out. After this, I’ll take her back to the house. We’ll handle this asshole, of that I have no doubt, but who says I can’t comfort her while I plan murder?