17. Cody

SEVENTEEN

Rage blistered my insides, flames fucking eating me alive as I stormed into my house where I went directly into my room and started tossing things into a duffle bag.

Activity was required because if I didn't do something with my hands, I'd give in to what I really wanted to be doing with them—strangling the life out of that fucking little fucker who'd had Hailey pressed to the wall like he owned her.

Swore, I'd tasted it, her fear that had infiltrated the air when I'd stepped out my front door.

I'd planned on drinking a beer and watching the rest of the day melt away, keen on sitting outside beneath the stars. Sit in that dusky peace for a little while and let my mind wander, which I was pretty sure it would wander straight back to when I'd made her come so hard on my fingers that I'd nearly split apart myself just watching it.

The whole damned night had been spent fantasizing about the fucking hottest chick I'd ever met who somehow was worming her way into the places I didn't allow anyone to go.

Not one.

I was worried she might be the one person who had the power to weave herself right in there anyway.

What twisted, ironic shit that she was the most dangerous woman on earth I could give myself to.

Only when I'd stepped out, there'd been no peace.

There'd been a dark cloud of wickedness. Thick and sticky and coating the air. Clotting out reason and sight.

Had nearly lost it when I'd rounded her house and saw that bastard towering over her. Had nearly come unglued when I'd heard the way her voice had trembled.

Fucking terrified.

I knew she'd been, and I knew she'd been trying to play it off like she wasn't. Doing her best to send me away like I'd pretend that I hadn't just witnessed her being manipulated and bent. Her gorgeous being that was so full of fire and life dwindling beneath his shadow.

It was not going to happen.

It didn't matter if it made me a masochist to be in her space. Begging for destruction.

She was worth it.

I shoved two more tees into the duffle, stormed into my bathroom and tossed in my toothbrush and toothpaste and some shit from the shower, then I was back out the door and in front of hers.

It'd taken less than three minutes.

I pounded at the door at the same time as I shouted, "Open up, Hailey, it's me."

She must have still been right on the other side because she flew through the lock and opened it. "I'm sorry you?—"

I cut off whatever apology was getting ready to spill from her mouth by pushing through the door.

A frown pulled to her gorgeous face when her attention dropped to my duffle bag. "What do you think you're doing?"

"My house was feeling a little empty, so I figured I might spend a night or two here." I tossed it out casually, like my insides weren't knocking so hard it was a wonder I wasn't splintering apart.

I wound around her and started deeper into her house.

"Cody, that's not?—"

I spun, cutting her off again, hating that her eyes went wide when I came her direction. I dropped the bag to the floor, and my hand came out to cup the side of her face.

Fire sparked at the connection.

Fuck me.

This girl with the power to burn me alive.

Her eyes widened further, and I brushed my thumb along her cheek.

"I would never hurt you." The promise scraped free, and I angled in closer. "And yes, it is necessary. I'm not going to leave you and your daughter and your grandmother here by yourselves after that creep showed up here."

She didn't need to tell me he was her ex. I might not know his name, but it sure as hell was written all over him. Asshole thought he had some claim on her.

"You can't get involved in this. He's…" She trailed off, gnawing at that plump bottom lip, eyes dropping as she bit back whatever she'd been going to say. Rage made a rebound, and my bones rattled with the overwhelming need to hunt the cocksucker down.

My hand tightened on her face, words close to a snarl. "I want you to finish that sentence, Hailey."

I needed to know.

Needed her to admit it.

Her brow dented in a pain that was scarred somewhere deep, and she blinked like she might be able to hide the horror that swam in the depths of those crystalline eyes.

"He's what?" I demanded, voice grating. I hated that I was probably coming off as a prick, too, but I couldn't handle it. The wave of protectiveness that was spinning me into chaos.

Because I knew what she'd been getting ready to say.

He was dangerous.

Volatile.

"He's nothing," she said instead, lifting her fierce chin like she could make it so.

"But he doesn't think so, does he?"

She hesitated, wary, before she barely shook her head with the admission. "No. He thinks I belong to him."

I forced myself to swallow some of the intensity, and I backed away like I wasn't rattled to the bone. Like I didn't want to gather her up and hold her close and promise her I would never let that asshole touch her again.

Instead, I played it as blasé. "Well, I guess I'll have to stick around for a while until he gets the clue that you don't."

I turned and moved deeper into her house. The match to mine except there were toys littered everywhere. The space warm and cozy and singing of life.

Hailey seemed pinned to the spot where I'd left her before she suddenly flew into action. "Wait, what?"

I tossed my bag onto the floor next to the couch. "I just think it would be a good idea for me to hang out for a couple days, that's all."

"Oh, no, no, no, that's not necessary." Hailey rambled it, her hands flying all over the place. "We'll be just fine."

I spun to find her right there. I took her by both wrists, and I gently pressed them together between us. "I told you I won't stand aside and watch someone I care about get hurt, Hailey. No matter the cost. I meant it."

Her throat bobbed as she swallowed. "I can't ask you to get involved."

"You didn't."

"Cody…"

I tugged her a little closer by those wrists, bodies drawn, needing to get deeper into her space.

God, she was so damned pretty.

Heart-stopping.

Mind-bending.

Shout at the heavens kind of gorgeous.

But none of that had any bearing right then.

"I'm not going anywhere, Hailey."

"It's only going to enrage him further if he thinks you're staying here."

"Good. Let him think we're together. Let him think you're mine."

Oxygen left her lungs on a puff that I wanted to inhale. Blue eyes flicked all over my face.

"You want to provoke the devil?"

"What better way to get rid of the bastard than for him to think he's competing with me?"

I went for light when I knew what was riding on this. The importance. This wasn't some fucking game that I was playing.

She was worth it.

Worth it.

Uncertainty played through her features, and she was nibbling at that plump bottom lip the way she always did when she was unsure. A million secrets playing out that she struggled to keep concealed.

"I don't think you understand who you're dealing with."

Reaching out, I brushed the pad of my thumb over that lip that drove me wild. This girl something that I couldn't shake. "Doesn't matter, Hailey. It doesn't matter who he is or what he's capable of. You're worth it."

We froze like that, so close that I was inhaling every panted breath that she released.

She nearly jumped out of her skin when the back screen door clattered open then slammed shut as an excited screech came ringing out, "Mr. Cody! What are you doin' here?"

I turned to find Hailey's little girl come bounding our way, a mess of frizzy blonde curls framing her adorable face. Cheeks chubby and denting in these adorable dimples.

I glanced at Hailey, almost asking for permission, before I turned back to her daughter. "Ah, well, my hot water stopped working, so I asked your mom if it would be okay if I hung out here for a few days until I get it fixed."

Seemed a viable excuse for the kid.

Maddie came right up to my side and took my hand. My chest tightened. God, she was cute.

"Well, I think that is a very good idea because we got to be neighborly, and when our neighbor has a big problem, we gotta help them with it."

Warmth streaked. Different. This coil inside promising I would do whatever it took to protect them. To keep them safe.

I shifted to look at Hailey. At this woman who needled even deeper.

I knew better. I'd dug my grave a long time ago, and I'd been waiting for the day that I finally got dragged into it.

But maybe I had a chance to do something right. Stand for beauty when some monster was trying to rip it apart.

I squeezed her daughter's hand, heart getting battered by the amount of emotion slamming into me.

I couldn't look away from Hailey when I murmured, "That's right, we have to help our neighbors when they have a big problem."

And I'd be willing to give everything to solve hers.