He kept his voice firm but calm. She needed calm right now. He knew that deep down she was strong. She might not see it, but he did. In the way she coped with her diabetes, with her aunt, the constant moves and upheaval. She was obviously shy, found it hard to be around a lot of people yet she got up every morning and did her job.
He hated that he had no idea of what had happened tonight. Even though things were busy with Clint away, he should have made more time for her. Phone calls and text messages were obviously not enough.
“You can’t promise that. You don’t know what they’re like,” she told them both. She slid her hands from Linc’s and he immediately felt the loss of her skin pressed against his. Warming him from the inside out.
“The Devil’s Sinners?” Ed asked. “Did one of them threaten you? Hurt you?”
“The Devil’s Sinners?” Linc said sharply. “They were just on the news, right? All that shit with some of their leaders going missing and their headquarters set on fire?”
“Yeah, that’s right.” Ed rubbed his chin. “I was headed to Marisol’s aunt’s house because of a noise complaint. There’s a gathering of Devil’s Sinners members at her aunt’s house.”
“Fuck! Did one of them hurt you?”
She shook her head, looking pale and s
cared. He fucking hated it.
“When I got home from work tonight, the driveway was filled with cars and motorcycles. My aunt usually warns me when they’re coming around so I can make myself scarce. Or hide in my room. Generally I try to leave though. Sticking around isn’t safe.”
Linc ground his teeth together. Jesus. Fucking. Christ. What was her aunt thinking?
“Why isn’t it safe, Marisol?” Ed asked in a calm voice.
Do not lose it. Calm. Be calm. She needs you calm now. You can’t lose it on her.
“They’re not good people.”
He hated that. So much. Hated that she’d been exposed to them.
“You said she normally warns you. This happens often?” Ed asked.
“The parties? No, not that often, thank God. But her boyfriend comes around a lot. She’s been with him for years. Even through her last two marriages. They’re getting married now. His son told me that he’d now be my brother. That he was going to be . . . to be in charge of me.” Her voice broke on a sob.
“What the fuck?” Linc spat out, hating how pale she’d grown. In charge of her? Who was this prick? Linc fought the urge to drive out to her aunt’s place and hunt this fucker down.
The fear on her face gutted him.
“Marisol? Did he hurt you? Is that what happened tonight?” Ed leaned forward again.
Linc held himself very still. He wasn’t sure what he would do if she said that somebody had harmed her.
Kill them all.
Jesus. He’d never felt like this at all in his life. Not even when he learned of Jessica and Jon’s betrayal. Sure, he’d been fucking furious. But he hadn’t wanted to tear Jon to pieces and then roast his limbs on a firepit.
“Linc? Are you okay?” she asked.
He stared down at her in amazement. She was worried about him right now?
You’re not taking care of her the way she needs.
Leaning in, he cupped the side of her face. “Hey, you don’t need to be worrying about me right now.”
She bit her lower lip and he reached down and freed it from her teeth then rubbed his thumb along her full bottom lip. Shit. If Ed wasn’t in the room, if she wasn’t so upset, he’d likely feed her his thumb and order her to suck. Then he’d take her mouth with his.
But Ed is here. So he drew his thumb away from her mouth.
“You seem really upset.”