“Bobby-John Jones,” he bit out. “Can’t go after him myself. Can’t leave Daisy.”
“She comes first,” Kent agreed. “I’ll send Zander.”
That’s who he would send. Zander was a damn good tracker, not as good as he was but then he was the best. Zander could be a terse bastard but he had a soft streak for women. There was just one issue.
“I want him alive and in one piece.” With Zander, it was a crap-shoot whether that would happen.
Kent sighed. “Want me to send Bain?”
Bain was probably the guy he was closest to. But he wasn’t the tracker Zander was.
“No. Just make sure Zander knows he’s mine.”
“Got it.” There were a few beats of silence. “Jed, you have to know it wasn’t your fault, what happened to Daisy.”
Wasn’t it? Then how come there was a boulder of guilt on his shoulders? “I didn’t go after her back then. I was nursing my hurt. I should have. Knew it didn’t add up but I didn’t go find her.”
“He was your grandfather. You loved him.”
He had. The bastard hadn’t deserved it.
“I didn’t treat her well when she turned up here. Thought she was after his money.”
“It’s been ten years. Had to be a surprise.”
“Some of the things we’ve done. . .if I’d known. . .I would have gone gentler.”
“I’m thinking if you did anything to scare her, you would have noticed that. I’m guessing she enjoyed whatever you did. Jed, man, you know whether she’s talked to anyone? A therapist? ‘Cause I’m thinking all this stuff with Lyle stalking her, it might stir things up.”
“I don’t know.”
“If you need someone, I got a friend who lives in Texas. He knows this therapist there who’s in the lifestyle. Her husband is the sheriff and her Dom. Apparently, she’s good.”
“Give me her name.” Because he wanted his girl to have whatever she needed.
“I’ll call my friend. See if I can pull some strings,” Kent told him. “Jed, whatever you need. We’re here for you.”
“Thanks, chief.”
He walked back into the bedroom, strode to the side of the bed and stared down at her. The binky had fallen out, and she was sucking on her thumb. Normally, he’d switch them over but right now he didn’t want to deny her anything.
He took a deep breath, let it out slowly as he remembered her telling him about Bobby attacking her. The look of horror on her face when he’d seen her bruised thigh.
Fuck. Fuck.
Breathe through it.
Images raced through his head, one after the other until he knew there was no way he could sleep right now. Instead, he walked to the wall and sat with his back against it. He’d stay here, watch over her, but he wouldn’t sleep.
* * *
She woke suddenly, her heart racing.
Something was wrong. Where was she? She breathed deep for a minute then took a look around. Her heart slowed as she recognized the room. Memories rushed back to her. Moany Mike the stalker. Telling Jed everything. Jed putting her to bed.
But there was no Jed next to her.
She sat up slowly then spotted him over by the door. He was sitting, leaning against the wall, his legs pulled up to his chest, his bent arms resting on his knees, the palms of his hands pressed to his eyes.