Page 52 of Twice in a Lifetime

I had a feeling Tristan wouldn’t be too happy to hear that his hands were tied in any situation of wrong-doing. He’d become a cop because of what we went through as kids. It had cultivated a deep-seated need to help other people inside him. To his core, he was a protector, and he wouldn’t stand for anyone, powerful or not, hurting someone else.

But that was a conversation for another time.

For now, therewassomebody who could help. Someone who didn’t have the same red tape to cut through or rules to follow.

“Okay. No police,” I assured her. “But there are still options. Have you heard of Alpha Omega?”

I knew she had by the look that flashed over her face. “I can’t afford?—”

I cut her off by shaking my head. “Don’t even think about that. Something you might not know about those men; money doesn’t matter to them when a wrong is being done. And I know this for a fact, because the man I love is one of them, and he would bend over backward and work himself to the bone to help someone who truly needed it. All without ever taking a single penny. It’s why I love him.”

“That man who came in here a couple months back?”

I smiled and nodded. “Yeah. Him. He can help you, Merritt. And he’ll gladly do it because he cares and it’s important to him. But what’s more, he knows you’re important to me.”

A sob broke past her lips as her knees gave out, and I moved in quickly, catching her before she hit the ground while trying to make sure I didn’t hurt her worse than she already was.

“Shh,” I soothed, rubbing a hand over her hair. “You’re going to be okay. I give you my word.”

“I-I’ve never been important to anybody.”

I wasn’t sure my heart could take much more, but I’d do my best to deal, for her, because Lord knew she’d already suffered more than I could ever comprehend. “You do now. And something you need to know about me... when someone is important to me, there isn’t anything I won’t do for them.” I waited until she was stable on her feet before pulling back so she could see my face. “You take care of what you need to in here, and I’m going to go start my car. Then I’m taking you to see the people who can help.”

I began to turn, but Merritt stopped me by grabbing my hand. “Thank you,” she said quietly. “I don’t think I’ll ever be able to repay you for this.”

I shook my head and caressed her cheek. “That’s another thing, Merritt, friends don’t pay friends back for caring. Don’t start a running tally, because I’ll never cash it in.” I swiped her tear away and smiled. “See you out there.”

She nodded and I left the bathroom, swinging by to grab my purse and ask Gretchen if she could cover the front for a couple hours, then I headed out back to my car.

I fished around in my purse for my keys, finally finding them at the bottom of my bag. Pushing the button on the key fob, I beeped the locks and opened the driver’s side door as an angry voice spoke behind me.

“Fuckin’ bitch. It’s time someone teaches you your place, and I’m looking forward to doing it.” I barely made it halfway around when something slammed into my temple so hard spots formed before my eyes as my legs crumpled beneath me. Then all I saw was darkness.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Rhodes

“What do you think about this one? It looks nice.”

I moved over to the case Tristan was standing in front of and bent to get a better look at the ring he was pointing at. When I decided it was time to go ring shopping for Blythe, I knew I wanted her brother to come with me. They shared a special bond no other siblings could understand unless they’d gone through something traumatic together. I knew that from experience with my brothers and sisters as well.

He and Blythe were so close, I knew he’d have a good idea of what she would like. Everything he’d suggested would have worked great. But something didn’t feel right about any of them.

“Nah. That’s not it.”

He let out a grunted curse. “That’s what you’ve said about every one so far.”

And I would continue to say it until I found the perfect ring. None of the ones I’d seen were Blythe. She needed somethingmore than a simple ring. She deserved something special. Something you wouldn’t see on another person.

The jeweler came over. “Maybe if you tell me a little about her, I could help point you in the right direction.”

“She’s fierce and protective. Her three kids are the most important things in her whole world, and the four of them are the most important things in mine. She has eyes the color of the Caribbean on a warm, sunny day. And every time I look into them, I think how happy I’d be to drown right there.”

“This is starting to feel a little uncomfortable for me,” Tristan grunted, but I ignored him, focused on the task at hand.

“I’ve loved her since I was seventeen years old, more than half my life, and I’ll continue loving her, even when I’m no longer on this earth.”

The older man hummed, tapping his chin as he scanned the rows of cases in the store. He was silent for so long I started to feel like I was coming out of my skin. Then his eyes lit up and he snapped his fingers. “I think I might have the perfect ring.”

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