Page 85 of Tattered Souls

---

Then I stared down at him.

He attempted to move to get up, but one growl from Garrick and he stayed still.

“He doesn’t care about my hair. He doesn’t care what I wear. He doesn’t care if I accidentally burn dinner because I was watching a show. He doesn’t care how much money I spend at Michaels. He doesn’t care about my friends texting me. He doesn’t care about getting my location every ten minutes. And most importantly, he doesn’t care if I don’t say I love you back, because he doesn’t need the fucking words, you sorry piece of shit.” I snapped.

And then I did the second thing I’ve always wanted to do: I moved, brought my foot up, and stomped on his dick.

The thing he thought was magnificent.

It wasn’t.

Garrick’s was.

Lance screeched like a girl.

I couldn’t help it.

I giggled.

Lance squirmed as he screeched out, “I’m pressing charges of assault.”

“Is that right?” Chief Klein asked as he brushed something off his shirt.

Lance nodded, then, when he saw no one was moving to help him, he crawled on his hands and knees and left.

***

Garrick

I sat in his apartment in the dark. Waiting.

I didn’t have to wait long.

“You thought about putting your hands on her for the last time, motherfucker,” I growled.

Lance stood there and stared.

I stood up and stalked forward.

“Never see you in hell. God doesn’t punish those who stand up for their loved ones.”

And when I was done, I headed home.

Back to my entire world.

Dom lifted his chin from my front porch and then climbed in his car.

I took off my clothes, showered, and then I crawled into bed beside Tatum.

She curled her little body into mine and sighed.

I fell asleep smiling.

***

It was the very next day. I was working on a Roadster for Bruce. Tatum was in the office filling in for Rita; she had the flu.

When I saw Chief Klein’s cruiser pull up into the lot.

---