Page 60 of Tear Me to Pieces
Butch’s gaze lifts to the ceiling as he scrubs one hand over his face. “She’s safe with me.” His jaw sets as he barely shakes his head. Finally he turns to me. “She’s safe with me because up until about twenty-four hours ago, I was with the Memphis PD.”
I’m not sure I heard him right. “You’re a cop?”
“Iwasa cop.” Butch’s head drops, eyes refusing to come my way. “I’ve been undercover with them for about the last decade.”
I thought Butch leaving us to continue down the path we were all once on was the worst thing I could imagine. Believed him still being a criminal was what would break Jill’s heart.
Looks like I was real goddamn wrong.
My reaction is swift and brutal. I step into the punch as soon as I start to swing. It connects with Butch’s jaw hard, likely hurting me as much as it hurts him. He stumbles back, caught off guard by my immediate attack.
But while Butch didn’t see it coming, someone else did.
“What’s wrong with you?” Becca steps right into my path, the top of her head barely reaching my sternum as she shoves me as hard as she can. “He left everything because of you guys.”
I don’t know if she’s trying to calm me down or smooth this over, and I don’t care. I’m too busy preparing another hit. My knuckles are already going to be bruised and swollen, might as well make it worth it.
But before I can fire the next one off, something slaps me right across the face. It’s not a hand, and the smooth if flat surface stings like hell, stunning me enough to stop me in my tracks.
I look down to find Becca with one of her shoes off, holding it up like she’s ready to hit me with it again.
Before she can get in a second hit of her own, Myra jumps into the middle of the chaos, grabbing Becca by the hair and yanking her away from me.
Becca yelps, shoe dropping to the floor as both hands go to her head, trying to loosen the hold Myra has on her.
“Fucking hell.” Butch grabs for Becca, looping one arm around her waist at the same time I get my hands on Myra.
I lean into her ear as I lace my fingers alongside hers. “Let her go, Sweetheart.”
“She hurt you.” Myra grits the words out between clenched teeth. “I’m not letting anyone hurt you again.”
I don’t know how a moment like this could be one of the best of my life, but Myra just managed to make it happen. No one’s ever fought for me. Not like this.
“I’m okay.” I work a little of Becca’s hair out of her grip. “She was just looking out for Butch the same way you’re looking out for me.” I don’t fault Becca for what she did. Especially if Butch is the only person currently keeping her safe. “Let her go, baby.”
Myra’s blue eyes are blazing as they come to mine, but she slowly loosens the tight wind she has on Becca, releasing her.
Butch immediately whisks her away, keeping Becca’s back pinned to his front. I shove Myra behind me, uncertain what he might do next.
Surprising me, a slow smile works over Butch’s rapidly bruising jaw. “Nice to see you finally found a woman who’s as crazy over you as you are over her.”
21
MYRA
I don’t lovehow Butch keeps screwing up my fun time.
I’m also not a huge fan of his life choices, but it’s only because they’ve upset Simon. Otherwise, I couldn’t care less about what the man has done in his life.
Everyone else though? They’re super freaking pissed, and that means I’m in for a long damn night. One I don’t even get to spend in the comfort of my own house. Mainly because my house isn’t comfortable.
Yet.
Simon’s got my family room mostly completed, but there’s still no furniture for everyone to sit on, so we ended up taking Butch and Becca to Christian and Lydia’s. They have plenty of space to sit plus it keeps Lydia from having to drag her pregnant belly all over the neighborhood.
But now, instead of being in bed with Simon—probably having one heck of a good time—I’m sitting beside him on the sofa while he and his brothers yell at Butch while the undercover cop who deceived everyone stoically stares back at them.
Becca—shoe secured safely on her foot—stands at his side, studying everyone in the room with a scrutinizing gaze. I’m not sure how I feel about her. I understand what it’s like to be hiding out. I also understand what it’s like when you feel like the only person you trust is being threatened. I don’t really blame her for going after Simon the way she did.
