Page 149 of My UnTrue Love
Clem smiled. “I’ve been looking for you, too.”
Then, she hit him as hard as she could.
Using just her fist, she wouldn’t have done much damage. He was bigger than her. But one of the high-quality boots Bill gave her was in her hand. The heavy stacked heel and the sharp metal spur slammed into the guy’s face like a bludgeon.
There was a shocked, pained cry, as the man went down. Blood poured from his broken nose and the cuts on his skin.
The element of surprise was a powerful thing, and Clem took advantage of it. Her opponent collapsed to the floor, gripping his wounded face, and Clem immediately hit him again. And again. And again. She pounded the son of a bitch right into the floor. He didn’t get a chance to fight back or shift into a coyote. Blunt-force trauma to the skull had him unconscious within seconds.
High-quality footwear was definitely worth the price.
Luke stood there, his eyes huge. “Holy shit!”
Clem glanced up at him, blowing a stray curl from in front of her eyes. Her hair was wrecked again. Great. “Please tell me this really is your father and I just didn’t attack some totally innocent man.”
“Oh, that’s Pa, alright. What’s left of him, anyhow.” Luke beamed, visibly proud of her assault. She’d never seen the kid so all-fired happy. “You beat his ass!”
“Well, he threatened my family.” She looked him over. “Did he harm you? If he did, I’ll hit him again.”
Luke’s expression softened. “No, he didn’t hurt me. You kept me real safe. Just like you said you would.”
She stepped back from Hop, pulling her boots back on. Thankfully, the dark leather hid the blood. “Do I really dote on you and Bill?”
“You gave me three pillows, two glasses of warm milk, and a stuffed panda bear toy, when you tucked me in last night.”
Yeah, okay… That was probably going overboard. “Mr. Pandy died in the fire, so you don’t have to sleep with him anymore.”
“Well, I still got the rabbit and those two unicorn dolls you bought to take his place.” Luke deadpanned, but his eyes grew slightly concerned. “How about you? Areyouokay?” He headed over to stand next to her. “Do you feel stressed out? You should lie down, if you’re gonna faint.”
“I’m not going to faint.” Her stress level was shockingly low. Dealing with Hop was nothing compared to what she went through with Johnny. None of the betrayal and fear. This abusive asshole was nothing at all. “Your father isn’t very interesting. I could tell from his whistling. He’s not worth getting upset over.”
“I think the same.” Luke slung an arm around her. He wasn’t worried about touching her anymore. He seemed to think that his scent belonged on her.
It did.
She rested her head against her little brother’s shoulder. “Do me a favor and call Hank, okay? We’ll get your dad locked up in prison for the next decade or two.”
“Oh, I’ll handle everything.” Luke assured her, but there was a predatory sort of glint in his eye that made her wonder if Hopalong Kassidy would live to see the inside of a jail cell.
Clementine planted her hands on her hips. “I don’t want you killing your father, Luke.” She said sternly.
“Understood.”
“You’d carry that on your conscience forever.”
“It’s real cute how you think I got one.”
“Of course you have a conscience! You’re a sensitive person. An artist. The repercussions of violence could be very upsetting for you.”
“I hear ya.”
Clem hesitated. “I feel like you’re saying things to make itsoundlike you’re agreeing with me, when you’re not actually agreeing with me.”
Luke smiled blandly.
Clem’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t do anything without Bill.” She ordered.
“You really think Bill’s gonna be a stabilizing influence on my lawless tendencies?”
