Page 23 of The Ruckup
This time I can’t hold back. “Ex-husband.” I fight for air and calm. “She’s divorcing him.”
The cop’s eyes lift to my face before going back to the notebook. “Were you aware Ms. Ashford had a protective order against herex-husband?”
His willingness to adjust soothes some of my irritation. “Yes. I knew he’d assaulted her previously.”
“So, knowing Mr. Ashford had previously assaulted Ms. Ash—” His eyes jump to me again. “—Maddie, you were concerned for her well-being if he was able to get into the building.”
“That’s a fair statement.” Again, I keep my response simple.
“Which is why you intercepted him.” The cop finishes and raises his brows. “Does that all sound correct?”
“It does.” I shift on my feet when Maddie stands from her chair, ready to go to her if she needs me. “Is that all?”
“For now.” The cop flips his notebook closed. “But we might ask you to come down to the station to make an official statement.”
Good. Fine. Whatever it takes to make sure that ass can’t get near her again. “Can I go?”
The cop thumbs over his shoulder in the direction of Maddie’s office. “Yeah. Make sure she’s doing okay.”
That’s all I plan to do.
I stride along the sidewalk leading to the glass door I almost put Drake through, smirking a little at the smudge clouding the glass. Slamming his face into it felt fucking good. So good it was hard to stop. Part of me is grateful the detective investigating last night’s fire showed up when he did. Otherwise, there’s no telling what I might have done.
Another—baser—part of me, wishes he’d given me just a few more minutes to slam Drake around.
Pulling the door open, I check it over, making sure it’s not damaged from the assault it withstood. It seems to be intact, but something’s going to have to be done to increase the security of this place.
Speaking of increased security…
One of the old ladies who was inside with Maddie when Drake showed up meets me in the vestibule, her voice low as she asks, “You okay, handsome?”
“I’m fine.” I look up as the other two women join us. “You ladies all good?”
The smallest waves my concern off. “We’re fine. Takes way more than a needle-dick butt trumpet to bother us.”
I blink.
Butt trumpet?
I’m not even sure what that means, but somehow it fits.
The old woman moves closer, glancing over one shoulder like she’s ensuring Maddie can’t hear. “We’re going to make sure she’s safe when she’s here.”
My brows lift. “How do you plan to do that?”
It’s one of many things that’s been running through my brain. I can keep Maddie safe when she’s with me. And for at least a little while, I can come here with her to keep her safe at work. But I’m going to start training and practice soon—not to mention the traveling I’ll have to do once matches begin—making it impossible for me to stay at her side indefinitely.
And unfortunately, while these old women did a great job of locking the door to keep Drake out, I’m not sure they’re cut out for the task of protecting Maddie from…
The butt trumpet.
A slow smile spreads across the smallest woman’s face, and she reaches out to pat my arm. “You let us worry about that.” Her chin lifts. “Just know, that warthog-faced shart dragon won’t get near her while she’s here working.”
I was impressed with butt trumpet, but I think warthog-faced shart dragon might have topped it.
I’m still not convinced these women are remotely capable of handling Drake, but that’s a problem for future me. Right now, my main concern is getting Maddie home.
To my home.
