Page 29 of The Ruthless Guardian

“What do you mean?” I don’t know what he’s threatening me with, or why he’s threatening it at all.

“I’m not going to let you put yourself at risk again.”

Wracking my brain to figure out what he’s talking about and where it’s coming from, I can only think of what happened this morning. “Are you talking about Rhett? Rhett wouldn’t have hurt me.”

“You thought there was enough reason to hide behind me, and then you got in front of me. Don’t do it again.” This version of Josiah is different from what I’m used to, but I don’t mind the fiercely protective vibes rolling off him right now. He keeps showing me new sore spots I can poke my fingers in to aggravate him.

“You’re being weird,” I tell him, rolling my eyes just to push his buttons.

“I’m being fucking serious,” he grumbles, a crease forming between his brows. “If there’s ever a situation where you feel an urge to get in front of me to block something for me, don’t.”

“Okay, but what are you going to do if Iforgetwhat you said and get in front of you on accident?” I ask, feigning ignorance.

Josiah gives me a daring smile. “Try it sometime and you'll find out, kitten.”

Chapter Twenty-two

Skids

Phoebe’s blue hair isn’t so bright now, and I didn’t even notice it was gradually fading until now. The ends are lighter than the rest as I run my fingers through it and fan it over the white pillow case. Last night was the first night she didn’t have a nightmare, and I’m choosing to believe that’s because she was in bed with me.

She’s perfect. After breakfast she let me bandage the carpet burn on her knees and elbows and bring her back to bed. She hasn’t been any less bratty. If anything, her attitude has gotten worse, but I like that too. She’s comfortable with me, and she’s going to have to be because I meant what I said to her- I’m never letting her out of here. She’s stuck.

My phone chimes for the fifth time since I woke up and I roll over as gently as possible so I won’t disturb Phoebe’s sleep. She looks so fucking peaceful and I want her to live in it for as long as possible. Every single one of my notifications is the exact same thing.

Face recognition: Face recognized.

Which is a big fucking problem because that means either the software is broken or it actuallyhasrecognized the face I told it to scan CC footage for and that face is supposed to be behind bars for a few more years. The nape of my neck tingles as all my hair stands on end.

He’s been released. I know it.Fuck!

With my stomach churning and my nerves unsettled, I sneak from the bed and down the stairs to open my computer and start going through footage. It can’t be him. Not now. For years I’ve been dreaming about killing the man that raped my sister. I’m ready to do it, but not right now. Phoebe is here and I can’t leave her alone or drag her out with me to catch him.

The first video I open is the most recent. He’s walking down a sidewalk in Santa Fe. Itishim. After all the abuse she went through within our own fucking family and watching me kill our parents, Tony Sandoval hurt my sister so badly that she took her own life.

He was a minor at the time of conviction so his records are sealed- even for me- and the information I was able to get about the case was limited because the system is corrupted to the point that everything is nearly impossible.

But now he’s finally out, and he’sclose. So close. I could be there in two hours if I decided to go after him. The next three camera shots are of him getting off and on buses to get from the prison to the center of Santa Fe. I’d assume they put him up in a halfway house there to get him back on his feet. I’m not going to let him have that chance.

The last video I look at is the first one that was recorded. It shows him exiting the prison with a bag of his shit and a piece of paper. That motherfucker. He’s an adult now. He made parole somehow, without anyone fucking finding out.

He’s got to die.

Phoebe's footsteps stop abruptly behind me before I have a chance to hide what I’m looking at. Her quiet gasp sends chills down my spine. "Why are you watching that? How did you find him?"

I swivel around so fast I'm surprised my chair doesn't break. "You know him?"Not her.

Her face is pale, her hands shaking in front of her. She hasn’t taken her eyes off him and I want to block him from her, like he’s going to come through the screen and steal her away from me. "H-he's getting out?"

"Phoebe, how do you know this man?" I touch my finger to the screen behind me.Tell me he never touched you, that you’ve never seen him before in your life. Tell me it’s a mistake and he’s not who you thought he was at first glance.

"He's… the one.” She lets out a shaky exhale. “He's the one that left the note."

No!"This is the guy?" I stand from the chair slowly, even though I want to run to her. She's so skittish already and now she's terrified, but I need to be able to hold her. "Did he hurt you? Did he ever touch you?"

Her eyes blink faster, trying to push back the tears. "Rose."

My body stiffens and my throat swells so I can't speak. She knew my sister. This whole time I’ve had someone in my house that could answer all the questions I have that were left unanswered eight years ago.

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