Page 57 of Resisting Temptation (Men of Honor 3)
I’m just about to argue when a loud, angry voice snaps through the air. “What are you doing back here, you little bastard, and who the fuck is this?”
My heart stops in fear at the sight of two greasy men that are decked out in leather, each holding a beer and looking ready for a fight. One glares at Christopher with so much hatred it has goosebumps breaking out across my skin. I’m assuming this is his father, since he was the one who asked the question. His friend looks on, amused, and when his eyes land on me, he leers at me in a way that makes my skin crawl. Cade casually moves in front of me and blocks his view.
“I’m here to get Ruth Jean,” Christopher answers strongly, not cowering even after what they did to him.
His father looks at all of us now, and realization quickly dawns in his expression. His blood-shot eyes turn harder. “Like hell you are. You get the fuck out of here and take these assholes with you before I fuck you up worse than you already are.”
“Twistiphwor,” a small, terrified voice cuts through the thick tension. I look past Cade to see Ruth Jean standing at the far corner of the living room, with a stuffed animal in her trembling arms and tears running down her face. I instantly start toward her, but Cade holds me back again.
“Ruth Jean, get back to your bed right now!” her father yells.
“No, Ruth Jean, don’t,” Christopher says quickly. “Come over here to me. Everything will be all right, we’re going to go stay with Faith.”
She starts forward, but quickly stops when her father shouts, “No, you get back to your fucking room, now!”
“Twistiphwor, what do I do?” she asks with a fearful sob.
Cade curses then breaks in. “Christopher. Go get your sister.”
As soon as Christopher takes his first step, all hell breaks loose. His father goes after him, but Cade is faster. With lightning speed he grabs the guy by his arm, and in a swift, easy move he takes him to the ground face first. I let out a warning scream when I see Spike go after him with his beer bottle, but Cade is already expecting it. He kicks the bottle out of his hand and grabs him by his throat. Lifting him off his feet he throws him into the kitchen. The guy lands onto the table with such brutal force that it breaks underneath him. Christopher’s father has already stumbled back to his feet, and I watch in fear as he pulls a knife from his pocket.
Oh God.
Just as he attempts to strike, Cade grabs his arm again and twists it behind his back. I hear a sickening crack before the guy howls in pain. Keeping the guy’s arm at a weird angle, Cade forces him to the ground, face first again, and kneels on his back to keep him there. A loud groan cuts the air as the other guy rolls over from the table and starts to get back up.
“Hurry, Christopher! Get your sister and take her to the truck!” Cade’s demand snaps all of us out of our shock.
Christopher races toward Ruth Jean and she runs to meet him halfway, her terrified sobs filling the air. I watch him struggle to pick her up so I rush over to them, dodging over the mess of beer cans and garbage. I don’t want to scare Ruth Jean by just grabbing her, so I kneel down first. “Hey, sweetheart,” I greet calmly and wipe her tears. “Everything is going to be okay, but can I carry you outside? Your brother isn’t well enough.” She nods and I waste no time picking her up.
“You fucking bitch. Put my kid down right now!”
Cade does something that makes the guy howl again in pain but I don’t stop to check. I rush out of the house with Ruth Jean in my arms and Christopher following behind us. I hear more smashing and shouts from the house, and my fear escalates for Cade.
Just as we make it to the truck, Cooper comes screeching to a halt, his sirens blaring, with another squad car pulling in behind him. I hand Ruth Jean off to Christopher and meet Cooper as he gets out of the car. “We couldn’t stay in the truck.” I rush to explain and follow him as heads quickly to the house, “It’s really bad, Cooper. They went after Christopher so Cade had to step in. I have both kids in the truck.”
When another bout of smashing happens, he pulls his gun and grabs my arm, stopping me from going any further. “Go wait with the kids.”
Cooper and the deputy charge into the house with their guns drawn. I hurry back to the truck and hop in the back with the kids, but leave the door open so I can get out quickly if I need to.
Christopher holds a sobbing Ruth Jean. “I was so stared when I touldn’t find you. I’m sowwy he huwt you again, Twistiphwor.” Christopher stares straight ahead and doesn’t respond, but rubs her back. I watch his jaw clench and his eyes turn glassy as he struggles to hold in his emotion.
I feel my own tears form and I rub his back, since he’s rubbing Ruth Jean’s. “It’s going to be okay now, Ruth Jean,” I say soothingly, “I talked with Christopher tonight, and we are going to find a way to have you both come stay with me. What do you think about that?”
She lifts her head to look at me and my heart breaks at her pale, tear-streaked face. “I wike dat idea. It’s betta den hewre, huh, Twistiphwor.”
Christopher gives her a small smile and nods. “Yeah. It will be better with Faith.”
“Do you have enough wooms?”
“Actually, I do. I only have one extra bed, but once we get everything figured out we will buy you your own.”
She smiles excitedly and I’m thankful it’s distracting her. Unfortunately, it doesn’t last long, as Cooper and the deputy walk out with their father and Spike in handcuffs. Both men’s faces look much worse than when we left them. Their father glares at me, and the icy disdain in his eyes causes a shiver of fear to travel down my spine.
