Page 71 of Resisting Temptation (Men of Honor 3)
I nod and before I can ask him what he meant, Cooper does. “Why do you say we should put one on your father too? Have you seen him around?”
Panic seizes my chest when Christopher nods. “What? When and why didn’t you tell me?”
He shrugs. “I’ve only seen him twice and it was in public. He didn’t do or say anything; he just glared at me like he always does. I honestly thought it was by chance, but now knowing Spike was watching you guys at the park, I guess it probably isn’t. I’m sorry. I wish I would have said something now.”
I feel Cade start to vibrate under my hand, where it still lays on his back. He points at Cooper; “I want twenty-four hour police protection on them until those restraining orders go through.”
Cooper shakes his head. “I don’t have the manpower to do that, or the budget. I will have someone drive by to check on them routinely though and…”
“Bullshit!” I jump as Cade slams his fist on the table.
Before he can continue, Cooper slams his down and gets just as angry. “No, not bullshit. You know how this works, Walker, but you’re letting your emotions screw with your head. I know Tommy the asshole is all bark and no bite. He’s trying to act like a tough guy when in fact he’s nothing but a goddamn coward, which is why he took off when you came after him.”
“Are you willing to bet their fucking lives on it?”
“No, I’m not, which is why I’m getting her to put a damn restraining order on him and I will be checking on them routinely. But I can’t have someone with all three of them 24/7 and you know it!”
“He’s right, Cade,” I say quietly, before this gets any more out of hand. “He was probably trying to scare us. They haven’t threatened me or the kids. If anything, he seemed more angry at you.”
He looks over at me, and the cold intensity of his eyes causes a shiver to travel down my spine. I swear the whole room drops in temperature. “Remember what happened last time, when someone wanted to get revenge on me when I made them look bad?” Pain and fury flashes in his gaze before he shakes his head. “Never again, Red. You hear me? Never fucking again.”
“This isn’t the same thing. Listen, I…”
“How the hell do you know? You have no idea what they could be capable of.” He pauses, “You know what? Fine. I’ll stay then. I’ll…”
“What are you going to do?” I ask softly. “You have to work. I have things I need to do at the church. The kids have school. You can’t be with all three of us 24/7. We have to live our lives.” He shakes his head, but before he can argue I cup the side of his face, hoping to get through to him. “I know you’re worried but I swear I will protect them.”
“And who’s going to protect you?” he asks quietly.
I smile at him sadly then ignoring everyone else around us, I lean in closer and press a soft kiss to his lips. “I will be fine. I promise to be extra careful, and don’t worry, if anyone even thinks about coming for me, my papa will be on their ass with his shotgun in two seconds stat.” This doesn’t lighten his mood like I hoped it would.
Cooper clears his throat. “It won’t take long for the restraining order and I will speed it up as fast as I can. We will also get one on your dad,” he says, making eye contact with Christopher.
None of this seems to appease Cade.
“Tan I tome in now?” Ruth Jean says, rubbing her eyes tiredly as she enters the kitchen.
I smile at her. “Yes, of course, come on.” I make room for her to come sit with me, but instead she ducks under Cade’s arm and crawls up on his lap. She leans into him and snuggles against his chest.
Cade looks down at her for a long minute, his face expressionless, before he curls his arm around her tiny body and pulls her in close. He stays silent and stares ahead at nothing, but there is no denying the protective hold he has on her. The sight of them together completely melts my heart.
I reach over and put my hand on Ruth Jean’s leg. “Everything is going to be okay. Sheriff Cooper is going to deal with what happened today, and make sure that your dad and Spike can’t come anywhere near you or Christopher. So it’s really important that if you see either of them anywhere, and we aren’t with you, that you tell us right away, okay?”
She nods softly then looks up at Cade, “Awe you gonna stay wif us tonight?” Her eyes are wide and hopeful as she stares up at him and I feel awful that he’s being put in this position.
I’m just about to tell her it isn’t necessary, but before I can speak, he does: “Yeah, kid, I’m staying.”
“You don’t have to do that, Cade. We will be okay,” I reply quietly, feeling guilty.
He looks over at me, his intense, hazel eyes saying so much. “I know I don’t.”
I would argue more but decide to let it go, because, by the look in his eyes, I know it would be pointless. Giving him a soft smile, I drop my forehead on his shoulder while my hand still rests on Ruth Jean’s leg. I pray that what happened today meant nothing. That Cooper is right and this is just a scare tactic from them, because I know I wouldn’t survive it if something happened to one of these kids or Cade, not ever.
CHAPTER 20
Cade
Two days later, I jump down from the sparring ring with my body soaked in sweat and my heart fiercely pounding after going a round with Benson. I walk into the personal change room that belongs only to the three of us and check my cell. Relief swamps me when I see a text from Red, letting me know she and Ruth Jean are out shopping and will be by later.
