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I forced myself to nod.

“And then he touched my leg, he pushed up my skirt and ran his hand up my thigh and between my legs. He touched my…” she huffed, cutting herself off and dragging a hand through her hair. “And I just fucking froze. I let him do it.”

I let out the slowest exhale I could manage, shutting my eyes for a second before flinging them open immediately because the image of him with his hands on her when she didn’t want them there was enough to make my eye twitch.

“I know it doesn’t sound like that big of a deal, but?—”

“Itisa big deal, Zarina.” I caught her chin between my fingers again. “You did not want him to touch you, and he touched you. That is a big deal. He is someone tasked to protect you, keep you safe. He betrayed that.”

She didn’t say anything, didn’t give anything away in her expression. She just kept looking at me with that look like she didn’t quite believe me.

I picked her up with me as I stood, placed her on the corner of the couch that I knew she liked and tucked her blanket over the top of her.

I put the bottle of wine within arms reach, and slid the remotes her way as well. Her phone was on the kitchen bench, so I snatched that up too and tucked it into her hand before placing a kiss on the top of her head and heading towards the front door.

“Wait, where are you going?” she called, scrambling upwards.

“I’m going to handle this. Right fucking now.”

I turned the handle and flung the door open a little harder than was probably necessary and was halfway out the door before Zarina’s broken, quiet little voice whispered from behind.

So quietly and so softly that I almost missed it.

So softly that I thought for a moment that she hoped I wouldn’t hear, like she didn’t want to have to say the words out loud.

“Please don’t go.”

That stopped me in my tracks and broke my heart all at once.

I looked back at her over my shoulder, the way that she was up on her knees, looking up at me with those wide eyes and pretty lips and wet cheeks. And for once, something won out over murderous rage.

I stepped back inside, locking the door behind me, not for me but for her, and scooped Zarina back up and into my arms.

I could always break his hands tomorrow.

But at that moment?

My girl needed me.

And I was beginning to think that I would base the rest of my life’s decisions around that fact.

22

ZARINA

Ashe was already gonewhen I woke up.

Instead of his large body occupying the side of the couch which was slowly becoming his, there was a tray with a coffee, croissant, and a note.

Didn’t want to wake you as early as I had to leave. I’ll handle everything. I promise.

Ring me if you need anything.

- Ashe

Smiling to myself like an idiot, I took the takeaway cup of coffee into my hands. It was now lukewarm at best, and I wondered why he had to leave so early in the first place.

I had no idea about his everyday life, other than his newfound hobby of following me around. He worked at the tattoo studio most days, but even then, the place had no consistent hours of operation.