Page 11 of Tattered Souls (Whispering Falls #2)

Garrick

I was standing there beside Dom as we talked to Bruce MacElroy. A man who was a billionaire who had bought a lot of project cars over the years.

He was looking for someone to rebuild them and bring them to their future glory.

I knew if we got him as a client, it was going to skyrocket our business.

That was why we had closed the shop down for the meeting.

“Now, for the Cougar, I would like...” Just then, my phone rang.

Seeing Tink’s name pop up on my phone, I smiled and then lifted a finger to Bruce, who was mid-sentence.

I answered the call and brought it to my ear: “Hey, Tink. Everything okay?”

She was quiet.

Too fucking quiet.

I felt the hairs on the back of my neck rise.

“Tink?” I asked.

I felt Dom’s eyes on me, and noticed he had a furrowed brow.

Hell, even Bruce looked concerned.

“Tatum? Gorgeous, need you to say somethin’.”

And then I heard it... heavy breathing.

Choppy.

Oh, you motherfucker. I seethed inwardly but tried to remain calm for her.

It was a few moments of more choppy breathing before I heard it.

“Cc-aannn yo-uu cc-ome an-d gg-et me?” she asked, tears in her voice that was filled with nothing but pain.

“Made a promise to never hang up on you, Tink, and I plan to keep it, but right now, I need to go. Okay?”

At her whispered, “Okay”, I hung up the phone and then stormed to my car.

Thankfully, I had driven that today, because I was going to need the speed.

Dom must have read how pissed off I was because he called out, “Hold up, G. Coming with you.”

By the time I had the car started and in reverse, the door opened, as he folded into the seat.

“Getting too fucking old for these cars,” he mumbled.

Normally, I’d have a come back to that.

But not today.

Not right now.

Someone was about to meet their maker, and I couldn’t fucking wait to send him there.

But first, I raced to my house, ignoring Chief Klein who was on my ass, pulling up into my driveway. I said, “Get in my SUV. Follow me.”

I said as I handed him the key.

Dom nodded, climbed out, and then raced to my SUV.

He was behind the wheel, had it started up, and then was following me.

My phone rang. I tagged it, then answered it. “Yeah?”

“Garrick. Is there a reason you're flying like a bat out of hell?” Chief Klein asked.

“Pretty sure that motherfucker put his hands on Tatum. A-fucking-gain.” I said and then hung up.

I made it to Harlee’s old house, now Tatum’s.

I refused to associate that piece of shit with her.

I slammed the gearshift into first gear and then allowed the car to die.

I had my door thrown open and was prowling up the front lawn by the time Dom shut my SUV off and followed suit.

Two police cruisers pulled up with the Chief, and I vaguely heard, “Let Garrick handle this.”

Then I heard a roar, “Who did you call?”

And that, boys and girls, was when I brought up my boot up and kicked the fucking door in.

I didn’t wait for anything or anyone else.

Vaguely, I felt Dom walking in behind me, followed by Chief Klein.

I saw Lance, the soon-to-be dead man, crowded in front of a cowering Tatum.

I stormed forward, grabbed the back of his shirt, and threw him across the room.

Not giving a fucking shit if the fucker landed on something at a weird angle and stopped breathing. That would have been a favor to mankind.

My attention was on Tatum.

Tears ran in rivulets down her cheeks.

Her right cheek was red, swollen, and already turning a nasty color, and she had one arm wrapped tightly around her ribs.

“Did he do this?” I asked softly, even though I was seething inside.

I wouldn’t do a damn thing to scare her.

At her hesitant nod, I brought my hand up slowly, so she saw it, and ran my thumb, carefully, over her cheek.

She still winced.

And that wince... it was what had me turning on my boot, stalking to the motherfucker, bringing my arm back, and swinging as hard as I fucking could right to his goddamn jaw.

I heard something break, and then his eyes rolled back in his head, and he passed out.

How’d that feel, you motherfucker?

It was then that I noticed Chief Klein was leaning against the doorframe, watching.

I was still standing there glaring at the prick when Chief Klein’s next words, and her response had me moving.

“Tatum, darlin’, now I need you to press charges so we can get you a protective order. Okay?” Chief Klein said.

“No. It won’t do anything.” She whispered.

I moved to her and wrapped my hands around her face tenderly. “What do you mean, Tink?”

She looked up at me, and the right side of her face was already turning a dark shade of blues and purples.

“Because a piece of paper won’t stop it.” She whispered.

“How do you know that?” I asked.

She sighed.

Then she said, “It didn’t save my mom when my dad went after her.

He found her, beat the hell out of her, while I curled in a ball in the corner of the motel room.

Then he took me with him. Never saw her again.

It wouldn’t have stopped him from taking his hands to me.

And it won’t stop Lance.” Then she scoffed, sadly, “I’ve only ever been a punching bag to the men in my life. Except for Granger.”

“What did he do about it?” I asked her.

She glanced away.

That wouldn’t do.

I needed those iridescent eyes of hers back on me.

Carefully, I gripped her chin and turned her head back, so I got those mesmerizing sable eyes of hers, “Tatum.”

She sighed, “I never told him. Didn’t want anything to stop him from achieving his dreams. And a record would have done that.”

If I didn’t already know she was a strong woman, that was all the proof I needed.

Something caused me to glance up, and when I did, it was to see Bruce was also standing there, eyeing Tatum’s bruised face, and they didn’t miss the protective hold I had on her.

He looked at me, and Dom, and said, “Probably isn’t the best time to say this, but I’m going to anyway. Expect a call from me in a day or two. We’ll get everything finalized. I rather enjoy doing business with people who don’t take any shit, and ones who tell the consequences to go to hell.”

And with that, he turned around and walked back to his car.

He left my mind after that.

Carefully, I turned Tatum in my arms, and looked down at her, waiting for her to look up at me.

When she did, I winked down at her. “Got a few questions for you before I take you to the hospital. Need to know if you're okay if your girls come into your house and pack up your things. They will put them in the SUV and Dom will take it to my place.”

“I can get a hotel,” she said.

I shook my head. “You know me. But one thing you don’t know is that when someone triggers my protective side, I’m like a GSD. I’m loyal and I protect. I can’t protect you at a hotel. I mean, I can. But I’d rather not sleep on the floor outside your room. Save me from that, alright?”

She shook her head slowly, and then I watched as her shoulders dropped. “I’m in too much pain to argue.”

I chuckled and then bent my neck and pressed a kiss on the top of her head.

Then I pulled out my phone and called Talia.

She answered on the third ring, “Hey, G. A little busy, what’s up?”

“Need you to get unbusy ASAfuckingP. Call Harlee, Lila, and Everly. Get over to Tatum’s. Need y’all to pack up her stuff, load it into my SUV, and Dom will drive it to my place. Get her things into my spare bedroom, alright?”

I heard her moving around as she asked, “What happened?”

“You’ll see. Just get it done for me, okay?” I said.

“Got it. Leaving now. I’ll call them.” She said and then hung up.

The EMTs were called in then, and a deputy went with Lance to be taken to the hospital.

They told me he more than likely had a broken jaw.

Good.

Fucker deserved it.

No, he deserved worse.

Bros Before Hoes Text Thread

Me – Get to Tatum’s. Help the girls load up her stuff. Take it to my place. Spare bedroom.

Carter – I’m headed to pick up Harlee. She just called me. We got it, man.

Ethan – Leaving the school now. I’ll stop and grab boxes.

Alec – On my way.

Dom – I got his SUV. I’m here now.

Bronson – Got some boxes left. Bring what I got. Also called a few local buddies.

Me – Thanks, guys.

Once Tatum was settled in my passenger seat, I rounded the hood and caught Chief’s eyes. He looked into the car, then at me, and jerked up his chin.

Then, I climbed in, started my car up.

I looked at Tatum and saw her eyes staring at the house.

Her body appeared to be tense, and I hated that for her.

I pulled away from the house and heard her whisper, “First place that was ever mine. And another man fucking tainted it.”

I didn’t know what to say to that.

But words fell from my lips before I could think about it. “Then you don’t have to worry about my place. Don’t plan on ruining shit. It needs a woman’s touch anyway.”

Then I felt something in my chest swell, fucking pride.

She smiled.

***

We made it to the hospital, and the nurse took one look at her face, then asked, “Did he do this?”

I felt my spine straighten.

But it was Tatum who took care of that. “No. This man would never hurt me.”

The nurse nodded and then gestured for Tatum to follow her.

I had to bite down the words over my cold, dead body.

I filled out the forms and handed them my credit card.

I was led to her room and told to wait there.

I was sitting in a chair waiting after they took her back for X-rays.

My phone had pinged with a text just then.

Mom – I’ll get a care basket ready for Tatum. Let me know when you make it home. I’ll bring it right over.

Me – She’s currently getting X-rays.

Dad – Your mother just cursed.

Me – Told Mom that Tatum is currently getting X-rays.

Dad – Where is that son of a bitch?

Me – Finally talked Tatum into pressing charges. He’s locked up.

Dad calling.

I answered it, “Hey, Dad.”

“What do you mean you finally talked Tatum into pressing charges? He asked.

That was when I saw Tatum coming back, “Hang on, Dad.”

I stood up and walked over to her and waited for them to get her bed settled.