Page 21 of Tattered Souls (Whispering Falls #2)

Garrick

“No, what she needs is to give me the go-ahead and bury your motherfucking ass six feet under,” I growled as I twirled the wrench in my hand.

The thirty-inch wrench in my hand was going to be used in a new way.

“Garrick.” Chief Klein said.

I looked at him. “No.”

Then I looked at Lance. “Please, test me. One time. Test me.”

When Lance didn’t say anything, I stepped forward and said, “Tell you what. You like hitting women. How about you try that shit on me. You make me move one time, one single time, I’ll let Chief put cuffs on me.”

Lance’s eyes widened, and then he smirked, followed by looking at Tatum.

I didn’t miss it, nor did the bystanders, when she moved not behind me, but to my side, and whispered, “I’d pay to see that. Make sure I have popcorn.”

I smirked, then bent my neck and pressed a kiss on her forehead.

And when I did that, I saw something in her eyes.

Those sable eyes of hers were shining.

Oh. Fuck.

Tatum

With Garrick at my back, I took the wrench out of his hand, and then I stalked forward.

Garrick kept pace with me, ready and willing to take over or protect me.

Lance lifted a brow, and then mockingly, he asked, “And what are you going to do about it?”

“I was beaten down. Years. And Years. And fucking years. No more.” I spoke.

And then I did something I watched Bronson do one day when we had gone to see one of his training camps a few weeks ago.

I kicked at the inside of his knee and then smirked as he dropped to his ass.

Then I stared down at him.

He attempted to move to get up, but one growl from Garrick and he stayed still.

“He doesn’t care about my hair. He doesn’t care what I wear.

He doesn’t care if I accidentally burn dinner because I was watching a show.

He doesn’t care how much money I spend at Michaels.

He doesn’t care about my friends texting me.

He doesn’t care about getting my location every ten minutes.

And most importantly, he doesn’t care if I don’t say I love you back, because he doesn’t need the fucking words, you sorry piece of shit. ” I snapped.

And then I did the second thing I’ve always wanted to do: I moved, brought my foot up, and stomped on his dick.

The thing he thought was magnificent.

It wasn’t.

Garrick’s was.

Lance screeched like a girl.

I couldn’t help it.

I giggled.

Lance squirmed as he screeched out, “I’m pressing charges of assault.”

“Is that right?” Chief Klein asked as he brushed something off his shirt.

Lance nodded, then, when he saw no one was moving to help him, he crawled on his hands and knees and left.

***

Garrick

I sat in his apartment in the dark. Waiting.

I didn’t have to wait long.

“You thought about putting your hands on her for the last time, motherfucker,” I growled.

Lance stood there and stared.

I stood up and stalked forward.

“Never see you in hell. God doesn’t punish those who stand up for their loved ones.”

And when I was done, I headed home.

Back to my entire world.

Dom lifted his chin from my front porch and then climbed in his car.

I took off my clothes, showered, and then I crawled into bed beside Tatum.

She curled her little body into mine and sighed.

I fell asleep smiling.

***

It was the very next day. I was working on a Roadster for Bruce. Tatum was in the office filling in for Rita; she had the flu.

When I saw Chief Klein’s cruiser pull up into the lot.

I looked at Chance and said, “Do me a solid, go get Tatum. Tell her I need her.”

Chance jerked his chin.

Moments later, Tatum had her smaller hand in mine, and there we stood as Chief Klein climbed out of his cruiser and walked over to us.

“I regret to inform you that Lance Goins passed away in his sleep last night. Apparently, he Oded. We found copious amounts of insulin in his system.”

Chief looked at me, then at Tatum, and nodded.

Then he looked at me, “You two have a good rest of your day.”

And no, I didn’t miss his smug smile as he walked away.

“He’s gone?” she asked.

I looked down at her and nodded. “Yeah.”

That was when I knew she got it.

She took my hand and led me into the office.

Since Dom and I shared it, she said, “Not to be a bitch, but can you get out right now?”

He looked up and at her, and where her hand was clasped in mine, grinned and nodded.

Then he got up and walked away, nodding.

Before he closed the door, he said, “Think it’s about time to have the garage remodeled. We need two offices.” And with that, he closed the door, whistling the entire way.

Then my woman let go of my hand and dropped to her knees.

Fucking hell.

“Love you, Tatum.”

She looked up at me with so much love and passion in her eyes it was unimaginable, and I knew she meant it when she whispered, “Love you more, Garrick Lucas Griggs.”

And with that, she untied the coveralls from around my waist, lowered them, then pulled my boxers down.

Since it was her, and my cock knew he belonged to her; he was ready and waiting.

The moment she wrapped her beautiful lips around my cock and swirled her tongue; I had to close my eyes.

Holy. Fuck.

I braced my forearms against the wall after she sucked every last drop of cum from my body.

Then she carefully tucked my cock back inside my boxers, pulled my coveralls up, tied them at my waist, leaned up on her tiptoes, and then she pressed a kiss on the underside of my jaw.

And I watched her go, thinking to myself... I’m one lucky son of a bitch.