I shoot him a cold smile full of warning before nudging his knee with the toe of my shoe. I spent less than ten minutes with the asshole, but hopefully, I’ve knocked some sense into him. As I’m walking out, I rub my hand down the outside of my pants, wiping away Quinton’s blood.

I’m practically bouncing on my toes from the adrenaline while returning to my car. Quinton didn’t put up much of a fight and backed down in seconds. If he’s scared of me, then he’ll stay away from Cass.

As I slide into the driver’s seat and pluck my phone from my pocket, I find a missed call from Cassidy. My palms sweat as I stare at her name, my heart pounding harder than it did when I was punching Quinton, and I don’t waste a second before calling her back.

“Hey,” I breathe out into the speaker when she answers.

“Hi,” she replies, her tone timid and shy.

There’s a brief silence as I wait for her to speak, unsure of where to go with this conversation.

“I’ve decided to go to the cops,” she finally says. “I’m going to turn Quinton in.”

For her to tell me that, I feel a relief stronger at this moment than I did the day I was released from prison. I want Cass to get her justice more than I wanted mine.

Quinton will look real pretty when they bring him in beat up.

“Will you go with me?” she asks.

Her asking me this means so much. It hands a piece of the trust she lost from me back, giving me another chance to prove to her that I’ll be by her side, that I’m always here for her.

“Of course,” I reply.

She shouldn’t even have to wonder if I’d go with her.

“Will you …” She hesitates, and I hear her heavy breathing. “Will you stay with me tonight?”

“I’ll be there in twenty.” I need to run home, shower, and then be back at my girl’s side.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Cassidy

I’m doing the right thing.

Those are the five words I’ve been singing to myself like a lullaby song on repeat in a newborn’s room.

“I’m scared,” I tell Lincoln as I change into my pajamas.

I called and asked him to come over.

He did.

If I dig deep inside myself, if I claw into my heart, I have no doubt I can trust Lincoln. Am I still upset over him telling Archer? Yes. But I’d much rather have a man more worried about my safety than pacifying me.