Daryl blinked.
“She’s in love with me too.”
Another blink.
Knowing full well that what I was about to say would possibly give him a coronary, I sent up a silent prayer that he wouldn’t stroke out. If our news made Daryl end up in the hospital, Heidi would never forgive herself.
“I moved her into my apartment a month ago.”
Ripping the camouflage ballcap he wore from his head, he slammed it down beside him. “I will be damned!” he hollered, his cheeks tinged red with rage. “I don’t know what you were thinking, boy, but you better move her right back out.”
“Oh God,” Heidi mumbled quietly.
Placing my free hand on her thigh, I caressed her bare skin in comforting strokes in order to ease the anxiety gripping her. “It’s going to be alright,” I whispered to her before turning my attention back to her father.
“Over my dead body,” I said, my voice stern. “As I said before, I love Heidi, and she loves me. We’re committed to one another, and this is us starting our lives together.”
His mouth fell open. “Oh hell no,” he said, shaking his head. “This is not happening.” By the expression on his pissed-off face, I couldn’t tell if he was talking to himself or me. “I’ve been busy running all over Hell’s half acre in this damn semi, working my ass off, and what do you do? You done swooped in like a snake in the grass and stole my daughter, that’s what you did! And now you know I’m gonna have to kill you.”
I arched a brow. “Hell’s half acre? Am I supposed to know what that means?”
Eye twitching, Daryl blew out a breath. “It means that I’ve been busier than a damn moth in a mitten and your sneaky ass done took advantage.” Holding the phone tight in one hand, he pointed at the screen with the other. “I told you to stay away from my little girl, and I told you what would happen if you didn’t.”
Christ, here comes more death threats.
“I love her, Daryl,” I repeated, fighting to stay calm. “Nothing will change that.”
“Boy,” he said, his finger shaking. “You’re more confused than a fart in a fan factory! You don’t love—”
In a fit of anger, Heidi ripped the phone from my hand and took center stage. “Daddy,” she snapped, “stop it.”
His face instantly softened.
“I love Ty,” she said without missing a beat. “And don’t you dare say I’m confused because I am not.”
“Bug—”
“No,” she interrupted, cutting him off. “Don’t you Bug me.” She pulled in a breath. “I love you more than words could ever say. You’re my hero, my constant and the first man to ever hold my heart. But Ty”—her voice broke as she spoke my name—“he’s my anchor and my soul mate. He’s my forever, Daddy, and I need you to get on board with that.”
The tears she’d managed to keep at bay earlier reappeared.
Daryl’s face fell upon seeing them.
“Ah hell,” he said. “Heidi Lynn, don’t cry, you’re going to break my heart.”
Swiping a palm across her cheek, she whispered, “You’re going to break mine if you can’t accept this.”
He was silent for a few beats. Then, “I don’t like this.”
She shrugged. “You don’t have to like it. I just need you to accept it.”
Daryl looked away, staring off into the distance. “Suppose I ain’t got no choice.” His voice cracked and an emotion I wasn’t accustomed to bloomed in my chest. “He’s not what I would’ve picked for you, but the Man-Boy ain’t what I would’ve picked for your sister either, and that’s worked out purdy well, I reckon.”
I smiled at the nickname Daryl had given Tuck years ago.
“Doesn’t hurt that he helped give you Lily Ann either, does it?”
A huge smile spread across Daryl’s face at the mention of his granddaughter, nearly splitting it in half. “No,” he said, chuckling, his mood a stark contrast to moments before, “it sure don’t.”
Silence stretched between them.
“Daddy,” Heidi whispered. “He bought me new hearing aids.” Lifting the phone to first one ear and then the other, she showed him each device. “Aren’t they pretty?”
“Yeah, Heidi Lynn, they sure are,” he replied, choking up. “They work good?”
She nodded. “I just got them, but Dr. Jenkins promised they’d help cut down on my tinnitus and help with interference and background noise.”
“That’s good, Bug, that’s real good.” He coughed, rubbing a palm over his beard-covered jaw. “I’m gonna need to get back on the road here in a few, but I’d like to speak to the troublemaker first.”
“Daddy…”
“I ain’t gonna fuss,” he said, having read her thoughts. “I just want to talk to him, man to man.”
My girl nodded. “Okay,” she replied before blowing him a kiss. “Love you, you old bear. Drive safe and come home soon.”
His eyes shined with moisture. “I love you too.” The phone shook as he tapped his chest twice. “With every beat of my old ticker.”
Heidi didn’t say anything as she handed me the phone, thrusting it into my waiting hand.
Exhaling, I turned the camera on me once more. “Yes, sir?”
“That’s my little girl,” he said, his eyes filling with so many emotions I could barely decipher one from the next. “You ain’t a daddy yet, so you don’t understand.”
“I’ll take care of her,” I assured him.
He gave me a pointed look. “You damn well better. If you don’t, I’ll skin you alive and leave you for the insects to eat.”
Heidi cringed.
“I wouldn’t blame you,” I replied honestly. “I’d do the same over my little girl.”
At my words, Heidi jerked her head in my direction; her eyes lit up.
Daryl’s answer came in the form of a grunt. Then, “Better keep your tallywacker away from my Bug. You get that thing anywhere near her, and I’ll chop it off with a hacksaw.”
My chest vibrated in silent laughter.
It’s a little late for that…
Shaking his head one final time, Daryl said, “I’ll give y’all a holler tomorrow. Answer when I call.” The look he shot me meant business. “Else I’m coming home early.”
“Later, old man.”
I didn’t wait for him to reply.
Ending the call, I handed my Angel back her phone. “Problem solved.”
Relief caused her tense shoulders to relax. “Guess I should’ve let you handle it earlier.”
Reaching over, I wrapped a lock of her inky hair around my index finger and tugged on the strand, watching as it gleamed in the afternoon sunlight pouring into the truck. “Told you I’d take care of you, didn’t I?” She nodded. “That’s what I’m gonna do, until my dying breath.”
Unbuckling her seatbelt, she grabbed the door handle, wrapping her fingers around the lever. “Hey, Casanova…”
I lifted my chin in the air. “Yeah?”
“You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” she said, smirking. “Just thought you should know.”
Wearing a smile that reached her twinkling eyes, she popped the door open, jumped out, and took off for the building like a bat out of Hell.
I didn’t hesitate.
Following her lead, I slammed the door shut behind me and plastered on a predatory smile. “You can run all you want,” I whispered to myself. “But you’ll never escape me.”
A second later, I gave chase.
Thirty-One
Ty
My mood plummeted the moment I followed Heidi into the Shelter and saw Moretti headed my way.
What the hell he was doing there, I didn't know.
Didn't really care either.
The only thing that mattered to me was the pissed-off expression he wore. "Angel," I said, placing my hand on Heidi's lower back. "Why don't you head down to the office? I need to speak with Anthony real quick."
Curiosity burned in her eyes, and for a s
econd, I thought she'd give me the fifth degree.
Surprisingly, she didn't.
Nodding in agreement, she fiddled with the hem of her tank top, nervously shifting her weight between her feet. "Okay," she whispered, flicking her hair back over her shoulder. "The ladies are on their lunch break, so I figure it's a good time to test these"—she pointed to her ears—"babies out. Lord knows Shelby and Clara create enough background noise."
I chuckled, placing my thumb on her plump bottom lip. "I'll be down there in a minute." My eyes dropped to her mouth. "Behave until I get there."
She smirked before nipping my thumb with her teeth. "I'm not making any promises."
Of course she wasn't.
Winking, she turned and headed down the hall, purposely exaggerating the sway of her rounded hips with each of her steps.
Fucking tease...
I reluctantly pulled my gaze from her swaying ass when Anthony came to a standstill beside me.
He looked half a second away from losing his temper.
"Let me guess," I said, feeling my chest tighten with anger. "That Ari lady hasn't been able to dig up a damn thing on my old man, has she?"
His jaw ticked, letting me know I'd hit the nail on the head. "To be a hot-tempered drunk, he covers his tracks well," he stated matter-of-factly. "But we'll find the evidence we need. It cost me a favor, but Ari put one of her best men on him instead of a street flunky. Soon as he steps the least bit out of line, we'll know."
"One of her men?" I furrowed my brows. "Who the hell is this chick? A goddamn cartel leader?"
Anthony's chuckle was void of humor. "You could say that."
"Who's the guy she put on him?"
"Not sure. Could be a number of people, but my guess would be Casper Sokolov."
Casper...
I'd heard that name before, but I couldn't place it.
Where did I—
"Hold the fuck up," I said, wide-eyed. "The tattoo artist?"
Anthony's eyes met mine. "You know him?"
I shook my head. "No, but he inked Heidi."
Sucking in a ragged breath, Moretti turned, facing me fully. "I don't know how a girl like Heidi ended up at Kings of Ink," he said, his tone grim, "but don't let her go back."
My spine snapped straight. "Why? She at risk of being hurt by going there?"
His jaw continued to tick. "Not unless she stuck her nose in something she shouldn't and became a liability." Pulling his phone out of his pocket, he began to tap on the screen, his fingers moving faster than mine ever did when texting. "If that ever happened, nobody in this family—me and you included—would be able to save her."
"She won’t go back," I said without thinking twice. "I'll make sure of that."
Anthony nodded his approval. "Good." Done with his phone, he slid it back in his pocket. "I'll keep you updated." Crossing his arms over his chest, he stared out the window down the hall, his eyes transfixed on the frosted glass. "Does she know how we're dealing with your father?"
"No." It was a subject I'd refused to broach with her. "I figured it's best not to involve her."
"Good deal," he replied, drumming his fingers against his arm. "I'd like to think we're smarter than him, but if this goes south or he catches wind of what we're doing..."
"He won't fucking touch her," I grated out, my hands fisting at my sides. "I'll kill him first."
Shaking his head, Moretti pulled his eyes from the window and looked over at me. "You won't have to."
"What's that mean?"
Dropping his arms to his sides, he shrugged. "I'm not a dirty cop. Never have been, never will be. But all it would take is one phone call to make him disappear for good."
"A phone call to who?"
He smiled, but there was no warmth behind it. "Your local cartel leader."
Confusion set in. "Ari?"
"There is nothing forgiving about Ariana Ivanova," he replied. "She's as ruthless as she is crazy, but she will personally destroy anyone who harms an innocent woman or child."
The wheels in my head started to turn.
"If she found out what had been done to you as a kid, or got wind of your father trying to harm Heidi, that would be the beginning of a very painful and drawn out end for Clyde."
"So you're saying I have an insurance policy?" Anthony may have thought I was joking, but I wasn't. If he couldn't get rid of my father the legal way, I wouldn't hesitate to have him taken out. The man was pure evil, absent of anything redeemable, and I would be damned if I stood back and let him continue to threaten my family.
It didn't matter if he never got his hands on Chase's money.
There would always be something drawing the Devil to us.
"Take what I said how you want," he replied, covering his ass.
"Way to dance around my question, Detective," I said, chuckling. "We done here? Because I need to find my woman. Christ only knows what she and the rest of the Crazy Chick Club are up to."
"We're done." He nodded toward the exit at the end of the hall. "I'm headed out, but like I said, I'll keep you updated." Pointing down the hall toward the office, he added, “The ladies were behaving when I left, but that can change on a dime, especially when my wife is involved.”
Smiling, I didn't wait for him to say more.
Done with the space between us, I headed for my Angel.
* * *
I’d almost made it to the office when Maddie rounded the corner of the hall, holding a clipboard in her hands. “Hey, Troublemaker,” she said, smiling from ear-to-ear. “Fancy seeing you here.”
I lifted my chin. “Yo, Freckles! You actually do any work around here, or do you just walk around all day pretending to be doing something?”
At one time, the words I slung her way would have been cruel, vicious, and laced with a deep-rooted hatred; now they were full of teasing humor that came as natural as breathing.
I spent so many years hurting her…
If only I could’ve made her smile back then.
“Ha-ha,” she replied, rolling her eyes. “Aren’t you just a regular ol’ comedian today?”
I shrugged. “I try.”
“Yeah, I just bet you—”
Maddie’s mouth snapped shut when a high-pitched shriek ripped through the air, sending a bolt of fear racing down my spine. The scream could’ve come from anyone, but deep in my gut, I knew that it belonged to Heidi.
Terror like I hadn’t felt in a long time took hold of my heart, stealing my ability to breathe.
By some miracle, I still managed to move my ass.
Putting one foot in the front of the other, I charged toward the office, Maddie hot on my heels. Heart thundering, a million scenarios, each of them gut-wrenching flashed before my eyes as I burst through the threshold, more than ready to rip someone apart with my bare hands.
“Heidi!”
I came to a sliding stop, nearly taking out a wide-eyed Clara in the process.
Ignoring the look of shock on her pale face, I turned, completely consumed with rage. When my gaze found Heidi, I immediately raked my gaze over her body, inspecting every inch of her five feet three-inch frame for some sort of trauma.
When I didn’t find anything, I blinked, completely confused.
“Baby,” I said, making my way toward her. “Why’d you scream?”
The smile that overtook her face caused me to stutter step, nearly losing my footing. It was that bright; that damn beautiful.
“Ty.” Her voice was whisper-soft and sugary sweet. “I can hear.”
Three words.
That was all it took for a golf ball sized lump to form in my throat.
“The noise”—she pointed to her ears—“I can hear over i-it,” she cried, her voice breaking. “Oh God, I can understand the w-words.”
I wasted no time in scooping her up and into my arms bridal style. Cradling her against my chest, I buried my face in her hair and pulled in a deep breath, drawing her heady scent deep into my lungs.
�
�You can hear the words?” I repeated the words she’d spoken. “Over the noise?”
She nodded against me, her tears soaking my cotton shirt. “I can hear”—a sob racked her entire body, jolting her in my hold—“b-because of y-you.”
Behind my woman, Carissa covered her mouth with both of her hands and closed her eyes as tear after tear rolled down her cheeks. Her shoulders shook as she bent at the waist, losing any remaining grip she had on her emotions, and began to sob.
Hard.
Hope quickly ran over and wrapped her arms around her, holding her tight. Her pretty hazels met mine a second later. “You did good,” she said, choking up. “Really good.”
I nodded, unable to speak.
“What in the name of sweet baby Jesus is going on in here?” a voice that was full of attitude and southern sass asked. “Seriously, whose ass do I need to kick and exactly how hard do I need to kick it?”
“Simmer down, Blondie,” Clara said, answering Shelby’s question. “Nobody needs to kick anyone’s behind.” She sniffled. “We’re just a tad bit emotional at the moment.”
“And why is that exactly?”
Gulping in a breath, Heidi cupped one side of my face. “Put me down, Casanova,” she whispered, “let me tell her.”
I reluctantly placed her feet on the ground, but I didn’t release my hold on her. Adjusting her in my arms, I turned her so that her back was pressed against my chest, and my arms were twined around her soft belly.
Together we moved to face Shelby.
We likely looked ridiculous, like two dolls dancing, but I didn’t give two shits.
Wiping her tears from her eyes, Heidi beamed a smile Shelby’s way. “I can hear, Shelby,” she whispered, her voice filled with something akin to disbelief. “Casanova bought me new hearing aids, and now I can hear, even when it’s noisy.”
“Heidi—” Shelby started.
“Because of him, I can hear,” she repeated, her words steadier than before.
Like everyone else in the room, Shelby began to tear up. Rushing forward, she wrapped her arms around my girl’s neck and squeezed her tight. “I’m so dadgum happy for you,” she said, channeling her inner Grandmama. Looking up, she directed her attention to me. “Thank you,” she mouthed, running her fingers through Heidi’s hair.
Every Wrong You Right: A Redeeming Love Novel (Book 6) Page 24