Hallie

I'm exhausted. No doubt I look it too, I thought to myself.

I sighed.

I shouldn't be in this car and with Damien. Not with how rich and well known he is. I might as well point an arrow to me with a sign that says, I'm here so Marcus can find me.

I shook my head. I need to find out if Larry Winston is my father. That's what I need to do. He can help me. He has the means to help me.

But what if he isn't my father? Or what if he is my father, but wants nothing to do with me?

I still haven't figured out a way to get in touch with him and to get him to listen to my explanation.

I sighed.

I saw Damien look back at the corner of my eyes. When I turned, my gaze collided with his and what I saw squeezed my chest tight and made me want to be wrapped around in his arms. And that scared me. It scared me because, what I saw was genuine care and concern. It's as if he can see through me and read my mind. It's as if he is sensing my fear and my pain... like he knows I've been hurt, but he doesn't know by whom.

I turned my gaze away first. I was afraid if he looked longer or even closer that he was going to discover my secrets.

That thought unnerved me.

He unnerves me.

Damien

She turned her gaze away first. Like she was afraid that if I looked longer or even closer that I was going to discover her secrets.

That thought bothered.

She bothers me.

This woman has me tied up in knots. I shook my head, no. Correction, has been tying me in knots since she bumped into me weeks ago and she doesn't even know it.

I turned back and settled on my seat.

I shook my head.

What the hell am I going to do?

The rest of the drive to her apartment was quiet, but my mind was not.

The need to protect and take care of her is so strong. I haven't known her long, hell, I don't really know her, period. Yet, I feel responsible for her. I feel like it's my job to take care and protect her. I can't explain it, I just know she's mine to protect.

"Sir," Jerry said, interrupting my thought.

I looked out my window and I wasn't surprised with what I was seeing.

Her building wasn't too bad, but it wasn't what I would call okay, either. There were graffiti all over the building and men hanging around, smoking and drinking and some neighbourhood kids playing street basketball. Those kids couldn't be older than 13.

"Thanks for driving us home," I heard Hallie say behind me.

"Don't you even think about opening that door," I gritted through my teeth.

"And why not?" She asked.

I groaned. Stubborn, obstinate woman.

"You really think you're safe here?" I asked.

"They don't bother me and I don't bother them," she said. "Listen, thank you for your help, but I can take care of myself and my kids," she said, as she moved to open her door. She yanked the door and it wouldn't budge.

I looked to Jerry and he kept his gaze forward, but the redness on his ears told me what I needed to know.

Child lock.

I chuckled. I have to remember to give this guy a raise.

"Let me out of here!" She growled loudly, waking Michy in the process. She let out a loud wail making me cringe at the high pitch. Tyler on the other hand is still asleep, completely unaware of what's happening.

Poor little man. He must be exhausted, just like his momma.

"Look what you made me do!" The stubborn woman hissed.

"Me?" I asked. "You're the one who woke her up!"

She glared at me, as she moved to get Michy.

"Shh... it's okay baby. You're okay," she cooed as she rocked the little one.

"Let's go," I said.

"Wait, what do you mean go!" She hissed quietly. "Let is out and then you can go."

"I'm not leaving you here. You're coming home with me until we can figure something out, but if you think for one moment that I'm going to let you go back to your apartment..."

"Let me?" She repeated incredulously. "Let me? Just who do you think you are, mister? You're arrogant, high-handed, and rude! I don't like you one bit! You're not nice at all," she hissed.

Michy giggled as she looked back and forth between the two of us.

I chuckled. Glad I'm not the only one who finds this amusing.

"Hallie, listen, you're not safe there. It's only a matter of time before someone tries something on you."

She frowned.

"Look, you're a single mom, living alone. Do you honestly think that's smart?"

"I've got neighbours..."

"Who will choose to protect themselves before you. They've got families of their own and who's to say they'll be home if or when something bad happens to you?"

"I can take care of myself. I've been doing it for a hell of a long time."

"Well, I'm here now and I'm going to help you."

"Let us out of this car!" Hallie growled.

"No. And I suggest you out michy back on her car seat."

"No. You need to let us out of here and leave us be!"

"Hallie, I swear to god, if you don't do as I say, I'm going to bend you over my knee and spank you!"

She gasped. "That's rude!"

"Yes, but it got your attention."

She scowled.

"Look, just let me help you. Please," I said calmly, trying a different approach.

"Why?" She whispered.

"Because I want to help you. Please, let me."

I looked over at Michy and run my knuckles down her soft cherubic cheeks, making her laugh.

I smiled.

"Let me help you, Ty, and Michy," I pleaded, looking back at her.

I don't know what it was, but she sighed and gently placed Michy back in her car seat before settling back herself.

"Let's go home," I told Jerry.

Home.

I smiled. For the first time in a really long time, I'm actually excited to head home.

Hallie

I don't know what it was, but I sighed and found myself, gently placing Michy back in the car seat, before settling back myself.

Maybe accepting help isn't such a bad thing.  Maybe it's what we need. Damien is not Marcus.

At least I hope he's not.

I shook my head out of that thought. I've never felt comfortable around Marcus. Even when he was nice in the beginning, I always felt uneasy around him. But not with Damien. I feel comfortable around him. Even if he is bossy and arrogant. I don't feel threatened by him at all. In fact, I feel safe.

Maybe this is going to be a good thing for us.

Damien turned back and smiled at me.

He really is the most handsome man I ever laid my eyes on. If only he wasn't so arrogant, I sighed.

I laid my head against the head test and closed my eyes.

***

I felt myself being jostled gently. I frowned and blinked a few times.

"It's okay," a soft familiar voice whispered. "I've got you, sweetheart."

I blinked a few more times and settled my gaze on the owner of the voice.

"Oh. It's you," I said softly and smiled, before darkness consumed me once again.

Damien

She was asleep within seconds after closing her eyes.

"Sir, do you want me to run a background check on her?" Jerry asked.

I shook my head. "No. I'll take care of it."

He nodded.

"Tighten security. No press. No pictures," I said.

"Yes, sir."

"I mean it. Not a peep."

"Of course."

"Her reaction when I mentioned the paparazzi taking pictures isn't a normal reaction. She was genuinely terrified and until I find out why, nothing is printed about her and her kids."

He nodded in understanding.

"Sir, maybe you should talk to your brother in-laws," he suggested.

I nodded. "I will, but first I need her to trust me and to agree to accept my help."

Marcus

"Make sure that everything is packaged safely. I don't want any mistakes!" I ordered.

"Sir, I've got a lead on the bitch and your kids," Kade said.

"Tell me!"

But before he could, squad cars busted through the building, completely catching us off guard.

"Son of a bitch!" I growled as police and FBI swamped my base of operation.

"Hands in the air," the cops yelled.

Fuck!

A familiar face walked into my line of vision and fury washed through me.

You're a dead man, Anton DeSousa.

"Didn't I tell you, I'll be coming back for you?" He said smugly.

I smirked at him.

"I'll be out before you can blink," I responded.

"Not this time," he said.

"Cuff him," he ordered. "I want everything here tagged and bagged. No screws left unturned."

"Hey, DeSousa," I called out to him.

"Ever figures out what happened to your wife?" I taunted.

He stopped on his tracks.

He turned around and walked back to me.

Anton, don't," one of the other fuckers stopped him.

"I'm going to enjoy locking you up, you sick son of a bitch!"

I laughed as I watched walk away.