I click through the links in the email Tobias sent me. The guy's the best at what he does. Taking less than an hour, after I made the request this morning, to find out everything I need to know about this motherfucking bastard. Including that he's going to die.

Restraining orders. Assault charges. Jail time. None of it enough to stop him.

Until now.

I tap the screen, and the investigator picks up on the first ring.

"I guess you got the information."

Years of nicotine addiction thickens his voice to a gravelly baritone. Dude has got to give that shit up. "Quick as always."

A deep inhale ruffles through the speaker. "What a fucking bastard. I just don't understand how these women get mixed up with his psycho shit."

My head shakes from his sputtered tone. Can't even talk on the phone without a smoke. Get a patch or something. "I don't know. But even more surprising no one's popped his ass yet."

"I guess you'll be taking care of that."

With him locked up, he's an easy target for my guys. Nowhere to fucking hide. "Fuck yeah I am. No one's going to have to worry about Hunter Rowe's sorry ass again."

My head flies up at the gasp from the doorway. Molly clutches the door frame with a trembling hand. All the normal pinkness gone from her face. "Wh-what's going on?"

"I've got to call you back."

I toss the phone on the bed and stride toward her. My mind and my conscience battling over what to say. How to explain to her what I'm going to do without destroying everything I'm trying to build between us. Not that I have even an ounce of remorse for killing the bastard. But I never want her to know. That I have the desire or the ability to so easily end another man's life.

So I choose honesty. Kind of. "He hurt you, and I'm not going to let it happen again."

A shudder runs through her delicate body, that fuels my rage even more. That just talking about him scares her so much.

"What's that supposed to mean? What are you doing?"

"I had one of my staff members investigate him. To see where he lives now, what he's doing so I can keep an eye on him."

"And?"

"He's in prison." Good thing I haven't eaten breakfast yet as this shit makes my stomach turn. "For raping and beating a woman so bad she ended up in the ICU."

"Oh no." That's what finally breaks her. She collapses down into the chair, swiping at the droplets running down her cheeks. "Is she okay?"

"Physically yes." I hate answering her like that, but it's fucking true. No one can ever really overcome a vicious attack like that. But I hate even more the response I'm going to hear when I ask about what he did to her. "Was he hitting you too?"

She shakes her head, her lips curling together as if she's holding back. Which I can't allow. "Then what?"

A deep sigh rattles in her chest, and she wraps her arms around herself. I fucking force myself to keep from pacing. Or talking. She doesn't need me fucking badgering her. She deserves my patience. Of which I have absolutely none. Especially when it comes to shit like this.

"We were on our senior class trip, driving home on the bus from Washington DC. We were in the last row, you know where there are four seats together next to the bathroom. Hunter, two of his buddies, and me."

My fingers ball into fists that I can't seem to release. Adrenaline racing through my muscles from the direction her story seems to be heading. Ready to beat their fucking asses too if they hurt her.

"Hunter and I were kissing a little bit. I didn't want to with his friends sitting right there, but he kept pressuring me. I didn't feel good either. Kind of weak and sleepy. Just strange."

Redness creeps up her face, and her gaze drops to her trembling legs. Infuriating me from her embarrassment.

"He was trying to pull down my jeans. I tried to fight him off, but I was so woozy. Suddenly I felt this sharp pain." The tears return, dripping off her chin, creating small dark circles on her purple skirt. Just like the darkness overtaking me from her agony. "He shoved his finger inside me. Pushing deeper and deeper even when I begged him to stop. After a few seconds he pulled his hand out and his finger was covered in blood. He held it up laughing, and said..."

I can barely speak with my teeth clenched so tight. "What?"

"Wanna smell this virgin pussy?" Her voice breaks as she hugs herself tighter. "He was so cruel, laughing and encouraging his friends to do it too. I was so scared that they really would."

I'm shaking now too from the absolute rage pouring through me. You fucking jack off. Or find a girl who's willing. Or fucking hire a hooker. Something. Anything except hurt a woman, especially your own fucking girlfriend. "Did they touch you too?"

"No, my friend Sean shoved Hunter away and picked me up. He took me back to his seat and protected me from them. I was still so out of it, I couldn't even walk once we arrived back at school. Sean had to carry me inside to call my parents."

"What the fuck?" She jerks from my angry tone. I dial back the volume as much as I can with this bullshit. "Where the fuck were the chaperones? Or teachers? Why the fuck didn’t anyone do anything?"

"He was the star of the football team. It was my word against his." Finally, she looks up. But doesn't really see me. Lost in her own thoughts. "It was such a mess. I pressed charges, and he accused me of being drunk. I think he gave me something. Drugged me with some kind of roofie. I think he was going to rape me. Maybe let his friends too. I don't know."

Motherfuckers. All fucking three of them. No way in hell they didn't know what that bastard was planning. Chumps like him always brag. Always think they can get away with their crimes. Until now.

"They all said I was brave. That I did the right thing standing up to him and reporting him. But they didn't mean it." A harsh laugh gurgles in her throat. "Hunter lost his scholarship, and everyone hated me for it. The kids at school called me a slut and a tease. My mom was the English teacher and her contract wasn't renewed. My dad's a farmer, and all the farmers would always help each other. Until they were suddenly too busy. Everything was ruined...because of me."

"Everything was ruined because of that motherfucker. He hurt you and he deserves what he gets."

More than she'll ever know. She shrugs her shoulders. Virtuousness rarely wins. "We were outcasts. Mom and Dad seemed to bounce back. I came here for a fresh start. You know, new city, new friends. No one here knew the story. Until now."

Finally, her uncertain gaze meets mine. Not sure what she's thinking, but I'm sure as hell going to make sure she understands what's going through my head. "If you think for a fucking second, that I don't believe you or wouldn't defend you, you're--"

"I know Luciano." A bittersweet smile lifts her cheeks. "I've never doubted you."

Now it's my turn to blanch. From the unwavering certainty in her eyes. From the absolute faith in her strong gaze. Threatening to weaken my resolve. Almost. The watery streaks on her porcelain skin remind me that bastard hurt my woman. Nothing can keep me from making him pay.

"That's the other reason."

"The other reason for what?"

"The night you were drunk." She sits up straighter, her chin lifting. Strength peeking through her vulnerability. Reminding me she's not as fragile as she seems. "I told you 'no' and you stopped right away. Even when you were that wasted you couldn't hurt me. Proving what I already knew. I can trust you."

My face burns hot like she fucking slapped me. Fucking irony floods through me that when I've fucked up her life so bad is when she believes in me the most. I am one stupid fucking motherfucker.

No. I shake my head like an asshole. I'm being sucked in too deep. Too far. I'm not doing this guilt. She's here because she wants to be. For Eli. Regardless if I tricked her or not.

She frowns from my disagreement. Confusion scrunching her face. "Yes, Luciano. You—"

I invade her space, forcing her back against the cushion. Her breasts heaving as her lips part. I brush over them with mine, stealing her breath. Drowning in her absolution of me. "Be careful who you trust, angel. I'm the man who'll tarnish your halo."

Surprise bursts in me like bombs from her cupping my cheeks. Holding my forehead to hers. "Maybe I want my halo tarnished if you're the man who's going to do it."

Jesus Christ. Her throwing out the challenge drives me mad. I slide my hands under her slender thighs and scoop her up. Fuck breakfast. Fuck work. Fuck everything except for getting her naked and underneath me.

Her arms coil around my neck, tight and resolute with her grip. She wants me just as bad. Needs me to make her feel whole. Perfect. Beautiful. Which is exactly what I'm going to do.

"Molly?"

Just as my fingers touch my phone to shove it out of the way, a small but urgent voice yells from the hallway. God fucking damn.

"Molly? Where are you? I can't find my yellow velociraptor."

Laughter shakes her body before she starts to jump out of my hold. Motherfucking busted. I kiss her hard before I set her on her feet. She sways a bit from the intensity, making me even more crazed if that's possible. And fucking horrible with Eli busting in.

He stops a few feet from the door, and his suspicious gaze jumps from her to me, sitting on the bed pretending to work on my phone to hide my need for her from him.

"I heard you laughing." His little fists of fury curl against his hips. "What are you guys playing?"

Poor guy. Thinks he's been left out of a game. Which I guess this kind of is. She just doesn't know it, and I fucking hate it. But too late to go back now. It will be fine. It has to be.

Before I can answer she jogs past him and looks over her shoulder. "Tag and you're it!"

A huge smile eliminates the hurt threatening his feelings, and he chases after her. Both of their giggles bouncing off the hardwood until they fade away down the stairs. Mrs. Benson's pancakes their reward. Just like both of them are for me. That I may not deserve but I'm damn sure going to try and earn it back.