Redemption(69)

If this situation wasn’t so serious, I would have laughed. Tyler was good for Dean. One was just as feisty as the other.

“I got it. I’ll bring her over in a bit.”

Tyler sighed. “Good. See you soon.”

I hung up and walked back over to Tara. “Listen, Tyler said she wants you to stay with her. I’ll have to take you because I’m afraid for my balls if I don’t.”

Tara chuckled, then winced in pain. Where the fuck was Dean?

Just as I thought this, he emerged…alone. I looked at him, a questioning look on my face. He motioned next door and put his thumbs up.

“Tyler rang. She wants me to bring Tara over to her house.”

Dean smiled. “Go. I can look after things here. Don’t you worry. I’ll keep him warm for you.” Dean winked.

I smiled and shook my head. Dean was quoting the same line I did all those years ago when he got his revenge on that scumbag Pinzano.

Looking at Tara, I winced and the anger quickly resurfaced. I was itching to teach that fucking arsehole a lesson, but I had to make sure Tara was okay and that she would be looked after first.

Scooping her up in my arms, I made my way outside. “You don’t have to carry me, you know. I can still use my legs.”

Tara smiled, but I could tell she was in pain. She had a cut lip and the swelling seemed to be getting worse. “Keep the ice on your eye, Tara. It will help with the swelling.” I propped open the car door with my foot and placed her down. She winced again. “What is it?”

Tara tried a smile and shook her head. “It’s nothing, Jimmy. I’m okay.”

I didn’t believe her. I placed my hand at the bottom of her shirt and pulled up. She had bruises all around her ribs. “Motherfucker!” I got up to charge back to the house. At that point, I was so consumed with rage, I would have just snapped his neck.

Tara quickly grabbed my wrist. “Stop. Please don’t leave me.”

Fuck, I was torn. I wanted to be there for Tara, but I also wanted to rip that fucker’s heart out. I knew I had to stay strong for her. I had to take on Dean’s practice of being able to wait it out, no matter how much I wanted to run back in there and wrap my hands around his scrawny fucking neck. He needed to be taught a lesson. He needed to realize the consequences of daring to lay a hand on Tara. For daring to hurt her.

Sighing, I kneeled back down and caressed her cheek. “I won’t leave you, Tara, and I promise he will never hurt you again. You got that?”

Tara looked at me for a moment. I think she could see the person inside of me. The person who lived on taking the law into his own hands. The person who was judge, jury, and executioner. I had hinted at my lifestyle to her, but had never voiced it out loud.

I saw a tear fall down Tara’s face. She resolutely nodded her head. “I got that.”

I tenderly kissed her on the head. I wanted to kiss her lips, but I was afraid I’d hurt her. That just incensed me even further.

Closing the passenger door, I rushed over to the other side. I didn’t want to waste any more time. The longer this went on, the less darkness we had to our advantage. And I did plan on this being a long night.

I got in the car and drove as quickly as I could. The whole way there, I was gripping the steering wheel tightly, but didn’t even realize it until Tara placed a loving hand on my arm. Immediately relaxing, I looked over at her beautiful face. The one he had now marked. The one he had dared to mark.

I smiled, but looked back at the road. I grabbed her hand in mine and held it tightly. This was the only comfort I could offer her now. I wanted to stay with her and take care of her tonight, but I had to get this done, and I knew Tyler would do everything she could to see to it that she got the best care. I could tell Tyler loved and cared for her and, I had to admit it, so did I. I never thought I could love anyone after Grace. She was the one with whom I was meant to spend my life. She was the one with whom I was supposed to marry and have children. I would have taken care of Grace. I would have loved her and protected her with everything I had. But sitting here with Tara, I couldn’t deny how I felt for her. I couldn’t deny that the first night she looked at me, I felt hope flourish within me for the first time in a long time. I felt things I hadn’t felt since Grace. For the first time, I felt as though maybe Grace and I were never meant to be. I had just been fooling myself all along that there could never be anyone else out there. Tonight truly made me realize that. I couldn’t lose Tara. I couldn’t lose her now that I had found her. I didn’t want life to deal me another blow of taking someone away from me when I had just let them in. I refused to let that happen. I refused to let Tara live her life under the cover of shadows. Tonight made me realize something.