I tried to move toward them, but Kason—my hot-headed and impulsive brother—did the unthinkable. He wrapped his arm around me and said, “He’s got this.”
“You will do whatever it takes to make sure she never has to deal with your shit again,” Thayer ordered.
“This was never meant to touch her,” Gino squeaked out.
“Well, it did, in a big fucking way,” Thayer said through gritted teeth.
“What do you want me to do?” Gino asked, his voice strained with Thayer’s arm cutting off his air.
“You’ll sever ties with her in every way possible. You’ll make it known that you don’t see her. You don’t speak to her. You’re nothing to each other. Do you hear me?”
Gino’s eyes flashed down. “I can try.”
Thayer slammed his knee into Gino’s crotch. Gino curled into himself and probably would’ve keeled over had Thayer’s arm not been holding him to the wall. “You’ll do better than that, asshole,” Thayer ordered.
I winced. The grimace on Gino’s face conveyed the hurt Thayer’s knee had inflicted.
“Kase?” Thayer said, looking over his shoulder at him. “You want a turn?”
Kason shook his head. “I think you’ve got it covered.”
“G?” Thayer asked.
My eyes rounded, unsure what he thought I’d do.
“I think Gino owes you an apology,” he explained.
My eyes shifted to Gino’s. I could see the sadness and regret brimming in them.
“I’m so sorry this touched you, Giselle,” Gino said.
“I’m not sure I buy it,” Thayer said, pressing his arm harder into Gino’s neck.
“Fuck, Thayer. I loved her. I’d never knowingly let someone hurt her,” Gino breathed out.
“Well, I love her now,” Thayer said with much certainty. “And, I assure you, no one will ever hurt her on my watch.”
Tears welled in my eyes. Not only was he defending me, but he was letting me know I’d forever be safe with him. And, even though I knew he couldn’t possibly ensure my safety at all times, I one hundred percent believed he believed he could. And that was enough for me.
Thayer
The sun had set as Giselle, and I sat on the back of the U-Haul with our legs dangling off. My arm was wrapped tightly around her, and her head was tucked into my side. We hadn’t left her condo yet.
“Can we make a deal?” she asked quietly.
“Anything.”
“Can it be smooth sailing moving forward? Because I feel like life has been out of control lately, and I’m not sure how much more I can take.”
I pressed my lips to the top of her head. “I sure hope so.”
My father walked out of the building with Gino. Giselle sprang up and looked to me. “You know, you didn’t have to do this.”
“It’s the only way to keep you safe,” I said. “Would you mind staying here for a second?”
She eyed me, as if to warn me about putting my hands on Gino again, but then she nodded. I pressed a quick kiss to her lips, hopped down from the truck, and made my way over to my father and Gino. They stopped beside my father’s car when I approached.
“Gino’s cooperating,” my father said.