The drive back was the longest fucking twenty minutes of my life.

I wanted to call the police, but that meant ending the facetime with Bambi. It was my only lifeline to her, the only way I could know if she were okay. But the only thing I’d seen in the last five minutes was the ceiling.

“Just hold on, Bambi.” I gritted my teeth, ended the FaceTime call, and dialed the police.

When I pulled up to the cottage, Caroline’s shitbox was parked askew in the driveway.

God. How fucked up was she to park like that?

The dispatcher had told me to wait for police to arrive, to not intervene, but waiting felt like going against my every instinct.

I yanked my phone from the dash mount, threw the door open, and jumped out of the truck, not even bothering to kill the engine or shut the door.

Fuck that. My girl was inside.

I was halfway to the front door when I forced myself to stop and head to the window instead. I didn’t know what I’d be walking into, and I couldn’t risk Bambi getting hurt by barging inside.

The blinds were half-open, and I peered inside.

Bambi stood in front of the couch, Caroline just inches from her face. Caroline’s expression twisted as she spoke, a vein bulging in her neck.

Bambi held up her hands like she was trying to calm Caroline and put distance between them, but Caroline shoved her back onto the couch.

Fuck. No. I’m done fucking waiting.

I raced toward the front door, grabbed the knob, and twisted. By the grace of fucking God, it was unlocked.

The door slammed against the wall behind it.

“Get the hell away from her, Caroline!”

Bambi’s head snapped in my direction.

“Graham!” Her voice cracked, but the relief in it was unmistakable.

Caroline’s eyes widened, her hands curling into fists at her sides.

“You,” she sneered. “You shouldn’t be here.”

“You’re the one who shouldn’t be here, Caroline. You’re trespassing.”

I stepped farther into the living room, taking my eyes off Caroline just long enough to look Bambi over.

She didn’t look hurt. Thank fuck.

Caroline grabbed Bambi by the upper arm and yanked her off the couch. She stumbled into Caroline’s side.

“Fine. We were just leaving anyway.” She looked down at Bambi. “Weren’t we, Hazel?”

Bambi grimaced as Caroline’s fingers tightened around her arm.

“No,” Bambi said, trying to pull her arm free. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”

A muscle ticked in Caroline’s jaw. “Yes, you are.”

“Let her go, Caroline.”

Caroline ignored me and instead, lowered her voice as she spoke to Bambi. Her tone turned from cold to coaxing.

“He’s not good for you, Hazel. He’s trying to take advantage of you.”

“That’s funny, coming from you,” I said, taking a single step forward.

Caroline’s expression turned cold again as she looked at me. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“Cut the shit, Caroline. You know exactly what I mean. Did you think we wouldn’t find out about Bambi’s trust?”

Caroline didn’t even bother trying to school her expression. Now that she’d been called out, there was no point in pretending.

“That money should’ve been mine,” she spat.

“Yours?” Bambi scoffed, trying again to pull her arm free from Caroline’s grip. “What? The life insurance you collected after my father died wasn’t enough for you?”

That caught Caroline off guard. Apparently, she hadn’t expected us to know about the policy either. But her momentary distraction gave me the opening I needed. I rushed forward and pulled Bambi free of her grip.

Caroline had the audacity to look fucking offended, and I nearly laughed. “It’s over, Caroline. The police are on their way. You’re not touching Bambi again or getting your hands on her money.”

I pulled Bambi into my side, and held her tight.

“You ungrateful, disrespectful, little—after everything I’ve done for you!” Caroline sneered.

“Enough!” I shouted. “You haven’t done shit except lie to and manipulate the both of us!”

Bambi’s fingers pressed into my side, her touch steadying, like she wasn’t asking me to back down, but letting me know she stood beside me.

“You weaponized my shame—my love for Bambi—and used it against me. You used Bambi for your own selfish fucking gain. It. Is. Over!”

Through the front window, I saw two police cars park in the drive, and three officers stepped out.

“This ends here. Today,” Bambi said.

Caroline lunged toward us with a snarl.

I turned, sheltering Bambi’s body with mine as I drew her out of the way. Caroline’s fingers just barely grazed my back before an officer grabbed her and pulled her away, securing her in handcuffs.

“Officer, please!” she said, struggling against the restraints. “This was just a misunderstanding! Tell them, Graham.”

The second officer stepped forward. “Graham Woods? You the one who made the call?”

“I am,” I said, still keeping Bambi close.

“Graham!” Caroline shouted. “Tell them!”

The officer gestured toward the kitchen. “Let’s step over there. I’ll need statements from both of you.”

“I am your mother! You can’t let them—”

“You brought this on yourself, Caroline.” I turned away from her, and together, Bambi and I followed after the officer.

After we gave our statements, the officer’s brought Caroline to their cruiser. She was still making a scene as they got her in the backseat. The door shut, cutting off her desperate pleas.

Bambi and I headed back inside the cottage without waiting for the officers to drive away.

Once the front door closed behind us, I pulled Bambi into my arms and hugged her tightly. My hands trembled against her back.

“I’m so sorry, Bambi. It’s my job to protect you, and I left you alone.”

“It’s not your fault. It’s not like either of us could’ve predicted she’d show up like that.”

I was so fucking pissed at Caroline, but I was just as pissed at myself. Was there something I’d missed? Some sign that Caroline might try some shit like this? Could I have prevented this?

Bambi pulled back and took my face in her hands. She rose onto her toes and pressed a light kiss to my lips.

“You did protect me, Graham. You got here as quickly as you could. It’s over now, okay? You’re here. I’m safe.”

“I should be the one comforting you, not the other way around,” I told her. “She pushed you. Hurt you.”

“I’m okay,” she said, rubbing the spot Caroline where had grabbed her. “Let me take care of you for once, Graham.”

I dropped my forehead to hers. “I don’t know what I’d do without you, Bambi,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

She wrapped her arms around me, and I relaxed in her hold.

“Don’t let go.”

“Never,” she said.

Chapter Twenty Two