Southern steel- Mack

16. Eden

Levi and I hop in his car to head over to the shelter. He's the first person I thought of when Beth said we need to get McKenna out of here. I tell him a little about the situation.

Greg Peterson was McKenna's fiancé. He was a trust fund kid going to law school and the son of a big time attorney. His dad had so many people in his pocket there wasn't much we could do if we didn't make her disappear. Code pulled some photos and info on the douche.

McKenna and Greg had met in college and dated a year before getting engaged. When they moved back near his home so he could work at the family law firm while finishing law school, his true colors started to show. He probably knew he had a good target since she had no family and was basically alone. I despise people that prey on others they consider to be weaker than them.

McKenna had been trying to escape him for the last year. He kept finding her and would get more and more violent. What Greg doesn't know now is that she isn't alone anymore! She now has a new family and he'll be lucky if he harms one hair on her head ever again.

We pull into the shelter and walk in to the office. We don't allow men in the main shelter house. It could trigger some of the women and children. Levi and I are in the office when the door opens, and Beth brings McKenna in. She looks so timid and scared. I glance a look at Levi. The look on his face is one I've never seen. He looks furious. I can feel the anger vibrating off him.

"Levi don't scare her." I whisper to him.

He takes a deep breath and slowly walks towards her. He sits in the chair next to where she's standing, and I realize he is making himself smaller than her. I hear him offer the most calm soothing voice.

"Your name is McKenna right?" She nods not meeting his eyes. "I'm Levi. My friend Eden called me. She thought I'd be able to help you. If you'd be ok with that I'd really like to do whatever it takes to make sure you are safe from now on. I have a place near Chicago and you could come stay there. You'd have your own room, and we'd have a job for you. Does that sound like something you'd be interested in?"

"I don't have anything to repay you." McKenna says quietly.

"You'd owe us absolutely nothing. I think it's about time you had someone in your corner to give you a little help. We've all needed a little support at some time in our lives. Everyone deserves a break some times. I'd like to be that support for you. Think of it as my way to pay it forward. I needed help at one time and now it's your turn. When you become the amazing person you're meant to be then you can pass it along to someone else. You're not alone anymore."

McKenna slowly looks down at Levi. When their eyes connect I see it. She's going to help Levi as much as he's going to help her. Levi isn't alone anymore either.

"Let's gather your things and get on the road. This sooner we get out of here the better."

"I don't have anything." She says shyly.

"We will rectify that as soon as we get home." Home...

"We are always a phone call away if you need us. Levi has my number. Don't hesitate to use it even if you just need a woman to talk to." I tell her.

We walk them out to Levi's car. He opens the door for McKenna and gets her situated before shutting her door and walking around the car to me.

"Thank you for doing this." I tell him. I know things are going to change after this. I can feel it. He wraps me up in a tight hug.

"I will always be there for you. That will never change. You call me, text me, or FaceTime me anytime."

"You're one of the best men I know, Levi."