She climbed up the remaining steps and shoved her key into the lock, giving it a hard turn. Once inside, she locked the door behind her, turned on the lights and threw her purse on the couch. On a mission, she went straight into the kitchen and yanked open the freezer door.
No freaking ice cream. Not even a tablespoon’s worth clinging to the lid of an old tub.
She wasn’t sure she could make it through the night without some Chunky Monkey.
As she wondered about the hours of the corner store, she resolved to rectify her frozen dairy situation. If she hurried, she might still make it and get back in time for some choice reruns on TV. Sighing, she picked up her purse and keys again and headed to the door. She whipped it open.
Hugo Vaughan stood there, grinning.
Before she could scream or slam the door, he forced his way inside and put a beefy hand over her open mouth, shutting the door behind them.
“Thanks for letting me in, Red. I didn’t want to put a shoulder to the door. You know, with my bursitis and all.” He looked her up and down. “Lookin’ good, Red. You know, I’ve missed you. Your dad’s debt might be settled, but I seem to recall we still have some unfinished business.”
God, he reeked of alcohol. Hopefully he was drunk enough that she could find a way out of this. She clawed at the hand over her mouth, trying to cry out.
“Uh uh, Red. Be a good girl and shut the fuck up.” He backed her up to the couch and forced her down. She could bite down on his hand, but was afraid of how he might retaliate. A cruel hand tugged at her neckline, ripping at her shirt, and he licked at her neck.
He uncovered her mouth so he could plunge his tongue in. It was too much. She couldn’t let this happen. Hadn’t she already lost enough? She would not sacrifice her dignity as well.
She bit down. Hard. Vaughan roared in pain and she gave him a shove. “Get the fuck off me, you filthy bastard,” she screamed. She wriggled under him, desperate to bring her knees in contact with his nuts.
Despite being drunk, Vaughan managed to keep her pinned down, his weight crushing her. Clearly, he had done this before. The alcohol may have impaired his judgment, but it hadn’t affected his reflexes. He evaded her every squirming attempt at a kick.
He rose up over her, blood dripping down his chin and smiled. “Have your bruises healed yet, bitch? I can give you some new ones.” He lifted one hand, poised to strike, and Kate closed her eyes.
At first she thought she heard the sound of his fist cracking against her skull, only she’d felt nothing. Then she opened her eyes and realized the door had been kicked in.
Liam. For real, not the fantasy who’d obsessed her every waking and sleeping thought.
Liam ran forward and pounced on the loan shark dragging him away. He landed three good punches, his furious words punctuating his movements.
“Fuck. You. Asshole.”
By the time he raised his arm for another punch, Detective Baxter and another officer stormed in. They separated Liam and Vaughan. Detective Baxter aimed a furious look at Liam while the other officer pinned Vaughan to the ground and cuffed him.
“What did I tell you about letting us handle this?”
Liam didn’t answer. He just glared at Vaughan, his fists clenched.
The detectives dragged Vaughan outside, reading him his rights, leaving Liam alone with Kate.
For a time neither said a word. He looked so different. He looked like the man who had taken her to Franky’s, wearing worn jeans and a black T-shirt, full of rugged appeal. Only tonight he looked disheveled, the dark circles under his eyes told her he hadn’t been sleeping. His knuckles were covered in Vaughan’s blood.
“How did you…?”
“I put out the word I wanted information on Vaughan. Wade got a tip tonight. Someone at the Golden Nugget recognized him, drunk as a skunk. Bragging about scoring big with a fancy pearl necklace. He made comments about visiting a certain redhead who’d gotten away from him before.” His Adam’s apple bobbed in his throat. “I called the cops. I just didn’t tell them I was already on my way over.”
He’d been watching out for her this whole time. God, it sounded as if he had an entire network of casino spies looking out for her.
Liam’s blue eyes were marred by red. “Did he hurt you?”
“Not really. Thanks to you.” She paused, her throat thick and painful. She opened her mouth, wanting to ask how he’d been.
“Don’t. Just don’t. I’m…I’m glad you’re okay.” And without another word, he left her apartment.
When she gave her statement to the police, Liam didn’t stick around. He didn’t call the rest of the night and neither did she. How could she? What could she say?
When her head hit her pillow late that night, her eyes remained wide open, glued to the dark ceiling. She knew the haunted look on Liam’s face would keep her up all night long.
