“Hey, what the hell is going on out here?” someone shouted from across the parking lot, saving me from getting cut.
The hand dropped from my face and I gasped for breath as feet pounded across the pavement. One set retreating and another coming closer. I whirled around as a figure, all in black, disappeared around the corner of the building and a guy running toward me came into view.
I recoiled and my back hit my car.
“Are you okay?” Coming to a quick stop, the young man held up his hands. “I’m not gonna hurt you. I was coming out of a meeting when I saw what was happening.”
He’d stopped the attacker. “I’m s-sorry, I’m just s-shaken up.”
I turned around and opened my car door needing to get out of there.
“Hey, we should call the police,” the man said.
My head shook frantically side to side as I jumped in my car. “No, it’s okay, I’ll be fine. Thank you.”
Then I shut my door, cutting off the guy's next words and started the car on autopilot, my need to flee burning through me. Immersed in fight or flight mode, I rushed out of the lot and toward my destination.
After a few miles of driving in a daze, the reality of what had just happened started to sink in and tears threatened to fall. I couldn’t fall apart now, I just needed to get to Huntley.
He would protect me.
Chapter Forty
HUNTLEY
She was white as a ghost.
When my eyes landed on River making her way into the waiting room, I opened my mouth to ask her why she hadn’t called me so I could meet her to walk her in. Then my gaze took in her pale complexion, the fear in her eyes, and worry immediately set in.
I was on my feet in an instant and rushing toward her.
Reaching her, my gaze scanned her head to toe, looking for injuries, but nothing stood out.
“Sweetheart, what’s wrong?” I asked, softly placing my hands on her arms and looking into her eyes.
Her flinch from my touch had despair slamming into me.
Was she hurt? Did I scare her?
River's beautiful eyes flashed apologetically but she said nothing; she just moved into my embrace and buried her face against my chest. Although I sighed in relief that she was letting me hold her, alarm bells were still going off in my head.
I placed one arm around her back and my other went to her head, softly stroking her hair. “It’s okay, baby, I’m righthere,” I whispered as her muffled tears began to soak my shirt.
Hearing footsteps behind me, I knew we were about to have company—a whole lot of it from the sound of things.
“Mom, what’s going on? Why are you upset?” Lennon asked as he approached, his voice hard and full of worry.
He was gearing up to do whatever he needed to in order to take care of River. At sixteen, he held so much on his shoulders and I hoped one day he would let me carry more of the load. He’d been getting better but still struggled with not taking on the world when it came to his mom and sister.
It reinforced once again that I didn’t know everything the boy had been through—Bre either for that matter—but it made sense how protective he was. He knew some of what River had been through—not every small detail—and she’d also been the one to save him and Bre when they needed someone.
“Mom?” Bre’s voice came through, tentative with concern.
River pushed off me and glanced at her kids. When I turned, not only were they there but Lake too, while all our other friends watched with worried expressions. The kids stayed close to their parents, all but Stormi, who was clutching her mother’s hand and watching her aunt closely.
Still visibly shaken but in true River fashion, and not wanting to cause her family or others any worry, I watched her square her shoulders in an attempt to reassure them she was fine.
“I’m fine, just a small hiccup at work.” She blew out a breath. “Tell me how London is?”
