He sped into town, breaking every damn speed limit he passed. When he finally got there, what he saw made blood roar between his ears.
Indie was sitting on the steps at the back of a shop. She was leaning forward, and her back was heaving, like she was breathing fast.
A man was kneeling in front of her, his hands on her shoulders.
It wasn’t until Colt was parked and out of his car that he realized he knew the guy. He’d met him.
The new gym owner—Zane.
“What the fuck are you doing touching her?” Colt shouted, as he closed the distance between them.
The man looked up, standing, but it was Indie who made Colt’s blood run cold. Her cheeks were tear-stained, her neck red like fire.
The fuck?
He grabbed Zane by the shirt and shoved him into the building. “What the fuck did you do?”
“Colt, stop!” Indie shouted, jumping to her feet.
“Did he hurt you?” Colt growled, his hand already fisted and cocked, ready to hit the asshole.
Zane didn’t react. Not a single fucking muscle. “I saw her climbing out of her car like this. I came to help.”
Colt froze. “What?”
“It’s true,” Indie rasped. “He called the sheriff’s office and was waiting with me. I was going to call you once I caught my breath.”
Colt’s hands dropped and he turned to her. “What happened?”
A sheriff’s car raced into the parking lot, closely followed by another car carrying two deputies.
Jesse ran out and stopped beside Indie. “Hey, what’s going on?”
Her eyes filled with tears.
Fuck. Colt wrapped his arms around her, just holding her. Then, softly, he urged her back down to the steps. Both he and Jesse knelt beside her.
“What happened?” Colt asked again, trying to keep his voice gentle when it was the last thing he felt.
“I climbed into my car, where I was texting you, and suddenly a rope was around my neck. It was a man. He wanted to know where Gordon was. I told him, and he toldmethat if he doesn’t get the money he’s owed, he’ll be back to get it from Gordon’s family.”
That familiar rage crawled up Colt’s throat, begging to break free.
Indie had been hurt again. Threatened. She could have beenkilled.
“Did you get a look at the guy?” Jesse asked gently.
Indie shook her head, more tears in her eyes. “All I saw was dark hair and dark eyes. Then he put the rope around my neck and I just panicked. I’m sorry.”
“Hey. You have nothing to be sorry about.” Colt cupped her cheek, and when one tear fell, he swiped it with his thumb. “You got out of it and you’re alive. That’s all you had to do.”
“I’m pretty sure I saw the guy get onto a Harley-Davidson Road Glide,” Zane said. “He was parked in the side alley.”
Colt rose. “You saw him, but you didn’t grab him?”
“I saw a guy running and jumping onto a bike. Thought he looked suspicious. Came into the parking lot, saw she wasn’t doing too good. Decided the guy was probably gone, and thought it was best to stay with her and make sure she was okay.”
It made sense. And the anger wasn’t really aimed at Zane. It was all on himself.
