I couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think. Could only fight even though it wasn’t enough, it was NEVER enough?—
Then the arm let go.
I stumbled forward, gasping, and spun around to see—Thad?
He was THERE. Like he’d materialized out of thin air. Fists flying, connecting with my attacker’s jaw, his ribs, anywhere hecould reach. The other man—ski mask, all black, just a shadow—tried to swing back but Thad was on demon time.
“Get the FUCK off her!”
One more hit and the guy crumpled. Scrambled to his feet. Took off running into the darkness like his life depended on it.
Which, judging by the look on Thad’s face, it probably did.
He turned to me immediately, chest heaving, eyes wild. “Mehar. Look at me. Are you okay? Are you hurt?”
I couldn’t answer. My whole body was shaking so hard my teeth were chattering. The tears just came—big, ugly sobs that I couldn’t control no matter how hard I tried.
He didn’t hesitate. Just pulled me into his arms and held on tight.
“I got you,” he said against my hair. “You’re safe now. He’s gone. I got you.”
I grabbed fistfuls of his jacket and held on like he was the only thing keeping me from drowning. His heart was pounding against my cheek. His arms felt like walls. And slowly—so slowly—the panic started to loosen its grip. I had never been so grateful for his stalkerific ways as I was right now.
“How—” My voice sounded like gravel. “How did you?—”
“I was coming to surprise you. Saw your car still here, figured I’d wait until you came out.” His hands rubbed up and down my back. “Then I saw that piece of shit grab you, and I just…” He shook his head. “I couldn’t let him hurt you.”
“Come on.” His voice was gentler now, the rage banking into something softer. “Let me get you somewhere safe.”
I nodded. Couldn’t drive like this. Couldn’t be alone like this.
He walked me to his car—that sleek black Audi I’d ridden in before—and helped me in like I was made of something precious. By the time he got in on his side, the shaking had downgraded to a tremble.
“Where do you want to go?” he asked. “Your place? Or…”
“Yours.” It came out before I could think. “I don’t want to be alone right now.” Serenity had been spending more and more time with Mega.
Something flickered in his eyes. But all he said was, “Okay.”
Thad’s apartment was nice.Like, NICE nice. Clean lines, modern furniture, floor-to-ceiling windows with a view. I could tell by the minimalism that he had money but no one to share with.
He set me on the couch and disappeared. Came back with a glass of dark liquor and pressed it into my hands.
“Drink. It’ll help settle your nerves.”
I took a sip. The burn felt good going down, warming me from the inside out.
He sat next to me—close enough to touch but not crowding. “Can I check you? Make sure you’re not hurt anywhere?”
I nodded.
His hands were careful as he looked at my arms, my wrists, the places where that man’s fingers had dug in. There’d be bruises by morning—I could already feel them blooming under my skin—but nothing was broken.
Nothing except that little voice in my head that had started to believe I was finally safe.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered.
“For what?”
