“Yes, teach them not to mess with Dragon’s protected people.” Kang lifted his chin and his friends dragged them off down the street.
“Why are you down here without your man? It’s a dangerous place alone.”
Wrapping her arms around her legs, she glanced left and right. Dangerous. Which meant they needed to find a way to clean it up before they finished renovating the building. Another giggle. Sure, keep her mind on something besides the fact she’d almost been gang-raped. A shiver rushed through her. God,she was a mess.
“Scott’s in jail. I need Jian’s help to find out what’s going on. Do you know where he is?”
“Come with me. I will take you to him.”
Would her legs even work? Tremors shook her enough that she stumbled as Kang assisted her to her feet. Her blouse fell open and she immediately pulled the sides closed. Holy shit, she couldn’t control her twitching muscles. It had been too damn close. Her legs felt like jelly. When she swayed, Kang held her arm and walked her toward a car.
“Here,” he said, handing her a black button-down shirt he pulled from the vehicle. It was huge on her but she didn’t care as she buttoned it all the way up to her neck, fuck the summer heat. Her pants zipper stuck as she tried to get it up, so she only did up the snap and let the shirt hang over it.
“You must put this on before we go.” He handed her a red bandanna and she tilted her head in question.
“You cannot see where we go. It is for your protection. This way you cannot be forced to tell where we are. You do not know.”
She looked up and down the street, her heart racing in her chest. Would the thugs come back? Was she safe? Scott trusted these people, but she still wasn’t sure.
“You are safe. No one will harm you. I promise.”
Nodding, she wrapped the fabric around her eyes, tying it. The car rolled down the street and she sighed at the relief that coursed through her.
“How did you know I was in trouble? Or did you stumble on us while you were watchingthe building?”
“We have eyes and ears in many places. You are under our protection. I apologize we were not sooner.”
“Oh, your timing was freakin’ perfect. Don’t get me wrong, before they ripped my Dior blouse would have been even better, but you got there before any real harm was done. I am eternally grateful. I guessI now owe you.”
“No, you owe us nothing. Men who rape are cowards,not real men.”
The car slowed then stopped and she was led from the vehicle still blindfolded. Kang helped her so she didn’t trip then she was settled in a comfortable chair. Her nerves still stood on alert and her skin prickled when she felt another presence.
“You may remove the blindfold, Ms. Silva,” Jian said, his voice in front of her. “Thank you for agreeing to keep our location a secret.”
Pulling the bandana down, she said, “Did Ihave a choice?”
Jian only smiled. “Kang said Hollandis in trouble.”
“Yes, I need your help.” Her chest was still tight, her muscles tense, but she had to push past her fear to help Scott. She explained what had happened and that the evidence was stacked against him. “Her name is Carla Findley. I don’t know why she’s claiming Scott did this to her, but he didn’t. I know he didn’t.”
“I will have my people look into it. Could be she is doing this under someone else’s command. We will find out. How canI contact you?”
Heather rattled off her phone number, her heart ripping to shreds at the thought of Scott serving jail time for a crime he didn’t commit. Jian obviously believed he hadn’t done it either because he never even questioned it. Or he didn’t care and his debt toScott was true.
“Kang will bringyou back home.”
“I have my carnear the mill.”
“Are you well enough to drive?”
Her stomach still felt like it was going to revolt and her lungs might have collapsed somewhere along the way but she’d pull it all together and be fine. She nodded.
“Then Kang will take you to your vehicle and follow you home. Please, do not argue. Holland would be quite upset if we did not assure your safety.”
The thought did make her feel less anxious, which was strange, since typically having a street gang member follow her home would freak her the hell out.
“Thank you, Jian. I can’t tell you how grateful I am for this.” She reached up to kiss his cheek then picked up the blindfold. “I assume I need this again.”
“You are a wise woman, Ms. Silva. Holland is indeed lucky to have you in his life.”
As she sat in the car on the way back, she truly hoped she’d be back in Scott’s life. And that he’d be ableto be in hers.
