“That doesn’t change what he did to me, though. Does it?”
He tilts his head to the side and studies me for a minute. “No, I guess it doesn’t,” he says gloomily.
I give him one curt nod and a half smile then I keep walking. Once I’m around him, I turn and say with all sincerity, “Brandon, thank you…for believing me. It means more than you could possibly know.”
He nods in gratitude.
Outside, the night air is sharp and cold. Tears sting my eyes before I reach my car. I fumble with the keys, desperate to get away before anyone can see me fall apart.
That’s when I hear a man’s voice—soft, too close. “Andi.”
His breath is warm against my hair. I turn, pulse spiking, and find Brad standing behind me, his face half-shadowed by the streetlight. Instinctively, I take a step back, but he closes the distance, his hand curling around my wrist.
“Brad. Let go.” My voice is low, steady, but my heart is pounding. I keep my chin up, refusing to let him see how rattled I am.
He smiles, the same easy, careless grin I remember from a lifetime ago. “You know you don’t want that, Andi.”
“I know I want you as far away from me as possible.” I try to pull free, but his grip tightens. The parking lot suddenly feels too empty, the music from the club muffled and distant.
He leans in, his voice dropping an octave as he tries to sound commanding. “Come on. Don’t make a scene.”
I twist my arm, but he’s stronger. “Let go of me, Brad.” My words are sharper now, edged with panic I can’t quite hide.
He starts pulling me toward his car, his fingers digging into my skin. I dig in my heels, fighting him, but it’s like trying to stop a tide. My mind races—should I scream? Should I run? I’m not sure I have the strength for either.
Suddenly, there’s a commotion behind us—heavy footsteps, a shout. Brad’s grip loosens as someone grabs hisshoulder and wrenches him away from me. I stumble, catching myself on the hood of a nearby car. Then a pair of strong hands softly grip my shoulders and help me stand upright on my shaky legs.
When my mind catches up to the sight in front of me, I’m suddenly at a loss for words—except for one word.
Luke.
He looks as uneasy as I feel. I finally find my voice and give him an appropriate response for helping me out of a scary situation.
“Hey, man,” Brad says angrily from behind him.
Luke turns to face Brad. His tone drops several octaves from its normal timbre when he speaks. “Walk away while you still can.”
Brad backs away, clearly not underestimating Luke’s meaning. When Shane and Will join us in the parking lot, Luke turns back to face me.
“Thank you, Luke. If you hadn't come along when you did. Well, I don't want even to think about that. But I appreciate what you did, stepping in and helping me."
My gratefulness is sincere, but I can barely maintain eye contact when I talk to him. It just hurts to look at him.
A few feet away, I hear Shane’s voice as a low growl. “Don’t ever touch her again.” Will is there too, as both a silent threat and a promise.
Brad’s bravado evaporates. He holds up his hands, backing away, his eyes darting between Shane and Will. “No harm meant. Just talking to an old friend.”
Shane steps forward, his jaw clenched. “You’ve said enough. If you ever touch her again, you’ll eat through a straw for the rest of your life.”
Brad mutters something and disappears into the darkness, leaving behind the echo of his arrogance.
Shane turns to me, the hardness in his eyes softening. “You okay, sis?”
I nod, my hands shaking hard enough that I lace my fingers together to hide it. My legs feel distant, numb, like they might give out if I stop moving. I shift my weight just to prove I’m still upright. The ground feels unreal beneath me, as if I’m standing on something that might give way at any moment. “Yeah. Thanks, Shane.” I force a breath through my chest. “I’m heading home now. You should get back to your date.”
I turn and walk away when I hear Luke call my name.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
