Chapter Twelve
Sophia
She'd been completely unaware that she was being followed until someone grabbed her from behind and dragged her toward the nearby darkened side alley.
“Scream, and I will cut you,” a voice said and she felt the edge of a knife against her cheek.
Sophia found herself thrown on the ground, which caused her to nearly black out from her head hitting the cement, and then the man was on her.
She started to fight, until he pressed the blade closer, and she stopped. Sheer terror filled her, and then, like an avenging angel, Axel was there pulling the guy away.
It took her several precious moments to realize Axel was pummeling the guy. If he didn't stop, he could kill him.
Axel! Axel, stop! I-if you don't s-stop, you're going t-to kill him. He's not worth it.”
When Axel pulled her into his arms, she realized she was shaking.
She clung to him while he called first her father and then the police, and wanted to rail at the officer for cuffing him and taking him away all because he protected her.
“Come on. Let's get back inside,” Indi told her once she'd been cleared by the paramedic. Luckily, despite, the back of her head smacking the ground, she didn't appear to have a concussion.
When a cop tried to stop them, she saw Indi glare at him.
“She'll be at the station tomorrow to give a statement.” Then she led Sophia back into the club and to her office.
Sophia sat on the small sofa and wrapped her arms around herself. When Indi offered her a tumbler of amber liquid she frowned.
“It's whiskey. Trust me. You need it. I've been where you are, Sophia. You're not alone,” Indi told her gently.
Sophia took the glass and sipped it. She wasn't much of a drinker and she didn't want to drink it too fast and risk getting tipsy.
She'd only gotten through about a fourth of the tumbler of whiskey when her father entered the office.
He knelt down in front of her and looked her over. “Are you okay? What happened?”
“I… think so. I have a bit of a headache and a bump on the back of my head but… it would have been worse… if Axel hadn't gotten there in time.”
Indi picked up the story. “What we've been able to piece together is, some asshole followed Sophia into the employee area and then outside, where he attempted to assault her. He threatened her with a knife to keep her from screaming.”
“I'll fucking end him,” her father growled.
“Axel almost did, judging by the beatdown the asshole received,” Indi told him.
"How did Axel know where she was?” he questioned.
“He'd seen her several minutes before, but then he noticed—”
“No. It's time,” Sophia said, cutting her off. She looked at her father and took a deep breath.
“He's seen me dancing here a few times. Since I always work the same days—”
“You dance here? For how long?”
“Two months. Before you start, I'm an adult dad.”
“We can discuss this later. Continue,” he practically ordered.
“As I was saying, he must have figured out this was one of my usual nights, but didn't see me so he asked Indi about me and she told him I'd just left. I guess he wanted to walk me to my car since I had to park so far away.
“He must have heard the scuffling in the alley and came to investigate. If he hadn't been there—”
Her voice cracked and she shuddered. She'd been trying to be strong, but she felt so weak.
“Don't think about that,” her father said gently and took the glass from her hands. “Let’s get you home. By the time we get there, Hallie will have a hot bath and a cup of cocoa waiting for you.”
“My car—”
"I'll send a couple of prospects to get it,” he told her, cutting her off.
“Sophia, take the week off. You've been through a lot,” Indi told her.
“Um… okay. If you're sure.”
“I am. Go. Your job will still be here next week,” Indi assured her.
Sophia let herself be led out to her father's vehicle where she sat in the passenger seat feeling numb. She knew that feeling would fade soon enough, but she hoped she was safely in the tub when it happened. She didn't want anyone to see her fall apart.
“We're home.”
Her father's voice filtered into her troubled mind and she blinked.
“Oh.” She hadn't even realized they'd stopped.
She moved woodenly as she got out and went inside where Hallie was indeed waiting with a cup of cocoa that she held out to her.
“Thank you,” she murmured and took the cup from her.
“There's a hot bath with lavender bath salts waiting for you, too,” Hallie said softly. “If you need to talk, you know I'm here, right?”
“I know. Thanks, Hallie,” Sophia replied and made her way to her room. She was so grateful it had its own bathroom.
After soaking until the water cooled, she finally got out, dried off, pulled on some pajamas, and crawled into bed.
Her last thought as sleep claimed her was please don't let me have nightmares.