Chapter 34
Molly hadn’t expected Leo to lunge at Johnny. But the moment he did, she knew everyone would want to join in the fun.
So she reacted first. Her first shot was the quickest one. She grabbed a file and slammed it on Craig’s face. The surprise attack caused him to stumble and fall.
Molly rushed behind the half wall, the same way she’d attacked Johnny last time, and jumped on the snivelling form of a woman.
Molly turned her around and raised a fist. You’ll go back in there and sit in the corner.
You twitch a muscle, try to run, and you’ll see how bad a fist in the face hurts. Got it?
With her neatly coiffed hair, made-up face, and large golden earrings dangling from her ears, she didn’t look like a typical bodyguard. The woman nodded meekly. She gripped a wee briefcase and followed Molly’s directions.
Hold on. Molly stopped her, then grabbed the briefcase. Do you have any other devices on you? You contact any more people, and you’ll get said fist in face too. Molly had no intention of hurting her, but sometimes threats were enough to prevent someone from acting out.
The woman shook her head. Apparently, she wasn’t talking.
Right, now you may go. Molly gestured towards the space that wasn’t currently occupied by fighting men.
Knowing the woman wasn’t escaping anywhere, Molly joined the tango.
She caught Craig sneaking towards the stairs.
Somehow, the damned lifts weren’t working.
After leaving Craig behind at the promenade earlier, she had stumbled across the reception desk, this time unmanned.
Molly had scaled the ID-scanning barriers and tried to find an obscure office space that might be Newtar’s.
She’d been so sure she’d triggered a silent alarm when she’d broken into several cubicles on the first and second floor.
But no one had come after her. She’d only realised why when she’d stumbled across the empty security room and noticed the time on the surveillance footage was two hours behind.
The footage appeared to be playing on a loop.
She’d rushed to the lifts to head upstairs, knowing Johnny was up to something. When the lifts didn’t work, she had raced up to the fourth floor and stepped into this mess.
Molly found a sinewy man sneaking up on Neil, who was holding his own against two other people.
For an IT guy, he sure knew how to fight.
Molly rushed towards the sinewy man and kneed him in the side, hard.
It startled him long enough to allow her to follow up with another kick.
She grappled, dodging his fists and kicks.
It almost took her back to another time, but she held herself together.
Molly was no longer the abused, scared, new mother whose sole goal was to protect her baby from harm.
Now she was a strong woman who’d risen from those hard times.
She channelled the anger in her fight. While her clothes might not be made for combat, her trainers helped her bounce around.
Back before she’d met Johnny, everyone always said her skill at staying nimble kept her from getting caught.
Molly found an opening and kneed the eejit again, straight in his balls. More than any other trained move, this one gave her immense satisfaction, especially when the man crumpled to the floor. You’ve got a weak spot right between your legs. Protect that first.
She didn’t have time to waste on this bastard. Molly found two fuckers holding Leo down for Johnny. No way in hell was she letting Johnny get Leo like a school bully. No, Johnny was her battle to fight.
She looked down at the squirming man, then reached for his belt buckle. He tried to fight her, but Molly rolled her eyes. Shut up. I’m not interested in that.
She unbuckled his belt from around him and stomped down on his torso so he’d stop bellowing. Then holding the belt in her grip, she ran for Johnny.
An important lesson in combat: use whatever tools you needed. The belt would do—in fact, it would be fucking poetic.
Johnny was so focused on Leo, he didn’t deem her a threat. Not until Molly whipped the belt across his back.
He cursed, turning to face her. You bitch!
She grinned. Let’s try this on bare skin, shall we? So you get to experience it too.
He flew at her, spittle flying from his mouth.
But the blood roaring in her ears cut his vitriol out.
She focused on her breathing, preparing for the fight.
When he reached close enough, she feigned hitting him with the belt again and instead delivered a strong roundhouse kick to his side.
And when that distracted him, she smacked the belt buckle-first in his face.
Blood exploded even as Johnny gripped his face. Fuck! he screamed again.
Not so pretty, now, is it, you bastard? Molly dropped the belt and went at him with her fists and kicks.
Johnny tried to fight back, but she didn’t give him a moment to rest. For someone who worked in security, Johnny didn’t hold up to her attacks. She used all her pent-up rage, envisioning all the times when he’d made her feel less than to go at him.
The images and memories of the past flashed through her brain with every punch.
Him hurting her, him calling her all sorts of names, abuse she wanted to forget, scars that would never leave her body or her heart.
The pain he’d caused Rose, the scared child who’d clung onto her mother as she cried, not knowing what was wrong.
The terror they’d both lived with. And the belittled human being he’d spit out on the other side.
Every time he’d tried to make her less, to change her into his submissive bitch, a person Molly wasn’t.
No one to hide behind now, is there? No one who’s weaker than you, you arsehole. She didn’t realise Johnny had curled up on the floor in a bid to protect himself from her punches. Hell, she didn’t realise her knuckles were bloody.
Not until gentle but firm hands pulled her away. That’s enough, honey. He can’t do anything to you anymore.
Leo.
He’s done for, Leo continued, hugging her from behind. You fought. You won. And we’ve got his people rounded up. Between them, the papers Knox gave me, Alasdair’s intel, and, I’m sure, evidence on Craig’s and Johnny’s devices, we have enough to put them away. You’re fucking brilliant, Molly.
She had done it. She had literally battled against her demons. And here she was, alive and free to live. It’s done?
Her legs buckled, but Leo was there to catch her, hold her. Molly, I’m so sorry for the way I acted. For leaving you and Rose behind.
She rested her head on his chest and shut her eyes.
I wish I could say you owe us. But in love, don’t you hold the other person when they need your support and vice versa?
You were there for me at my lowest. You showered your love, kindness, and care on me and my daughter.
Molly turned around and was almost stunned to see tears leaking down Leo’s cheeks.
She reached out and swiped them. Honey, you’re the best thing that happened to me.
Just promise me, next time, when the demons get too much, you won’t run away.
You have Rose and me. Find safety with us. Please.
Leo shut his eyes and sucked in a breath. Does that mean you’re not leaving?
Molly laughed, the sound almost like a happy sob. I don’t think I have it in me. And nor does Rose. We both need you in our lives.
He leaned his forehead against hers. I can’t promise I won’t mess up, but I’ll try my damnedest best. I love you. I love Rose. So, so much.
Oh, she knew how much they meant to him. The feeling’s mutual, Leo. I love you too. And Rose… I believe Rose has loved you from the get-go.