Chapter Two
He’s here, he’s here, he’s here! I couldn’t breathe, falling to my knees on the carpet as I clawed at my throat, the knocking on my door for the third or fourth time sending another wave of panic through my chest. He’d found me. He’d kill me.
“Miss? Are you in there?”
I tried to speak, but all that came out was a raw scratchy sound that barely registered for me, so there’s no way whoever it was heard it.
“Are you okay in there?”
Oh god. I fell face first onto the carpet as the panic overwhelmed me, and the room started to dim. No! No! Don’t pass out. He’ll get in. He’ll catch me while I’m unprepared, and I’ll be dead. This time he’ll kill me.
Henley
I’ve never driven so fast in a fucking car as I did just then. I leapt from the car, my phone in my hand, and ran into the hotel lobby, ignoring reception as I ran for the stairs. There was no time to wait for a fucking lift, and it was only one floor up. The priority was getting there fast.
“Yo, Henley! Wait up!” I didn’t hesitate, keeping up my fast pace, but feeling the cooling calmness of knowing I had backup, as Rocket followed behind me, and I could hear a third set of feet thundering behind us, but had no idea who.
My eyes were firmly facing forward, and focused on the path ahead. The route to take me to Glory.
There was a fucker in dark clothes at her door, and I didn’t even hesitate. I landed hard on him, grinding his face into the carpet as he tried protesting, and that’s as far as I got before I was dragged away from him, and Rocket shoved me at the door.
“Look after her. We’ve got this.” They were dragging the guy away, but I could already make out his protests. He worked here at the hotel. He was a hotel worker.
They released him about the same time I realised that, and I felt a twinge of guilt at the raw skin on the side of his face, where I’d probably given him a carpet burn when I took him down.
“I… I was checking… she hasn’t come out of…”
“You fucking idiot!”
I lifted a hand, shushing the guy I now recognised as Stag, and turned to hold it out to the staff guy.
“You got a key?”
“Huh?”
I pointed at the door with my other hand.
“Key. Now.”
He shook his head frantically. “I can’t! I can’t access without permission, and I don’t… don’t know you! You could be whatever she’s afraid of.”
I glanced back at the door, cold fear trickling down my spine.
“Did she answer?”
“Huh?”
“Did she answer the fucking door?”
He shook his head. “I heard sounds, but no, she didn’t call out or anything.”
“Fuck! What if something’s happened to her?” I ran back to the door, thudding my fist against it, wondering if I could kick the fucking thing in.
“Glory! Glory, sweetheart! It’s okay, I’m here. Can you let me in?”
I heard Rocket murmuring to the guy and the next thing he appeared beside me.
“Promise you’re not here to hurt her?”
My shoulders sagged as I rested my forehead against the door, surprised I could hear a damn thing over the roaring of my heart, which seemed to fill my ears as well as burning the centre of my chest.
“Please. My god. She’s on the run from an abusive asshole. I’m… I’m her best… friend…”
The guy hesitated for a moment, holding out the key as he swallowed hard.
“If this is the wrong thing, I’m… oh god, just do it.”
He slotted the key into the reader, and the light pinged green, while I instantly pushed it open, and my eyes hit the still form on the floor.
“FUCK! Get a doctor! Fuck! Glory, sweetheart, I’m here. Babe, I’m here.”
I dropped down onto the carpet, stroking my fingers through her dark hair, leaning close to see if she was breathing, even though I still felt deafened by the roaring in my ears.
“Fuck! Is she okay?”
The staff guy was already on the room phone, and Stag had stayed outside, but Rocket was on his knees beside me.
I realised they weren’t wearing their cuts, and like an idiot, I was.
Fuck. That meant the Phoenix colours were on display during this drama that could bring the wrong fucking attention to the club.
“Glory?” I eased my cut off and passed it to Rocket, as I leaned down and rolled Glory over, a soft sob leaving her throat as her eyes popped open.
The second she focused on me, and realised she was safe, she started to cry.
Not little sobs, but loud gasping wails that sounded like they were tearing her chest apart.
I lifted her, pulling her into my lap, and cradled her against my chest as she broke my heart, and probably everyone else’s in earshot.
We heard raised voices outside the room, and Stag leaned in.
“First aider is here, but it’s a guy. What am I doing with him?”
I leaned close to Glory’s ear.
“Are you hurt, sweetheart? Did someone hurt you?” She shook her head frantically and I spoke again.
“Do you need a doc or anything?” Another vehement head shake.
“No. Tell him we’re good.”
I turned to Rocket, my arms locked firmly around Glory as she wept and hiccupped against my chest.
“I’m taking her home with me. You guys able to pack up her shit?” Rocket grimaced.
“Like underwear and stuff?” I shot him a withering glare, and he shrugged.
“Okay, fine. I shoulda brought V. She’s a vet.”
I tucked Glory’s face into my neck and stroked her hair.
“What the fuck use is that? It’s only packing? Grow up, dammit.”
He groaned, pushing up from his knees, and smoothing his jeans.
“I mean, she coulda checked your woman over.” My woman. I fucking wished.
“She’s not a pet!”
Rocket groaned, turning to the hotel guy.
“You able to get her checked out on your systems? We’re taking her with us.”
The man hesitated, stepping closer to us, even as Rocket put himself between the stranger and the two of us.
“I… you can’t just take her out of here without her consent! I don’t like this at all.”
I kissed Glory’s hair and lifted my eyes to the young staff guy’s.
“You shouldn’t. Nobody should break a person like this. I’m taking her with me, so I can keep her safe. Glory, babe, can you just confirm that’s okay so this guy doesn’t shit a brick?”
She snorted and nodded her head, latching her arms tightly around my neck, and fuck me, that’s how it feels when you become someone’s saviour. That’s how it feels to save the one you love.
“Good enough, man?”
The guy sighed. “Okay, I’ll go get it sorted. There’s probably an amount to settle.”
“You’ve got my card on file. Nathaniel Hendricks. Just bill me whatever.”
Without even being asked, Stag and Rocket followed us back to my place, offering strength in numbers that warmed my heart, but more importantly, I hope it made Glory feel safer. Nobody was getting anywhere near her with us around.
“I’m sorry I didn’t do this sooner. I’m such a dick for leaving you there alone like that.”
I turned off the engine, and grabbed my cut, which had rested on my legs as I drove. I hated it and loved it in equal measure. Hated the fact it was only a prospect cut, but loved that it was my first step toward having a new family.
“We’re here, Glory.”
She nervously lifted her head, having hidden behind her hair for the entire journey. It was like seeing her trauma literally hovering around her.
“At some point you need to talk to me, sweetheart. I’m not going to judge you, but I will judge the fuck out of him.”
She gasped, shaking her head as she unlatched her seatbelt with trembling fingers, her broken soul evident in every fucking thing she did.
The thoughts of what he did to make her like this were torturing me, because she’d been with him for years.
She had years of whatever the fuck he’d done to her.
Something had finally pushed her to leave, and I had no idea what it was, but I’d always be grateful for that step she took, with such fucking courage.
“I’ll get your door.”
I reached it in a few strides, and pulled it open, offering her a hand to get out, which she gratefully took. Rocket reached into the back of the car and grabbed her backpack, offering it out to her from the full stretch of his arms, like he was afraid of scaring her. I took it and nodded at him.
“Thanks, man. I really appreciate you guys getting there so fast.”
He grinned. “We were badgering V at work, so we were close. She’s got Nixie right now, but…” he glanced at Glory, and chewed his cheek, “does she… do you like dogs? I could bring her here to give some hugs?”
Glory lifted her head, finally a little life in those dark eyes of hers as she stared at me, then Rocket, but her eyes dipped fast, like she was afraid of too much eye contact.
“I… I love dogs,” she practically whispered, and that’s something I knew of course.
Rocket grinned. “It’s date night with V tonight, so shall I pop her around for a little pupsitting?” The fucking chancer!
“Oh, now I get why you’re offering, you cheeky bastard.”
Glory flinched against me, and I kicked myself for the millionth time because I shouldn’t be fucking startling her.
Rocket had sobered a little, tucking his hands in his pockets as he glanced back at Stag, sitting astride his own ride.
“It helps. With Caroline, and with Has-Been, during the uh… his stuff. I just thought... you know, dogs are uniquely talented at distracting us from our shit… and…”
“I get it. I’m sorry, you’re right. You want that, Glory? Want a pup to cuddle this evening?”
She nodded, hiding her face against my chest, and I think another piece of my heart fucking crumbled as I watched her hide from literally every fucking thing.
I squeezed my eyes closed, and guided her to the front door, letting her in.
“Go get settled, I just need to talk to Rocket.”
Her eyes were wide and startled, but I nodded reassuringly, or what I fucking hoped looked reassuring right now as I was losing my shit. Abandoning her in yet another unfamiliar place was a dipshit move, but I needed a moment.
I watched her step inside, and turned to walk back to Rocket, my fists clenched so tightly they burned with the pressure.
He took one look at me and nodded grimly. “He’s dead, brother. Just say the word, and he gets what he deserves. You don’t need to ask, yeah? We’re family, and we back each other.”
I tried unfolding my fingers as they practically cramped up, feeling the need to point out the brutally fucking obvious.
“I’m only a prospect right now. I get that today was a no-brainer, but something bigger than this?”
“So am I, but the fact remains. You’re a brother, and you need help. You need backup. Micro won’t even hesitate, brother.”