Chapter 22
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
IAN
When I find out who did this…
Stuffing socks in the toilets. Flushing them over and over until the entire floor is flooded. Making a huge mess that I have to clean up, instead of going home with Rose.
It’s not just foolish, it’s dangerous. Someone could have come in here, not paying attention, and fallen. Mr. Quinton could have slipped and broken a hip. And then I’d get sued.
We don’t have cameras in the locker rooms for obvious reasons, but I’m going to look at the security footage from the hallway and figure out the most likely suspects.
It has to be one of the teenagers here. I can’t imagine an adult playing a prank like that.
I hope it’s not one of the kids I know well.
Like Rex Hall, who’s the quarterback for the high school football team—he comes in five times a week in the off-season and always volunteers to help clean the weight room at the end of the evening. But if he’s having a rough time, maybe acting out…
Or Pete Simmons, who wants to learn karate because he thinks it’ll impress the girls at school. Could he have done it thinking it would seem cool to his friends?
And there are plenty of other teenagers who come here that I’m not familiar with. I try to meet all the members, but if they typically come during the times when I have classes, I may not run into them.
I suppose it could be worse. We discovered the flood before any permanent damage was done. It’s not a pleasant cleanup, but I have plenty to look forward to when I’m done. A second shower with a Rose, a late dinner and cuddling on the couch while we watch a movie, and then later, in bed, we’ll?—
A cacophony breaks in.
A shrill alarm blares.
Not from a distance, but right here .
My phone vibrates in my pocket, aggressively buzzing.
It starts ringing in urgent, staccato tones.
My heart stutters. Freezes.
Several thoughts collide at once.
Rose’s alert. Zane’s ringtone. Rose is in trouble.
Collin looks at me in alarm. “What is that?”
I don’t answer him.
Instead, I snatch up my phone and jab at it. I bark, “What’s happening? Rose’s alarm is going off!”
Already I’m running out of the locker room, leaping over puddles and dodging buckets. I sprint down the hall toward my office, hoping against hope that I’ll find Rose inside, sheepishly telling me she triggered the earring accidentally. Blushing in the cute way she does, twin spots of pink at the tops of her cheeks, her lips quirked into a tiny smile.
But once I burst into the office, I know with a sickening certainty that it was no accident.
Rose isn’t there. But her phone is.
Panicked explanations ricochet madly. She’s in the women’s locker room, hurt. Sick. She’s trapped somewhere. A member is bothering her.
Or the threat I hoped would end with Diem didn’t.
“Ian. Ian. Are you there?” A commanding voice, touched with concern. It gets louder, dragging my attention back to my phone. “Ian. Talk to me.”
“Zane. She’s not here.” Fear strains my voice. “Rose’s alert. She’s in trouble. But she’s not here .”
Oh, God. Where is she? I never should have left her alone, not even for a second.
“I know. But she’s close.” Urgency roughens his tone. “It looks like she’s behind the gym, in the back parking lot. Why would Rose be out there?”
Out back? Why?
But I don’t have time to think about it. Spinning around, I tear off back down the hall towards the rear of the building. Heart racing, lungs squeezing, cold fear icing my veins, I’ve never felt more afraid.
More afraid than at her apartment, or at the pop-up show.
Through a constricting throat, I tell Zane, “I don’t know why she’s out there. I was cleaning, she’s supposed to be in my office, she didn’t say she was leaving?—”
I take a sharp right around the corner, throwing out my hand to keep from slamming into the opposite wall. “Is she out there still? Is she moving?”
A faint sound of rapid footsteps carries over the phone. “She’s moving, but very slowly. Looks to be on foot right now. But it’s the parking lot—” Zane stops abruptly. “I’m on the way. Elle and I are out in town; I’m heading over right now. Cole and Finn are leaving B and A to assist. Wait for us?—”
“Are you fucking kidding?” The back door is in sight, and I put on an extra boost of speed to reach it. “I’m not waiting. She’s out there. I need to get to her.”
“Fuck.” Zane bites out the low curse. “Be careful. You don’t know who else is out there.”
No. I don’t. But I do know Rose is. And that’s all that matters.
“Go low and slow. Stay in the shadows.” Zane’s tone dips. “Whoever is out there, you want to take them by surprise.”
I pause at the exit door and try to will my pulse to calm. Force my breathing to slow. Whatever is happening, whatever I see out there, I can’t go off in a panic. I need to focus.
“I’m hanging up,” I tell Zane. “And heading out. Get here as fast as you can.”
Without waiting for an answer, I hang up and silence the phone before slipping it back into my pocket. Then I take a steadying breath and slowly push the door open.
At first all I see is an expanse of darkness. No lamppost shining brightly on the parking lot, illuminating the last remaining cars. No light to show evidence of any people being out here. No sign of Rose.
Then, as my eyes adjust, I can pick out the shapes of cars. The thick swathe of trees in the distance.
It’s quiet, save for the sounds of crickets and peepers.
Fuck. Where is she? All Zane said was in the back parking lot. What if she’s already gone? Or she’s out there, badly hurt?
Instinct tells me to call out for Rose, and I almost do it. But I bite it back, clenching my jaw until my teeth grind together, reminding myself of Zane’s words. Low and slow. Take them by surprise.
Then I hear something.
It’s faint. From a distance. Low and rough. Angry.
“Don’t worry. We’ll get all these dangerous ideas out of your head, Rose. I have the perfect place to do it.”
Relief wars with rage.
Rose is out there.
But so is someone else. A man. And I don’t know what he’s done to her.
The primal, protective part of me demands instant action. To sprint across the parking lot—now that I have a direction to focus on, I can see the large shape, a van, at the edge of the lot—and threaten him. Demand that he get away from Rose.
But instead, I slink along the back of the building until I hit the side of the lot. Then I start running alongside it, keeping myself hidden at the edge of the treeline. If I can stay undetected until I reach the back of the lot, flank him, just get close enough…
The man hisses a low curse. “Dammit. Rose. Are you okay?”
Fear steals my breath. What did he do to her?
A soft sound carries toward me, a whimper of pain. Then, “Reed, please. Don’t.”
Oh, God.
What is he doing to her?
This is taking too long. I’m not close enough.
But I’m close enough to see. Two figures; one large, one small. The larger one has an arm looped around the smaller—oh, my Rose, she’s hurt, I can tell from how she’s slumped against him—and he’s dragging her toward the van.
NO.
Just NO.
I know Blade and Arrow is on the way, but I’m not letting him take her.
Fury speeds my steps, and in seconds I’m crouched in front of the van, just out of view.
Now what?
I have to engage him without letting Rose get hurt again.
I hold my breath, letting this man—this fucker —get even closer.
Just a little further. That’s all I need.
Close enough for me to land a kick. Close enough to strike him.
Then he’s at the side of the van, messing with the sliding door, muttering in annoyance as he tries to hold Rose up at the same time.
As I peer around the front bumper, I see them. In the moonlight, Rose’s face shines darkly. She’s stumbling, pushing at the man holding her, but her movements are weak and unsteady.
And him. Scruffy beard, glasses, average weight and size. There’s nothing distinguishing about his appearance, I could pass him in the street and never notice him.
“Come on, Rose,” he grumbles, but worry laces his tone. “I didn’t hit you that hard.”
He hit her. Hurt her. And now he’s trying to take her.
Rage floods my body, an inferno of fury.
Now. All my muscles tense, and all my intention channels into one purpose. To stop him from hurting Rose again.
I come around the corner of the car, rising from my crouch, and I move toward him. My tone is deadly as I growl, “ Take your hands off her .”
He jerks in shock, his eyes flaring. “You!”
I pin him with my gaze. “Yes. Me .”
Rose blinks at me, her gaze refocusing. Relief washes over her face, quickly followed by fear. “ Ian . He has a gun?—”
“I’ll shoot you,” the man—Reed? Is that what she called him?—says somewhat desperately. In a flash of silver, he lifts his gun and points it at me. “I’ll shoot you.” A pause, and his voice rises. “And her.”
“No you won’t.” I infuse confidence in my voice and shove down the choking fear. I don’t think he wants to shoot Rose, not from the way he keeps looking at her, but I can’t be sure . So I need to get him away from her.
My brain ticks through the moves. Throat punch. Hook punch. Once he’s stunned, grab Rose and get her behind me. Arm chop to disarm him. Leg sweep to knock him down. Arm bar. Choke hold.
The gun wavers as Reed yanks Rose up and in front of him. Desperation and determination are written all over his face. “You can’t touch me without hurting her. And if you don’t back off, I’m going to shoot you.”
“No!” Rose starts wriggling in his grip, her fear chasing away the lingering confusion. “Don’t hurt him. I’ll go with you. Just don’t?—”
He goes shrill. “Stop it, Rose!”
“It’s okay, hun.” I try to force a calm I’m not feeling. “It’s going to be okay. Just stop moving.” I can’t take the chance of striking Rose instead of Reed.
“No, please!” Tears are in her voice, breaking my heart. “Reed. Please. Don’t hurt him?—”
Then abruptly, her sentence cuts off. Her eyes flutter shut, and she sags like a puppet with all her strings cut.
Reed yelps, “Rose!” as he clutches at her limp body, trying to keep her from falling to the ground.
My heart stops.
No. Rose.
Enough of this. I need to get her help. Now .
And she’s given me the opportunity to do it. With Reed’s attention on Rose, I have the opening I need.
No hesitation, no checking my blows. The intent is to disable and disarm, but if I kill him, I’m okay with that, too.
As his gaze dips back to Rose, I attack, just as I envisioned it.
Muscle memory takes over; my mind already two steps ahead—planning for any possible defense, complication, anything I might need to do to compensate.
But it’s not necessary. Reed is no match for my skills and determination. Or my anger.
In a flurry of moves, he’s on the ground, groaning.
I have Rose laid out behind me, and I’m desperate to go to her. To hold her. To beg her to be okay. But I have this fucking asshole pinned and until Zane or the other B and A guys show up…
Like I conjured them, a pair of headlights comes racing at me. The SUV comes to a screeching stop and Zane leaps out, leaving it still running. He approaches at a jog, coming down to his knees beside me. Wryly, he says, “Damn, Ian. Are you sure you needed help?”
I practically shove the half-conscious Reed at him. “Rose. She’s hurt.”
He casts a quick glance over my shoulder. “Yes. But I think she’s going to be okay.”
How can he know that?
But when I turn around, I see why.
Rose is sitting up, holding her hand to her cheek, her eyes huge and scared, but not unconscious as I feared. “Ian?” Her voice has a little waver to it. “Is it over?”
“Oh, Rose.” Tears burn behind my eyes, and my throat goes thick. I rush over and gather her into my arms. “Oh, hun, I’m so sorry.” I cup her injured cheek gently, feeling sick at the violent swelling and the blood still seeping from a cut on her cheekbone. “I’m so sorry you got hurt.”
“It’s not your fault. You couldn’t have known.”
Another set of headlights join Zane’s. Doors shut, and more footsteps move toward us. Finn joins Zane, adding another set of handcuffs to the already restrained Reed, telling him darkly, “Ian’s a black belt. In six different martial arts. So maybe you shouldn’t have messed with his girlfriend.”
Cole jogs over, crouching down beside us. “I can take a look,” he says gently to Rose. “Since I’m a medic. Before the ambulance comes. Just to see where you’re hurt.”
I should let him look at Rose. But I can’t seem to let go of her.
I press my lips to her forehead, closing my eyes for a second. “I should have been there, Rose. I’m so sorry.”
“No.” She leans against me, still shaking, but her voice is soft and certain. “You came. And you stopped him.”
Not soon enough.
As I force myself to shift Rose in my arms so Cole can take a look at her face, I tell him, “She was unconscious. For at least a couple of minutes.”
His jaw tightens and he gives me a quick nod. “Okay. A concussion at least, then.”
“I wasn’t.” Rose touches my arm. “It was a trick.” She holds my gaze. “I thought it might help. To distract him.”
Oh, God. This feeling in my chest. Love and admiration and pride and this intense emotion beyond anything I can describe.
“Rose.” My eyes go damp, and I can’t speak for a moment. Then I finally force out, “I love you so much.”
As sirens and flashing lights approach, Cole rises to greet them. Rose cuddles into my arms and leans her uninjured cheek on my chest. “It was him all along,” she whispers. “The studio. My hand. The attack at my apartment. He planned it all.”
The fuck?
“He wanted to take me with him. I’m not sure where.” Her small hand clutches my shirt. “He thought I wouldn’t fight back. But I did.”
There are so many things to untangle here. Reed. What he wanted from Rose. Why he hurt her to get it. How she fought back. Her injuries. And the trauma I know she suffered.
But in this moment, all I care about is holding the woman I love, and feeling so damn thankful she’s here.
Cuddling Rose to me, I kiss the top of her head. Then I stand, still holding her in my arms, and walk toward the ambulance, now pulling up. “I’m so proud of you,” I murmur into her hair. “Now let’s get you looked at, and then back home, so I can take care of you. Okay?”
There’s a pause, then a little sniffle. “That’s all I want. Just to go home with you.”
Home. With my Rose.
I’ve never been more grateful in my life.