Chapter 7 Piper
Piper
One minute, I’d been striding down the sidewalk, barely aware of the snow or cold because I’d been so angry at Chance.
So angry, sad, and disappointed because he’d asked me for money. Again.
I’m in a bind, Pipe. You have a cushy job. Help me out.
A cushy job? A job I worked so hard at. A job I sacrificed a personal life for. A job that ensured our mother and grandmother were taken care of.
God, I shouldn’t have been surprised he’d asked.
Now, Chance was the last thing on my mind.
Someone had grabbed me from behind and dragged me into a dark, dirty alley.
I kicked and fought. The guy was half dragging me, half carrying me. God, this was Windward. I’d lived in the biggest cities in the world and not been attacked once.
Panic was hot and slick inside me. My pulse raced and I jerked again, trying to get free.
I felt his hold slipping on my arm, and I wrenched my body away.
He cursed as I yanked out of his hold.
Adrenaline surged inside me. I tried to run, but took one step and the thin heel of my boot slipped.
No. The damn snow. I landed hard on my hands and knees. My palms stung and wet soaked into my skin. I’d forgotten to put my gloves on.
Then my attacker grabbed a fistful of my coat and dragged me backward. I felt the skin on my knees and palms rip. I cried out.
He hauled me up.
My captor spun me and slammed my back to the brick wall.
I saw his face, cloaked by the shadows, and my stomach clenched. He had a puckered scar on his cheek that had healed badly. His dark hair was buzzed very short, and his pale eyes looked like chips of ice. My guess was that he was in his late thirties or early forties.
He shoved me again, and all I tasted was terror.
Then he lifted something, and I whimpered. A knife. He pressed the blade to the side of my neck.
“Be still or I’ll cut you.”
I felt the sting of it on my skin.
“I dropped my purse,” I pushed out. “I have some cash.”
“I don’t want your cash.”
His words sent a chill through me and I swallowed against the lump in my throat. God, was he going to rape me?
I shifted and the knife pushed harder against my skin. I felt the slide of blood down my neck and my fear skyrocketed.
I didn’t want to be raped and murdered.
He shoved me again. “I want you to give your brother a warning.”
My brother? My brain short-circuited, I couldn’t make sense of his words.
“You tell Ellis to get what he owes to my boss, or I’ll carve a pretty little chunk out of you—” the knife pinched deeper and I cried out “—and him. Got it?”
“I…” My chest was too tight for me to get any words out.
“Hey! Get the fuck off her.”
Suddenly, a big shadow loomed over us, and then my attacker was ripped away from me. My legs turned to Jello, and I slid down the wall, my butt hitting wet snow.
There was a scuffle and a low grunt.
That’s when I saw Everett.
Everett like I’d never seen him before. His face was set in hard lines, and he swung a fist at my attacker. It connected with a hard thud, and I saw the knife hit the ground.
The men rammed into each other again.
Then, the asshole with the scarred face took two steps backward, spat on the ground, then turned and ran. His black coat flapped behind him.
I sucked in a breath, trying to calm my fear.
Everett crouched in front of me. “You okay, big city?” His gaze ran over me, then snagged on my neck. He cursed.
I swallowed. My throat felt like it was the size of a baseball. “I-I’m okay.”
“No, you’re not, but you will be.” He slid an arm around me and hauled me up. “You’re safe now. It’s okay.”
I bobbed my head. “He came out of nowhere, I—” My voice hitched.
“Hey, you’re okay. Deep breath.” With his strong arm around my body, he led me out of the alley. “You’re safe. He can’t hurt you now.”
I sniffed, hot prickles behind my eyes.
“Hold it together, Piper. Can you do that?”
“Yes.” It was a wobbly yes.
“That’s my girl. Stick me with and I’ll get you somewhere warm and safe. You’ve got this.”
He stooped down, and I realized he’d picked up my handbag and a bag of takeout in one hand. The scent of Indian food would normally be a good one, but right now, it turned my stomach.
“How did you find me?”
He kept me tucked to his side as we walked down the sidewalk. “Saw you in the restaurant with your brother. I was heading home and followed you. Wanted to make sure you were okay.”
Chance. God, this was all about Chance. What trouble was he in? What had he brought to my doorstep?
Tears threatened again and I battled them back.
Everett turned down another street, then stopped at a small complex of neat, attractive townhouses set back among some trees.
I tried to focus. Damn, my neck and palms were stinging like crazy. “This is where you live?”
“Home sweet home.”
He headed to the front door of a townhouse decorated in attractive stone, green, and touches of wood. As he pulled out his keys, the door of the neighboring townhouse opened, and I saw the shadow of a man in the doorway.
“Everett?” an older man said.
“Dad. Hey, I got dinner, but I ran into a work colleague. She took a tumble in the snow. Just need to help her out.”
“She okay?”
“She will be. Has a spine of steel, this one.”
Is that what he thought of me? Right now, I felt like a wobbly mess.
Everett handed over the takeout. “Eat without me.”
“All right. Take your time. Hope you’re all right, miss.”
I cleared my throat, not looking at Everett’s father. “Thanks.”
Everett led me inside. I knew in an instant it was his place because his scent permeated the space. I breathed in and, for some reason, felt a little steadier.
“Okay, up on a stool.” He gripped my waist and helped me onto a glossy wooden stool at the small peninsula in his kitchen.
The kitchen was compact but stylish, with excellent appliances.
The cabinets were a light gray that looked great with the white marble countertops.
It opened into a small dining area that had a round table made out of recycled wood, then into the living area.
The vaulted ceiling gave a sense of space and showcased the gorgeous fireplace of stacked stone that went all the way to the ceiling.
A big, comfy couch in a deep beige faced a fireplace and large TV.
The coffee table was also recycled wood with an interesting design.
It was oval but the base was a sinuous curve.
“I like your coffee table.”
“Thanks. I made it.”
“Made it? Like by yourself.”
His lips quirked. “With my own two hands. I like woodworking in my spare time. I made the dining room table as well.”
Wow. I was impressed. They looked like something out of a high-end boutique.
He opened a cabinet under his kitchen sink and returned with a first aid kit. I stared at it. When I was young, if Chance or I hurt ourselves, I had to put our bandages on. Mom had always been at work.
“Let me see your neck. It’s bleeding.”
“He had a knife,” I whispered. Suddenly, my vision blurred, like the walls were closing in, leaving only darkness.
“Hey, hey.” Big hands cupped my cheeks. “Big city, stay here with me. Look at me.”
My gaze locked on his. On his beautiful hazel eyes. They were a soft green and I wanted to count the gold flecks in them.
“You’re safe.”
I nodded, my breathing still shallow.
“Say it. Say, I’m with Everett and I’m safe.”
“I’m with Everett and I’m safe.”
“Good.” His thumbs brushed my cheeks. “I’m not going to let anyone hurt you.”
I nodded.
“Say it,” he murmured. “Say Everett won’t let anyone hurt me.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Everett won’t let anyone hurt me.”