CHAPTER FOUR #2
She scooted up the couch holding her throat and gasping more in fear then pain.
Her adrenaline was pumping so that hadn’t set in yet.
Then she scrambled over the end of the sofa and stood up.
She was angry, hurt and in shock. “No one touches me Richard!” She yelled at him.
In that instant Lance burst in the room, then paused taking in the scene.
Mavis came in behind him wringing her hands in worry. “Oh dear!”
“What the fuck? Tam?”
She quickly stepped around the couch and the broken shards from the lamp and ran to him. He gathered her in his arms.
“Jesus. Mavis called me in a panic. Are you okay?” He tilted her face up and saw the beginnings of a bruise on her cheek. His legendary reserved expression dissolved into fury. “That son of a bitch!”
“I’m okay.”
He went to walk past her and she grabbed his jacket to stop him. He turned and looked at her.
“I am fine, please don’t hurt him.” She had never seen him this angry, or angry at all. Despite his visible rage his voice was calm when he spoke next.
“Mavis, call the police,” he said with his eyes on Tammy.
“Yes Mr. Hartley.” She turned to go until Tammy’s voice stopped her.
“No, please don’t.” Mavis paused looking back and forth at the two of them.
“Tammy, the prick struck you!” There was some leakage of fury with that accusation.
She had to hand it to him. His self-control was impeccable. If it was Colton there would be nothing left of Richard by now.
“No—I mean yes, but there’s something wrong with him.” She pointed at Richard who was still on the floor writhing and moaning. “He doesn’t look right—or acting right.”
“Yes, because he’s a bloody sadist and a misogynist!” He shot a warning look in the man’s direction.
“No, I mean yes, but I think he’s on something. I’ve seen patients like this before. Addicts.”
He looked over her head at the man on the floor again and narrowed his eyes as if studying him for a moment.
Then he returned his attention to her, cupped her head and tilted it up to study the bruise forming.
It was as if he was contemplating his actions by the damage done to her. “I’m okay Lance.”
He sighed not believing her. “Stay here.” Lance finally released her and went up to Richard, bent down, and gripped his arm.
“Get up, you sack of shit.” He helped him stand and thrust him in a chair with enough force to make the chair nearly flip over backwards.
He cried out again. “If you move, I’ll fucking kill you.
Do you understand?” Richard managed to sit straight after a moment and nodded still breathing heavy from the pain in his groin.
Lance leaned over and looked at his eyes. “Dilated as hell. What did you take?”
He shook his head and his eyes went to Tammy.
“Tammy will be the last one you can look to for help now. This is my house. You have two options here Cavanaugh. I send you to jail for assault, or you fess up and I get you help.”
He nodded and bowed his head. “I—I don’t know what I took. I got something from a friend. Some pills. I drank a little. I was upset. I don’t feel so great now.”
“Stupid bastard.” He stood and pulled out his phone to make a call. “You’re going to the hospital before you vomit on my expensive oriental rug. I should just throw you in the damn gutter for what you did to Tammy. Be thankful she’s here. I wouldn’t be so gracious.”
Richard’s eyes went to Tammy.
She folded her arms across her chest and stared back at him unafraid. One of her brows rose to say ‘he’s right’. She could see that he regretted what he did, but she wasn’t going to forgive him until he got help and was really sorry for his actions.
“Mavis, get Tammy some ice for that cheek,” he ordered before speaking to someone on the phone.
Tammy was certain she heard him say Vern’s name.
“Yes sir.” Mavis hurried past Tammy to do as her boss said.
“Tam—kitchen!” he demanded curtly.
She sighed and dropped her arms. She wouldn’t disobey him.
He was like a lit fuse right now and knew it was really difficult for him to not explode.
Richard invaded his home and assaulted her right under his nose.
She knew it bothered him. Then she’d asked him to be lenient and he was.
Another difficult thing for him to do, but out of respect for her, he was. God, he was amazing.
After Vern showed up Lance spoke to him quietly across the room so Tammy couldn’t hear. Vern then walked over to Richard, bent down and spoke softly. Richard nodded quickly not taking his eyes off the man. Then he dragged Richard off none too gently.
Tammy was really curious on what Vern said to Richard to make him look frightened, but she decided to stay out of it now. She’d already asked Lance to take it easy on him and knew he was going to stick to that. Besides her cheek hurt too much to think anymore.
She was sitting on a stool at the kitchen counter with a bag of ice against it to try and decrease the swelling, thanks to Mavis, who looked incredibly guilty.
Tammy had already told her that she didn’t know this was going to happen, and it wasn’t her fault.
The woman nodded but it didn’t seem to ease the guilty expression.
After Mavis left, she lowered her head in her hand still clutching the small bag of ice in the other. About ten minutes later, she heard footsteps approach her. Lance. Then she felt his warm fingers under her chin.
“Sorry I took so long. I had to call my appointment and explain why I left halfway through a meeting without a word. It’s a good thing I was only a few minutes away at a coffee shop.
” Tilting her head up, he moved the bag aside and examined it for a moment before putting it back. He cursed under his breath.
“Do you think he’ll be okay?”
He narrowed his eyes angrily. “Vern can handle him. He’s ex-marine.”
She smiled, “I meant Richard.”
“I know who you meant.” He could barely keep the anger out of his voice.
“You are a good man Lance.”
“It’s only because you asked me. I should have Vern take him out back and shoot him.” He paused trying to get control of his temper. “That’s going to leave a nasty bruise. It’s already swollen. It takes a damn coward to hit a woman.” He clenched his jaw.
“It does. He wasn’t in his right head.” She knew Lance held back for her. If it were up to him, he probably would have beaten the snot out of him, and then called the cops.
“That’s like saying guns kill people, not the people that pull the trigger.”
“I’ve dealt with worse as a nurse. I had a ninety-five year old Alzheimer patient kick me square in the chest once. I flew back against the wall. It near knocked me out.”
“He couldn’t help himself Tammy. There’s a difference.” He shook his head and cupped her face in his hands. “This was in my home.”
“I understand. I really do. I’m so sorry. I know you feel responsible for this, but I’m a big girl. I’ve learned to look after myself.”
“He’s going to get help whether he wants it or not.” He sat on the adjacent stool facing her. Concern still etched in his handsome features.
“I appreciate what you could do for him. Maybe it will make him a better person.”
“Sure it will,” he said doubtfully. “Look, even though I love the fact you wear your heart on your sleeve for people, this is not one of those times. If Mavis hadn’t called, I wouldn’t have come home on time. She’s too damn little to even help you. God only knows what he would have done.”
She felt her heart skip a beat. He really loved that about her? “God bless Mavis.” She tried making light of the situation, but he didn’t bite.
“She feels guilty that she allowed him up, but she honestly doesn’t know who your friends are in New York.”
“Please tell her it’s not her fault. I tried, but she still looks guilty.”
“I did. I also informed her not to let anyone else in without my consent.”
She was surprisingly fine with that.
“Are you certain you are okay?” His hard expression softened.
She nodded. “Honestly. No trauma here. I’m fine.”
“Hell, you are a tough gal.”
She grinned at the compliment, then winced a little.
He stared at her for a moment shaking his head.
“What?”
“No trauma, huh?”
She shook her head.
“Not even a little?” Finally the semblance of a smile showed on his handsome face.
“Nope.” Okay, so her cheek hurt a bit, but he was referring to psychological aspect, not physical.
She was honestly over the incident. Yes, Richard was a jerk, but when he came down off whatever he was on, she was certain he’d feel a bit remorseful.
However, it didn’t matter to her. She stopped caring about him years ago.
It was the nurse in her that cared about him as a human being that advocated for him.
Out of respect for her, Lance complied. Hopefully Richard will get through this.
Lance reached over between her knees and gripped the edge of the stool she was perched on.
Then he pulled it toward him until her knees were on either side of one of his.
Then further until his knee was between her thighs.
Her eyes went from the intimate position to his own. She tilted her head in question.
“I know I promised you I’d let you take the lead, but I think hell would freeze over first.”
“I’m working up the courage,” she practically stammered out. Yes, it was true. She was sober now, and he seemed so untouchable again.
“Well, you suck at that and I’m getting impatient.”
She let a small nervous laugh escape. “Did you undress me?”
“Hmm. You don’t’ remember?”
“I remember bits.” He had a gleam of mischief in his eyes. It made her stomach flip-flop. Now she wasn’t sure if he did or not.
“Wouldn’t you like to know?”
“I would.” God , if it was him, what did he think? Would her body be categorized under a long list, and years of experience? Oh, why did she have to be so insecure around him?