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Her phone clatters, and I start sprinting. Ethan’s right on my heels. He’s still holding my phone and trying to call Rachel back.
“It’s going straight to voicemail. Fuck!”
Shoving through the door, we haul ass into the sunlight and wrench the car doors open. The tires squeal as Ethan punches out of the parking space and spins the car back toward the mall.
The trip is a tense one. We can’t talk. All Ethan can manage is a string of incomprehensible cursing while I sit there wondering who attacked them. My mind is an asshole, planting images in my head that are vile. I’m about ready to puke as I grip the dashboard, my body moving with the sway of the car as we take corners too fast and end up bolting into the parking garage.
“What level?” Ethan yells at me.
“I don’t fucking know!” I bark back. “Just drive them all and keep your eyes open.”
We find the girls on the third level.
Mikayla’s sitting on the ground, leaning against a car tire and cradling her face while Rachel crouches beside her.
The second the car stops, she whips around, the fear so stark on her face, she looks like she’s about to faint.
“Where is he?” Ethan slams out of the car. “Where the fuck is he?”
Rachel jumps up, running straight into my arms. I wrap her in a secure hug, cradling her head against my shoulder. Ethan crouches down beside Mick, obviously torn up when he eases her hands away and spots the egg on her cheekbone and blood coating her lips.
His expression is murderous, his chest heaving. He's obviously trying to rein it all in, but I'm worried he won't be able to.
“I’m fine,” she mumbles.
“You’re not fine! You’re bleeding!”
“That asshole made me bite the inside of my cheek.”
His expression buckles like the pain is his. “Look at your face.” He brushes his thumb lightly over the egg.
She flinches and moves away from him.
“I’m gonna fucking kill him.” He spins to glare at Rachel. “Who was that asshole?”
Rachel lets out a shuddering sob as she curls against me. I tighten my hold on her, firing Ethan a warning look, but Mikayla speaks for me.
“Stop yelling at her,” she grumbles. “You’re not helping.”
He whips back to no doubt yell at his girl, but the wince of pain scrunching her expression shuts him up. Instead, he lets out an agonized sigh, his voice dropping to a feather-soft whisper. “I’m gonna pick you up, okay? Get you back to the resort.”
She nods. The fact that she doesn’t put up any kind of fight speaks volumes. No sarcastic quips. No biting remarks or calling him Captain Hero.
I can see how much this worries Ethan as he scoops her into his arms and carries her to the car. “I’ve got you, lil’ mouse.” He brushes his lips across her forehead as she slumps against his chest.
“Come on,” I whisper, guiding Rachel toward the car. I can sense I need to play this gently. She’s a shaking mess, her body trembling against mine as I help her into the back seat and wrap my arm around her.
She snuggles up to me, whimpering softly as tears flow from her eyes.
“Did he hurt you?” I run my thumb across her cheek.
“He just pulled my hair.” She sniffs, wiping her cheek against my new hockey jersey. “Mick stopped him, though. She stopped him.”
I’m desperate to hear the rest of that story, but I can sense it’s time to just let Ray and Mick feel the safety of this car. They can unpack the ordeal once we’re back at the resort.
For now, Ethan and I share a dark look in the rearview mirror while we listen to our women recover after a fuckwit I am ready to end ruined our day.
CHAPTER 25
