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“Holy shit. Are you okay? Did he—fuck. Hold on. I’m calling nine-one-one.”
I fall to the ground, curling into myself. I don’t say anything. My savior presses his hand to my shoulder, and I flinch. “Sorry, I’m not going to hurt you. You’re okay. He’s gone.” Warmth cocoons me, and I open my eyes to see he’s covered me with his jacket. “My name is Vince. What’s yours?”
I don’t answer him. I just want to disappear inside myself and never come back out. “It’s okay. I’m going to sit with you until the police come, okay? Are you hurt?”
My forehead is throbbing. Blood drips from the wound caused by the brutal impact of the brick wall, and there’s no doubt I’ll have bruises from his tight hold around my neck. But I don’t say anything. I lay in the fetal position while the stranger talks to me until we hear sirens.
***
The nurse releases the cuff on my arm, noting my blood pressure, when the door to my room crashes open, causing the poor woman to jump. Fay, my best friend, and her fiancé, Theo, storm in. The moment she gets a glimpse of me, she bursts into tears. “It’s not as bad as it looks.”
Fay throws herself at me, wrapping her arms around my neck. I groan at the burst of pain, and she quickly retreats. “Oh my god, I’m sorry—Jesus, Mindy. Did they find the guy who did this? Where are the police? Let me talk to them—”
“Fay, why don’t you get off her and take a breath?” Theo says, reaching for her, but she swats his hand away.
“Not until you tell me who did this. Are you okay? And don’t lie to me. I’ll know if you’re lying. You don’t look okay. Your neck—your forehead—” She starts choking on her own sobs.
“I’m fine.”
“You’re not fine.” She cries harder.
“I am. Thanks to Vince. He saved me. Who knows what would’ve happened. . .” My thoughts wander to the sick possibilities that could have played out if he hadn’t decided to take out his garbage at that moment.
Fay finally climbs off me, her hands going to her hips. “That’s it. You’re moving in with us.”
Here we go.
Fay, my overprotective bestie. Fay and I met a few years ago, which I always considered to be fate. She came to my bar for a blind date. The douche never showed, but it was my gain. She turned out to be this little spitfire and the most loyal person I’ve ever met. “Fay, I’mfine.”
“No, you’re not.” She turns to Theo, her rich and powerful hunk of a fiancé. Talk about a smokin’ hot love story. They met when Fay was hired as his executive assistant. He was a total asshole, but love doesn’t make sense sometimes. After a whirlwind of lies and forbidden attraction, they finally gave in and are getting married in a few months. “She’s moving in with us. And you need to find her a job. One where she’s not wandering the streets late at night.”
“Fay, I don’t need a job or a place. I have both,” I remind her.
She turns back to me. “They’re not safe. You’re not safe. Nothing is safe!” She cries harder. Geez, the girl can be dramatic.
I shake my head. “Trust me, it was just a case of wrong place, wrong time.”
She crosses her arms over her chest. “Oh yeah? And what happens next time?”
I can’t hide the fear that comes over me at the thought. “It won’t.” My voice cracks.
“That’s it. Theo, do something.”
“What? No—wait!” Before I can catch his attention, Theo pulls out his phone. “What are you doing?” I demand. He doesn’t answer me as he taps the screen and puts it to his ear.
“Craig. Theo. That protective care unit you formed? I need your best—”
“Oh, knock it off, lover boy. You can be all macho with her,” I point to Fay, “but not me. I’m perfectly fine taking care of myself. I always have been,” I finish, talking to no one. Theo doesn’t blink an eye.
“Thanks. Send me his credentials.” He hangs up.
“What the hell did you just do?” I snap.
He tucks his phone back into his suit pocket. “Hired a bodyguard.”
I scoff, and Fay looks at her man with heart eyes.
“Jesus. Call whoever that was back and tell them to cancel.”
