Every one of my muscles stiffened. “Goodyear shot someone?”
She nodded. “Bronco.”
Hell, I knew the older fighter. He was a decent enough guy.
“I don’t know how badly he was hurt. Gloria, his girlfriend, was unconscious. They were carrying her, but she was bleeding.” Lili’s lip trembled.
I couldn’t stop myself from reaching out and cupping her face. “You’re safe now.”
She pushed into my palm, and my gut knotted. I didn’t think she even realized she’d done it.
That’s when I realized Landon was eyeing me.
I pulled back.
“Lili, I need to check your face,” Landon said. “Someone hit you?”
She nodded. “It’s not bad.”
“I’m the doctor, so I get to be the judge of that.”
“It was Goodyear’s men, when they locked me up before the fight.” Her shoulders slumped. “I can’t believe my dad did this. He’s never been father of the year, but…”
I felt her pain and my hand curled into a fist. I’d make Brock Armstrong regret his fucking bad decision to sell his own daughter.
“I did everything for him.” Color filled her cheeks. “I cleaned, cooked, helped run his gyms.”
Because she wanted her father’s attention. His love.
“I tried to leave once…” Her voice trailed off.
Armstrong had stopped her. My rage was a dark, twisted thing.
“Cole.”
I jerked my head up at Landon. With his dark gaze, he warned me to get a grip on it. I nodded, then focused back on Lili. “He can’t stop you. You can leave now.”
She blinked.
“Tomorrow, I’ll get your car and things, and make sure you leave Las Vegas safely.”
“You’ve done so much for me.”
What she didn’t know was that I’d do so much more to see her safe.
Landon patted her knee. “You’re doing fine. Pulse is a little fast, but that’s to be expected. Nothing in your face is broken and I’m not seeing much swelling. You shouldn’t get much bruising.”
“Thanks, Landon.” She smiled.
I stared at her face. She was so damn pretty and when she smiled, she lit up.
“You’re very welcome, Lili.” He rose. “It was nice to meet you.” He glanced at me again. “I hope wherever you end up next, you’re happy.”
“Me, too.”
“I’ll let myself out.”
When the front closed, Lili pulled my jacket around her shoulders again. “He seems like he’s used to checking in on people at all hours of the night.”
