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I see the linemen by the door, smiling at each other as it closes.
Fuck no.
I can’t believe this. What was I thinking leaving her alone at a crowded party? I wasn’t.
I push the thoughts away. I need to get to her.
When we get to the door, one of the guys steps forward, but I immediately slam him into the wall. The other catches my arm as I try to open the door, but before I can spin and punch his smug face, Sarah steps up, slams her stiletto into his foot, then elbows him in the solar plexus as he lets out a girlish scream. With a couple of well-timed punches, Miles incapacitates the first guy as Joel steps up next to Sarah.
“Go,” he says to me.
I don’t need another word.
I’m through the door in a second, eyes moving rapidly, taking in the situation. Rae is in a ball on the floor, and Mike Thomas is hovering over her, belt buckle undone. He grabs her hair, trying to pull her up.
I’ll fucking kill him.
“Get off her,” I shout, throwing him against the wall. He’s shocked and doesn’t react.Perfect.I slam my fist into his face. Once. Twice. Then his ribs. Over and over again.Fuck him.He groans and tries to push me back, but I deliver another hit to his jaw.
Then I hear the softest whimper.
Rae.
Spinning back around, my eyes lock on her, my heart pounding.
I need her safe.
Leaving Mike with Miles, Joel, and Sarah—who each take their turns laying into him—I squat down in front of Rae and gently touch her arm. She bristles, but then her head shoots up, eyes wide. Even in the worst of moments, she can feel the electricity of our connection.
“Hey, Beautiful,” I say, locking my eyes on hers, trying to let her know she’s safe. “Let’s get out of here.” I quickly slide one arm under her bent knees and wrap the other around her back. She always jokes that I do this as often as I can because I like carrying her. She’s not wrong. But I never thought I’d be carrying her like this for such a shitty reason.
I pull her tight to my chest as I make my way out of the room. People are running around like maniacs as sirens approach in the distance. Rae’s gaze moves around the room, then snaps to me.
“I’m sorry,” she whispers.
I stop in my tracks and look into her eyes. “Don’t you dare.”
It wasn’t her fucking fault. I shouldn’t have left her alone. But more importantly, that guy should never have fucking touched her.
I continue through the house, exhaling as we make it to the front porch and Mackie pulls up in the Durango. I exchange a glance with Sarah, who gives me a brief nod. In the midst of all the chaos, she made sure we had a safe way out.
“Let’s get the hell out of here,” Mackie calls out the window.
I climb into the back row, positioning Rae on my lap. She’s shaking, and her breath is shuddery.
I wrap my arms around her and whisper, “You’re safe now.”
She meets my eyes, but still looks panicked.
As Mackie starts down the road, Sarah leans over the back of her seat, eyes frantically rolling over Rae.
“Did he touch you anywhere?”
Rae blinks a couple of times, then swallows before sputtering, “He—um—I don’t—he—”
“Hey,” I say forcefully, “give her a few minutes.”
Sarah’s face softens and she nods. “Right. Sorry.” She looks down at Rae. “I’m sorry, baby.” She reaches out and touches Rae’s thigh, but Rae jumps as tears fill her eyes.
