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Everything he’s saying is true, and I know it, but I still want to see this piece of shit behind bars for what he did to my girl. “Fine,” I say through clenched teeth.
“I’ll go talk to Emree,” Mateo says, leaving us to head out the emergency exit on the side.
While we wait for Mateo to come back, I don’t take my eyes away from Mark. My blood boils seeing him as he comes to. His nose is bleeding, eye swollen, and his lip is busted up. I wish I had done more damage because he deserves it. Anyone who touches a woman like he was deserves worse.
A figure approaches from down the hallway and Mateo comes into view. His shirt is damp now and he shakes off some water from his hair. It must be raining out now. I want nothing more than to go out to Maddox’s truck and get my girl and take her home and away from everything that just happened.
Mateo looks at me. “Emree says she just wants to leave. She’s really shaken up, man.”
Walking over to Mark, who is still coming to after passing out, and his friends, it takes everything in me not to go after him again. “You’re a piece of shit human and I hope you rot in hell. All of you.”
My teammates follow me out to the truck. The rain pouring down on us barely registers to me as I try to get to Blaire as fast as I can. Not wanting to scare her, I slowly open the door to the back seat. She’s lying there with her head in Emree’s lap, soft sniffles coming from her.
Emree turns to me but remains running her fingers through Blaire’s hair. “Hey.”
I muster up a smile, words seeming to be lost on me at the moment.
“I need to go inside and get our stuff.” She looks down at Blaire. “You okay if I leave Camden here with you?”
I hold my breath, waiting for any kind of response from her.
After a few seconds, she nods.
Lifting herself up, Blaire sits in the seat and pulls her legs up to her chest, wrapping her arms around them. Emree exits the truck and I take her place, not sure if pulling Blaire to me is a good idea or not. Before shutting the door, I hear Emree talking to the guys about Garrett telling them she’s good to leave early.
I fidget with my fingers in my lap, avoiding the spots on my right hand with open wounds. “Blaire, baby, I don’t know whether it would help to hold you or make it worse, but I really want to pull you to me right now.”
With sad eyes, she looks up at me. Even with her black mascara smeared and her eyes red and puffy from crying, she is the most beautiful woman I have laid eyes on. She reaches forward and in the next second I have her in my lap, clutching her to me so tight I’m afraid I’ll hurt her.
“I’m so sorry I wasn’t there sooner, baby,” I whisper into her ear. She shivers and her hold around my neck tightens.
Hearing the soft cries and feeling her shaking body against mine makes me want to go back in there and beat the shit out of Mark some more. It’s not like he wouldn’t deserve it. Men like that are scum and the world would be a better place without them. I think of my mom and sister and how if anyone touched them, I would end up in jail for murder. Maybe it’s because I grew up in a house of only women most of my life, but I have this fierceness to protect them. Like Blaire. I’ve never treated a woman like trash, maybe sometimes a little harsh if they come on a little too strong or annoy me, but scaring or forcing myself on someone like Mark was doing tonight is never okay.
The driver’s side door opens, causing Blaire to stiffen and clutch my T-shirt tighter. I run a soothing hand down her back. Maddox comes in holding Blaire’s purse, setting it down on the passenger’s seat.
“Mateo and Levi are going to ride with Emree. We heading toward the house or her apartment?”
Lifting Blaire’s face from where she has it nestled in my neck, I look into her eyes. “Blaire, baby, I don’t want you alone tonight. Can I take you back to my house? You can shower and I’ll make you something warm to drink. Hot chocolate or tea?”
Many seconds go by as she stares at me. The tears have subsided, but her eyes are still puffy and red. She nods and tucks her head back to where it was before. Wrapping my arms around her back, I hold her to me tightly, thankful she said yes because I don’t think I would have been able to handle being away from her right now.
Nobody says a word as we drive the fifteen minutes to the house. Some eighties rock music plays softly in the background, but I don’t think Maddox is even paying attention since this isn’t something he usually listens to.
Emree’s blue Honda Civic is parked on the street and she is waiting outside with Mateo. Conrad’s car is gone and I’m cursing inside because I don’t want the drama I know will unfold when he comes home. My idiot roommate went on a date tonight and none of us had the heart to tell Blaire when she asked us where he was. Whatever is going on with Emree and Conrad will need to wait because my priority is Blaire.
After Maddox parks in the driveway and gets out with Blaire’s purse, handing it to Emree, I rub Blaire’s back. “Baby, we’re here. Do you want me to carry you in?”
She shakes her head against my chest. “No, I can walk.”
After she detangles herself from me, we both exit the truck. Blaire’s hand never leaves mine and when I step down, she wraps both her arms around mine, holding herself close. I kiss the side of her head, reassuring her I’m here.
As we pass our friends, Blaire keeps her head down. There is sadness and sympathy written all over their faces and I’m glad she isn’t seeing that because I feel like it would make her feel even worse.
After kicking our shoes off at the front door, we enter my room, and she takes a seat on the end of my bed and stares down at her hands in her lap. “I can feel his hands on me,” she whispers.
My fists clench at my sides and I try not to let her see the anger in me. Taking a deep breath, I walk over and squat down so we are at eye level. “Why don’t you take a shower and I’ll get you something to sleep in?”
She nods.
