AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Somewhere, someone had dropped something, causing a loud crash. I put the vase of flowers down, sticking the keycard in my pocket as I crept around the counter in the kitchen area of the condo, intending to move down the hall.
I promptly almost tripped over something on the floor.
Somethingbeing… someone.
Nalani.
Panic spiked in my chest at the sight of her sprawled on the floor, still dressed for work. I dropped to my knees, looking her over, trying to see what was wrong. There was a knot on her head, swollen and bloody, and when I moved my hands to her neck to check for a pulse, the bruising there, like she’d been choked, made bile rise to my throat.
And then I heard another loud thump.
I shot a text to Henry to come and tend to Nala, then I made a quick decision about my plan. Ialwayscarried protection when I was out and about and this time was no different. I pulled it from its concealed holster as I moved back to my feet, searching for the source of the sound.
I found it in her bedroom.
EJ was there, snatching drawers from the dresser and dumping them out. From the state of the room, he was clearly looking for something. I must’ve made a sound, something to draw his attention in my direction, because he looked back at me and smirked.
“Go on and take your shot, pretty boy,” he said. “Better not miss though.”
I wouldn’t miss.
But I didn’t shoot.
I grinned.
I tucked the gun back into the holster.
And then I barreled at him.
There was nothing on my mind but murder, and if I had the chance to see it through, I’d be damned if it was gonna bequick.
EJ wasn’t a small guy though or weak. He took the impact of me coming at him and then recovered quick, hands up, ready and willing to go toe to toe with me.
I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Adrenaline rushed through me as EJ and I traded blows back and forth, but he wasn’t matching me in pure fucking rage. With every swing of my fists, I thought about Nalani being here with him alone, scared, wondering if somebody was coming for her or not.
Knowing him… he’d probably taunted her with his hands around her neck, getting off on the abuse.
Abuse I was more than willing to give right back to him.
Not just for this time, but for the other time he’d run up on her inNectar, and then a little more, just on principle since I’d warned his ass to stay away from her.
At some point… he stopped fighting back.
It wasn’t until then that I realized I had an audience. Henry was in the doorway, with a now-conscious Nalani scooped into his arms.
Both were wide-eyed.
I glanced at my blood-covered hands, then straightened up. I couldn’t look at that knot on her head, so I looked at Henry. “Call Shiloh and have her arrange for a doctor to meet you at the house,” I told him. “Make sure she’s taken care of.”
“And what about…”
The crime scene.
What about the crime scene?
I shook my head. “I’ll worry about that,” I told him. “You just… get her home.”
