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I screamed as Xavier dove on top of Ryan, punching him multiple times in the face as he shoved him to the ground. Blood exploded from Ryan’s face with each punch, decorating the floor and walls in a crimson spray.
“Xavier!” I grabbed his arm as he went to punch him again. “Stop! N-No m-more!” I couldn’t control the stutter in my voice. All the walls I had built up to keep myself strong were crumbling around me.
Xavier was panting as he looked down at Ryan’s now unconscious body. He growled low and punched him again. His face was speckled with blood, and his hands covered in it.
“Stupid son of a bitch.” Xavier pushed Ryan away and turned toward me. “Are you alright?”
I collapsed into his arms, crying again, not caring about the blood on his clothes or hands. I needed him to ground me. To keep me upright or I’d crumble. “He knows.”
“Shh. Princess, we promised to protect you and we will.” He pressed kisses on my forehead, pulling me tightly into his embrace. “Let’s go home.”
“No! He will find us there!” I started shaking again. “He will come, Xavier.”
“Hey.” Xavier titled my chin up. “Do you trust us?”
Black dots edged the corners of my vision, but I managed to nod.
“We’ll take care of this joker and protect you against Dylan, alright? I won’t let you out of my sight.” He pressed kisses to my nose and cheeks, and somehow I managed to stay conscious.
“Alena?” The door to the bathroom opened again and this time it was the rest of my pack. They took one look at Ryan on the ground and swung into action while Xavier held me.
Julian took his jacket off and draped it over my shoulders. Simon was on the phone and Elias kneeled next to Ryan, examining his wounds and feeling for a pulse.
“Surprised you didn’t kill him.” Elias raised a brow at Xavier.
“I would have, but it was upsetting Alena,” Xavier said with an utter lack of emotion, as if it wouldn’t have phased him to kill Ryan. Remembering his past, it probably wouldn’t have. He picked me up under the knees, his soft purr in my ear offering comfort. “Let’s go home.”
I sank into his embrace, adrenaline still rushing like molten fire through my veins. My body trembled against him, the tears fell freely from my eyes.
“Shh,” Xavier soothed, making his way out the back door with the others hot on our heels. “I’ve got you, Princess. You’re safe with us. We’ll always protect you.”
“I’m going to fucking kill that son of a bitch,” Elias snarled as he stepped ahead of us to open the door of the waiting SUV.
“D–Don’t w–want.” Damn it, I couldn’t speak without stuttering.
“It’s okay, Alena. You don’t have to speak right now.” Julian slid onto the seat next to Xavier and soothing ran his hand up and down my back.
I squeezed my eyes shut and shook my head, forcing myself to calm down so I could speak normally. “Don’t want anything to happen to you guys.”
“Never,” Xavier vowed as he kissed the top of my head. “You’re stuck with us for life. No getting rid of us now.”
Despite his words, trepidation still crept into my mind. Dylan was powerful, his parents well connected in Society circles. I’m sure my own parents were helping him too, although I tried my best not to think about it.
“We’re going to find him, little one.” Elias spoke from the driver’s seat, slipping behind the wheel with his typical authority. I’d never seen any of them drive, we’d always had Charles to take us around.
I focused on his hands as they gripped the steering wheel, so strong and confident, just like Elias was. He’d lost his tuxedo jacket somewhere along the way. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, and his tie hanging loosely around his neck. Thoroughly disheveled, but still hot as fuck.
It was a trick I learned early on when I was with Dylan to stop a panic attack. Focus on something and memorize every detail of it. What color was it? What texture might it have? Was it warm or cool?
The SUV roared to life and Elias expertly maneuvered the car through the throngs of people still arriving at the event.
My gaze moved to Julian, who had his hands clenched into fists on his thighs. “I’m sorry I ruined the event.”
His brow immediately furrowed as he turned to face me. “Alena, don’t even think that. I don’t give two shits about that event.”
“But you’ve put so much work into it, and you’re so close to the cause and–”
Julian silenced me with a finger against my lips as he shook his head. “You are the only thing that matters in this world. You and the others in the car. The world could burn for all I care, as long as I have you all with me.”
