I couldn’t believe Julian had shown up again. Or the way he’d handled the bikers that had been a problem since they’d walked in. That group always was. They were too loud, too coarse, and lousy tippers to boot. If one of the other managers were here, I wouldn’t worry so much, but Tom was inexperienced and gave them far too much leeway. Add in the fact that the security guy was useless, and it wasn’t a good night. They made me uncomfortable.
The obvious leader of the group was obnoxious, lurid, and far too handsy. We were swamped, short-staffed, and the bar was busy. He let his displeasure at being kept waiting known—loudly—and had been rude when I got to the table. I had begged Lillian to switch tables with me since I already had a dislike of bikers, but she refused.
“Your problem, not mine,” she muttered.
I had plastered a fake smile on my face and walked over to take their order. For a moment, I thought I was overreacting. The one guy asked for three pitchers of draft and a large order of the hot wings. I nodded and turned away when I felt a hand on my ass. “I’d like this on my lap too,” he sneered. “Sweet cheeks.”
I spun around. “Not on the menu, asshole. Keep your hands to yourself.”
I hurried away, trying to ignore their raucous laughter. It had only gone downhill. Tom, the manager on duty, was even worse than usual, barely keeping his head above water tonight with all the trouble that was happening. I dodged hands, closed my ears to the constant innuendos, and hoped the night would be over soon. It took all I had not to turn around and slap the biker who yanked on my braid to get my attention as I walked past delivering drinks to another table. My eyes smarted with the force of the pull, but I slapped his hand and walked away, muttering under my breath. I was going to talk to my boss about this.
Julian was like a knight in shining armor when he appeared. Whatever he said to the bikers made them leave, and when they departed, the sound of their motorbikes fading away, everyone relaxed. I was grateful for him stepping in and secretly pleased he had sought me out again. I wondered if he felt the same pull to me as I did to him, if he had shown up because, after last night, he was ready to address the elephant in the room. There was no denying the attraction between us. It was like a life-form of its own.
I headed to the kitchen to see what I could do to help. Lillian could handle the tables for a while, and Julian was busy eating. Kevin, the kid trying to keep up with the dishes, indicated the bags by the back door. “Trash,” he mumbled.
“I could do some dishes?” I tried. I hated trash duty. The back alley was dim, the trash container smelled, and I knew there were rats outside. I heard them scurrying, and it made my skin crawl.
“No, I’ll finish. Dump those two bags, and we’re caught up. I’ve been out three times already.”
I kept my sigh to myself. Even Lillian had dragged out a couple bags earlier, so I supposed it was my turn. I opened the back door, scanning the alleyway. It was deserted, and I was grateful to see that at least the trash container lid was open. I only had to toss the bags and head inside. I grabbed the awkward, heavy trash, hurrying over, grimacing when the kitchen door shut behind me and the alley became darker. It creeped me out, and my breathing kicked up.
I tossed the bags one at a time, grateful neither of them split open. But before I could turn around, someone was behind me. I gasped in fright as I was pushed against the hard, cold brick wall and an angry voice spoke in my ear.
“Not so tough without your bodyguard, are you, sweet cheeks?”
I recognized his voice. It was the leader of the bikers. And he was furious.
I struggled against his hold, panicked. His hands tightened, the pain of his fingers digging into my arms burning. He spun me around, one hand going to my throat and squeezing as he slammed me to the wall with his other arm. My head hit the hard surface, the pain blooming in my skull, making me dizzy. His fetid breath washed over me, the scent of unwashed skin and old leather making me gag. “You think you’re too good for the likes of me? Always ignoring me, pretending I don’t exist?”
He pushed closer, cutting off my oxygen. “I’m gonna teach you a lesson you won’t forget.”
The world tilted in front of me, and I struggled to stay conscious. I knew if I passed out, I would end up somewhere else and at this man’s mercy. One word echoed in my head, one plea that repeated itself.
Julian. Help.
It was like a mantra I couldn’t stop. My fear morphed as the biker’s fingers tightened and black spots appeared in front of my eyes.
Please, Julian.
Without warning, it happened. One moment, I was pressed into the brick, my shoulders screaming from the pain of the jagged cement digging into my skin and my lungs desperate for oxygen, and the next, a roar filled the alley and my assaulter was gone.
Julian stood over him, breathing fast, his face twisted into a menacing snarl. He held a knife in his hand, and the expression on his face was frightening.
He looked at me. “Go inside, Tally.”
I couldn’t get my legs to work. I was shaking so badly, I couldn’t speak, move, or think. My head was muddled and confused. He seemed to understand that.
“Shut your eyes, then, baby. You don’t need to see this.”
My legs gave out, and I slid down the wall, pulling my knees to my chest and lowering my head.
I shut my eyes and tried to block out the sounds, failing completely. Groans and pain-filled gasps filled the air. The sounds of fists driving into flesh were repeated over and again. Julian’s voice, cold, angry, and deadly calm, reached my ears.
“I told you. You didn’t listen. She is under my protection, and now you’ve touched—you’ve hurt—what’s mine. When you’re pissing blood for the next week, remember this.”
The biker groaned.
Julian cursed and muttered more threats. Angry words. I didn’t dare lift my head.
I heard more muffled grunts, a low scream, and then silence.
Then Julian was in front of me. “Tally, it’s me. You’re safe now, okay?” He spoke soothingly, close to my ear. “I’m going to pick you up. Do you understand me?”
I nodded, still unable to speak. My fear was lodged in my throat as memories crowded into my head. Terror filled my chest, bringing panic and uncertainty with it. I gasped as he scooped me up, my body trembling and out of control.
“I have you, baby. It’s okay. Everything is going to be okay.”
There was a burst of activity and light as the door opened, and Kevin and Tom stepped into the alley.
“What the hell?” Kevin muttered.
Julian headed toward the door. “You’re fucking lucky I came out. You should be sued for letting a defenseless woman step outside with no lights or protection,” he snarled. “What kind of shithole place are you running here?” he raged.
“Is she-is she okay?”
“Does she fucking look okay? I’m taking her to the hospital.”
“What about him?” Tom asked.
I dared to look. The biker was lying on the ground. There was blood on his face, and his arm was at a funny angle.
“Let the rats have him. The cops will pick up what’s left of him,” Julian ordered. “I’ll handle it.”
Julian opened a car door, sliding me in.
I grabbed at his hand. “No hospital.”
“You need to be looked at.”
“No hospital,” I repeated. “I’m-I’m okay,” I lied.
He cursed and shut the door, pulling out his cell. He stared at me as he spoke, then hung up, making another call. This time, he turned his back as he talked to whoever it was. I shut my eyes, remembering the look on his face in the alley. How dark and malevolent his expression had been. His eyes, cold and foreboding, his mouth twisted into a cruel smile. It was so at odds with the Julian I had come to know the past few weeks.
I knew I should be frightened by that side of him, yet I only found comfort in the fact that he had appeared. Grateful he had pulled the biker off me. Spared me from whatever awful plans he’d had in mind for me.
Julian slid into the car, starting the engine. He reached for my hand, and I flinched. He grimaced. “Don’t be afraid of me, Tally. I won’t hurt you.”
“I know… I’m just…” I trailed off, unsure what to say.
“I know,” he assured me. “But you’re safe now, and no one is going to hurt you.”
“Can you drive me home?” I whispered.
“I’m taking you to my place. A friend is meeting us there. She’s a doctor and will examine you.” His tone brooked no argument.
I was too tired to offer any.
The woman who examined me was kind and gentle. She introduced herself as Sofia. I winced when she probed my head, and I heard Julian cursing as she checked out my arms, back, and rib cage. I knew without looking that I was badly bruised. I could feel the blood pooling under my skin, the ache deep.
“Definite concussion. Contusions and bruising,” she said with a frown. “I’d like a head CT.” She patted my shoulder kindly. “You’re going to be sore for a few days.”
“Can you arrange the CT?” Julian asked. “Privately?”
“I can. Probably in a couple of hours.”
“I’ll get her there.”
“What about…?” She trailed off.
“I’ll take care of him as well.”
It felt as if they were talking in code. I tried to follow the conversation, but my head felt heavy and I was so tired. My body ached.
A touch on my face made me startle, and my eyes flew open. I met Julian’s concerned gaze, all the anger I had seen earlier gone. His amazing irises were muted and gentle.
“Tally, I have to take you for a test, okay? Sofia just wants to make sure you’re okay.”
“Is it far?” I asked. “I’m a little dizzy.”
“I’ll carry you.”
“I want a shower.” I grimaced. “I smell like the alley—like him.”
“As soon as you’ve had your test and we get some pain pills in you.”
“No hospitals,” I mumbled, closing my eyes again.
“I promise.”
I gave up and floated away.
JULIAN
Tally was in and out for the next while. Luckily, she stayed awake long enough for the CT Sofia had arranged in the old warehouse Marcus used to own. We used it as a second base now. Lots of my agents lived there and we kept the clinic stocked, and Sofia still worked on the men if needed.
Sofia was satisfied Tally wasn’t in danger but wanted me to wake her every couple of hours to be sure. She got some pain meds into her, and Tally dozed all the way back to my place, her hand on mine as if making sure I was there. She didn’t have to worry—I wasn’t leaving her.
At my apartment, Tally leaned on me heavily, refusing to let me carry her. I took her to the shower, not caring as I got wet, helping get her inside and seated on the cedar bench in the stone-enclosed area. I stepped out and hurried to the closet, grabbing her a shirt and a pair of my boxers to change into. She was trying to wash her hair as I stepped back in, taking over. I tried to be as gentle as I could, but every whimper and flinch caused my anger to burn brighter again. That asshole was going to pay dearly for this.
I helped her clean her arms and legs, peeling off her shorts and tights, leaving her in her underwear. Once she was done, I washed my hair fast, clean enough from the water and soap I used on her. She stood, and I held the towel, averting my eyes as she removed the rest of her clothes and wrapped the towel around her body. She didn’t object as I helped her from the shower to stand in front of the vanity.
“Stay,” I ordered.
In my closet, I stripped and threw on a pair of sweats and a shirt, heading back to her. She was gripping the edge of the vanity, staring at her reflection in the mirror. I met her eyes in the mirror, the dazed and pained look in them tugging on my chest.
“I need to see your back,” I said gently.
“My back?” she repeated.
“I need to see how bad the bruising is.”
She frowned, and I covered her hand holding the towel to her chest. “Just loosen your grip. I won’t hurt you.”
“I know that.”
She sighed and let the towel drop in the back. I wanted to slam my hand into the mirror at the mass of bruises and scrapes I could see on her pale skin. Her shoulders had taken the brunt of his aggression, and I knew she had to be sore—especially the right one, which seemed to have suffered the most. I lifted the cream Sofia gave me, showing it to Tally.
“This will help with the pain, but I have to touch you.” I was certain she didn’t want anyone, especially not a man, touching her right now, but her reply surprised me.
“I like your touch,” she whispered, not meeting my eyes. “It’s okay, Julian.”
Unable to resist, I dropped a kiss to her shoulder. “You can call me Jujube if you want. Just for tonight.”
My silly words made her smile for a second, then a sob escaped her mouth, and she lifted her hand to cover it.
“No, Tally,” I hushed her. “Don’t cover up your pain. It’s okay.”
I made fast work of the ointment, soothing it into the blemished skin then running my hands up and down her arms to cover those bruises as well. Sofia assured me there was not only pain relief in the cream, but it would help speed up the bruise healing as well.
Then I tugged up the towel and dropped my shirt over her head. She slipped her arms into the holes and allowed the towel to drop. Knowing she was too dizzy to do it herself, I slid my boxers over her feet, one at a time, and pulled them up her legs, trying not to react to the softness of her skin under my touch. How it felt gliding them over her full ass and slipping my fingers under the waistband to make sure it was flat. She never moved, didn’t make a sound, and was surprisingly relaxed as I finished the job.
I was anything but.
I led her to my bed, letting her settle herself. She winced as she lay on her back, and I knew she was going to have trouble finding a comfortable spot for long.
“Your left shoulder isn’t as bad,” I suggested, watching as she eased to her side, then with a sigh, settled into the pillow, letting her eyes drift shut.
“I’ll wake you in two hours,” I murmured and began to leave, but her eyes shot open and she spoke, panicked and upset.
“Where-where are you going? Are you leaving?”
I sat on the mattress. “No, Tally, I’m right here. But I want you to rest. I’ll only be in the next room.”
She found my hand, her fingers gripping me tightly. “You won’t leave?”
I didn’t want to lie to her. “You will not be alone,” I promised.
She accepted that easily enough, her eyes shutting once again.
For a moment, I was still. Then without thought, I lifted my hand, running it over her head. She made a sound low in her throat, but it was one of relief, not worry. I stroked her damp curls, whispering the odd reassurance as I watched her succumb to the medication and the exhaustion her body was feeling. Her grip never loosened on my hand, though, and I made no move to leave until I heard my apartment door open and I knew Damien had arrived.
I slowly extracted my hand and stood. Tally frowned but stayed asleep, and I left the room, leaving a light on and pulling the door shut.
In the living room, I found Damien and Sofia.
“How is she?”
“Asleep.”
“How long?”
“Fifteen minutes.”
She nodded. I glanced at Damien. “You have him?”
“He’s at the warehouse.”
“Awake?”
“At times. He keeps whining about his nuts.”
I lifted one shoulder, recalling the swift, hard kick I’d planted in his crotch. It was probably going to ache like a bugger for days.
“What are you going to do with him?”
“Put the fear of God into him.”
“Pretty sure it’s already there.”
“Just going to drive home the message.”
Sofia shook her head. “I’m not covering up murder, Julian.”
“Wouldn’t ask you to. He’s going to live. But he isn’t going to bother Tally or any other woman again. Once I’m done with him, the cops can have him.”
“You promise?”
“Yes. I’ll be back before she wakes up and knows I was gone.”
“I’ll watch her.”
“Okay. Let’s go.”