I walk into the conference room to see Reece, Erik, Cobi, and Jack sitting around the table. “What’s up, guys?”
I move around the table exchanging handshakes and backslapping hugs. I take my seat beside Erik, grabbing one of the chocolate croissants off the table. Shayla comes in with a saucer and sits it in front of me. “I made you some Earl Grey just the way you like it.” I give Erik a cheeky grin.
“Thanks, love.”
Erik groans from beside me. “You are something else. Just remember she’s my wife and loves me best, don’t you, baby?”
He pouts until Shayla comes around wraps her arms around Erik and kisses his upturned lips. “Of course I do. You boys have a good meeting.” She looks at Jack. “I’ll be in my office if you need me.”
“Thanks, sweetheart.” She leaves us, shutting the door behind her.
Jack turns on the screen on the wall and pulls up Power Point. “I know you’re all busy, but I wanted to discuss the expansion plans with you all, and what it means for Rogue.”
He just bought the space next door and we’re going to be expanding our company, hire more PI’s and bounty hunters. Jack shows us his preliminary plans and it’s going to be gorgeous. We’re going to have another receptionist, and Jack, Marcus, and Erik will all have their own secretaries.
“That’s just the beginning, and I only see big things happening for us. I just want to tha―”
Delilah comes rushing in. “You guys, turn on the news.”
Her eyes don’t leave mine as I hear the news coming on. “Former coach of up-and-coming MMA fighter, Becca McNeal, has broken his silence. You were fired by Ms. McNeal after you two became involved in a sexual relationship, and you tried to break it off.”
I turn to the TV when I hear a man’s voice begin to speak. “Yes, I made the mistake at first of returning her affection, but when I realized I should break it off she got angry and fired me. Her father told me he’d ruin my career if I told anyone.” The asshole is giving off a “poor me” vibe and is laying it on thick.
I can’t listen to anymore. I push back from the table. “That sod is lying. I think he hurt her.”
“What the fuck,” Erik growls from beside me. “Jack, what can we do?”
“Let me make some calls. Dalton, let us know if Becca needs anything. I’ll see if we can get a cease and desist.”
I stand and start walking toward the door. “Thanks, mate.” My heart pounds in my chest and I grab my phone. Before I can dial him, Gio is calling me. “What the fuck is going on, man?”
“That sonofabitch. Fuck, it is her tale to tell, but he hurt her repeatedly before her dad fired him. Her dad wouldn’t let her report it. That motherfucker has to be doing this for money—right?” I hear Gio rustling around. “Are you with Becca right now?”
“No, I’m at the office, but I’m on my way to the apartment. What is this going to do to her, Gio?” I jog down the stairs so I don’t lose him, which could happen in the lift.
“Dalton, this could go bad. She was broken when I started working with her. We had a long road to travel to get her back on the right path.”
Once I’m in the garage I’m hit with the scent of gas and oil. “Come to my apartment, I want you there when I tell her, if she doesn’t know already.”
“I’ll get there as soon as I can,” he says before we hang up.
I jump into my car and pull out of the garage. I break several laws as I race toward my apartment. There is a car following me, and it is trying to keep up, but whoever it is, they’re an amateur and it doesn’t take long to lose them. Fuck, I can’t even think about that right, I just need to get home to Becca.
I slide to a stop in front of building and honestly don’t care if they tow it. Inside, I take the stairs again, up to my floor. I let myself inside and find Becca asleep in my bed. I step further into the room and move around to her side of the bed. I sit down next to her hip and reach out, stroking a hand over her hair.
The moment her eyes flutter open, I just want to scoop her up and take off with her, somewhere safe.
“Hey, is your meeting done already?” Becca pushes herself up and stretches her arms above her head as she yawns.
“Yeah, baby, it’s done. Come with me, okay?” I get up and then grab her, pulling her up with me.
“Something’s wrong, isn’t it?”
I place my hands on her shoulders. “Just go get freshened up and Gio will be here soon.”
She looks me over closely and then heads into the bathroom. Fuck, I really hate this and I want to go find that bloody piece of shit and end him.
There is a knock on the door a few minutes later and I head out to the living room and answer the door. Gio steps inside and we exchange handshakes. “She’s in the bathroom.”
He nods and follows me into the kitchen, and I grab each of us a beer. The hiss of the caps is the only sound while we wait. I take a huge drink from my bottle when Becca comes walking out. Her steps are slow and unsure. I hold out my hand to her and thankfully she comes toward me and takes it.
“Hey Gio,” she says quietly. “Will one of you tell me what’s going on?”
I set my beer down and drag her over to the table. Gio and I join her and I grab her hands. “There was an interview that aired today. It was your former coach and he says you had a sexual relationship and when he tried to break it off you fired him.”
She doesn’t say anything. It’s like I’m watching her shut down. Her face is blank and Becca stares blindly at the table, and then suddenly she’s up running. I take off after her, and watch as she slides across the bathroom floor to the toilet. She vomits over and over until there is nothing left.
Becca then starts to cry big heart wrenching sobs that break my heart. I pull her onto my lap and hold her close as she lets it out. Gio stands in the doorway watching us.
From the pained look on his face I know he’s just as upset as I am. He mouths to me, “I’m going to call Rob.” I nod as I hold Becca tight.
She finally quiets down, and I help her off the floor. “I want you to take an Ativan, okay?” She doesn’t speak, she just nods. Her movements are almost robotic right now, and when we reach the sink, I hand her a cup of water and her little white pill.
After taking it, she lets me lead her to my bedroom. Without argument she climbs into my bed and lays down. I climb in behind her and pull her into my arms. “I’m so sorry, we’re going to make him pay for what he’s done.”
She doesn’t say anything at first, and I’m about to climb out of bed before she whispers softly. “I was sixteen the first time he hurt me.” I work hard to keep my body relaxed. “He told me that he’d hurt me worse if I told anyone. I should’ve told someone sooner, but he’s big and could easily overpower me.” She gulped.
“It didn’t stop for a year until finally my dad found out. He fired James but told me to keep it to myself about what happened. ‘We don’t want this to ruin your career,’” she says in a faux male voice. “God forbid he protect me and help me seek justice from the man who took advantage of me, but bottom line he only ever cared about money.”
Becca yawns and I hold her until her pill kicks in and she falls asleep. Once I know she’s not going to wake up, I slowly ease out of bed. In the living room I find Gio talking quietly on the phone and Jack is sitting with Reece, looking at something on a laptop.
Gio quickly hangs up. “How is she doing?”
“She’s sleeping, thankfully, but she told me what James did to her. Please tell me how her father was that clueless to what was happening?”
Gio sets his phone down and shakes his head. “Her dad is a fame seeking money grabber, and cares more about how things look than the security of his own daughter. Her mother backed him up, even though their relationship is so toxic they don’t even live together anymore.
“I’ve already called the station and told them that our lawyers would be in touch because they aired an interview of lies, without even fact checking,” Jack says, while taking his reading glasses off and pinching the bridge of his nose.
“How can a father not protect his daughter?” Reece gets up and starts pacing. “If someone hurt Charlie, I’d go to the ends of the earth to find the bastard and end him.”
I love the men who have been more like brothers to me. “Have we gotten word from Egan about the camera?” I ask Jack.
“Let me take a look and see.” Jack starts typing away on his laptop.
Gio gets up and stands in front of the window. I move to stand next to him. The sun warms my skin through the glass. I turn to look at the other man and can see this is hurting him because this man should be her father, not that piece of shit who didn’t protect her.
“Are you okay?” I ask the other man.
He takes a deep breath. “I care a lot about that girl, and I hate that she’s going through this, but I’m glad you’re here for her.”
“Of course, you can count on me. I’m going to arrange 24/7 protection for her. She no longer goes anywhere alone.”
“Agreed. Training is on hold for now, only because there are windows all over and she’ll be completely exposed.” He shakes his head. “I hate to say it but to nip this in the bud, she should give an exclusive interview and share her story.”
“I’ll talk to her,” I tell him, before he leaves to go meet with Rob.
Jack and Reece stand up. “We’ve got extra security at the front of the building to ward off the press, and we’ll have someone stationed at the back.”
“Thanks, Jack. I appreciate it.”
He grabs my shoulder. “You were there for all of us, it’s the least we can do. Don’t be surprised if the women drop by to check on her.”
I nod. “I appreciate that.”
Once everyone is gone, I lock the front door and make my way toward my bedroom. Becca is sleeping soundly, so I strip down to just my boxer briefs and crawl into bed with her.
The minute I’m close she rolls over, snuggling in against my chest. Her soft snores are music to my ears, but it’s a long time before I’m finally able to find sleep.