Dare to Rock (Dare to Love 5)

Avery didn’t want anything marring this night, least of all another conversation about something that was in the past. “It’s over. I’d like it if we could just move forward from here.”

He exhaled sharply and nodded, clearly relieved to have been given a reprieve. “This is fabulous,” he said. “You’ve done a terrific thing for these kids.”

He met her gaze, and in his eyes, she saw he meant it.

“Thank you,” she murmured.

“Where’s your man?” he asked.

Avery looked toward the far side of

the room, toward where she’d seen Grey last, with Lilly, the youngest patient here, who couldn’t leave her wheelchair.

“I’m not sure. Why?” she asked, suddenly wary.

Her father shifted from foot to foot. “I thought maybe I could start over. Get to know him.”

Avery raised her eyebrows in surprise. “I’d like that.”

Before she could say more, a commotion sounded from outside the room, and Avery realized she needed to take care of it before something disrupted the kids’ fun.

“I have to go see what’s going on.” She headed for the exit, her father close behind.

She pushed through the double doors and saw Rick and Ella’s bodyguard, Jack Tantor, detaining a redheaded woman. The two men had been assigned to keep guard outside the main room. Marco, Grey’s bodyguard, was posted outside the hospital front entrance.

As she approached, she realized Grey stood in the circle of men, and she met his horrified gaze.

“He’s mine!” the woman shrieked, her red hair a frizzy mess, her breasts practically popping out of her barely there top.

Avery stepped closer, her gaze drawn to faded black writing on the woman’s chest. “Is that—Oh my God! Your name is on her breast!” she said to Grey, appalled.

His cheeks flamed a healthy shade of red.

“I told you he’s mine. I warned you to break up with him or else!” The redhead dove for Avery.

Avery flinched, but she was safe.

Rick held the woman tight.

“Cops are on their way,” Jack said. “Marco will meet them at the door and fill them in.”

Avery stared, the woman’s words buzzing in her head until suddenly they coalesced and made sense. “You warned me?” she repeated. “You broke into my building? Wrote on my door? Forced me to move out of my home?” Avery asked, her voice rising as she faced the person responsible for the upheaval in her life.

“Grey’s mine!” she spat back.

“The hell he is,” Avery replied.

“Avery, get inside,” Grey ordered, stepping toward her.

“Not happening.” She glared at the crazy woman and squared her shoulders. She was finished cowering, fainting, and anything else that involved not coping with her life.

The elevator doors opened, and uniformed officers strode out, handcuffs ready.

Crazy Lady took one look at the cuffs and screamed. “No! I’m not going down for this alone. He promised me Grey would be mine. He said all I had to do was scare the little blonde chick and everything would be fine!” She cried and broke down in sobs and tears.

Grey stepped in front of Avery, but she peeked around him, not wanting to miss a thing.

“He who?” Grey yanked the woman’s arms away from her now-makeup-stained face. “Who made those promises?” he asked, his voice harsh and biting.