“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.