Lei'd With Cupcakes (Cupcakes 3)

My eyes were on them, so I saw when Chris’s jaw hardened and his entire body got taut. I followed his gaze and saw they were entering Alani’s room, and were about to bring her up for inspection.

“No!” I shouted, unable to stop myself from calling out, or from surging to my feet, the chair coming with me.

“Sit back down or I’ll make you do it,” the oaf threatened, coming up from my side.

I didn’t know if they’d been waiting for a distraction, or it was just good timing, but before the oaf could put his hands on me the back doors opened – and chaos rushed in.

Cade came roaring in, a ton of men at his back, his hair flying behind him as he rushed forward with a gun trained on Yusuf. He looked like an avenging angel, ready to wreak havoc on the men in this room.

I’ve never seen anything so beautiful in all my life.

Some of the men were wearing cuts, signifying the local Motorcycle Club they were a part of; the others were in some sort of a uniform. I couldn’t make it out at first, but once they got closer, I saw they were Coast Guard.

I watched Cade stride toward Yusuf, never taking his eyes or gun off the man, who was obviously very, very pissed off at the interruption.

“Tell that guy to get his hands off my sister, or I’m shooting you in the dick,” Cade threatened, his arm lowering in promise.

Luckily, the man in Alani’s room hadn’t touched her yet, but when I looked over, I noticed that she was no longer dancing around. Instead, she was leaning into the goons’ side and appeared to be sweating profusely.

“Untie me,” I ordered, turning my head to the oaf who was still standing beside me. He appeared to be contemplating whether he could take Cade down or not. “Don’t even think about it,” I warned, then turned my back toward him. “Let me out, something’s not right with her.”

I don’t know if he understood what I was worried about or not, but he seemed to realize that they were no longer in control, and he quickly untied the knot that I’d loosened.

As soon as I was free, I took off running through the chaos and back to the hallway where the rooms were. When I got down to the end of the hall, I opened the door I hoped was Alani’s and hurried inside.

She was still leaning up against the goon, who was watching the scene in front of him unfold with fear in his eyes. I didn’t know if he’d been in shock or what, but as soon as I entered the room, he came out of his trance and shoved Alani at me, then ran from the room.

“Alani,” I called out as I caught her. She was on fire, with sweat pouring off of her.

“So hot,” she managed, then collapsed against me.

She’d passed out cold.

As I was trying to figure out the best way to cool Alani down, the memory of being hosed down hit me, and I did my best to half carry, half walk Alani out of the room. Just as we hit the door, Ripper turned the corner.

“Is she okay?” he asked, looking at the limp girl.

“I think it’s the Molly,” I replied. “There’s a room down that way with a hose. I was thinking I could get her body temperature down.”

“Here,” he said, stepping forward to lift Alani into his

arms. “Lead the way.”

I took off at a jog. I knew Cade, the MC, and the Coasties probably had a handle on things in the other room, but still, I didn’t feel a hundred percent safe yet. I was totally expecting a goon to jump out and knock me over the head.

We made it into the dressing room, then to the spray-down room without any goon sightings. Ripper laid Alani gently on the floor, then looked to me for guidance. I lifted the large hose and said, “It doesn’t have a gentle stream,” then opened the valve and unleashed the cold water on Alani.

I cringed when she bucked with shock as the freezing spray hit her fevered body, but felt relief when her eyes opened and she started sputtering.

“Stop!” Alani cried, and I turned off the spray, dropping the hose as I rushed to her.

I lifted my hand and shoved the sopping-wet hair from her face. Her skin felt better, more normal, and her eyes didn’t appear glassy as they glared at me.

Unfazed, I flashed the first grin I’d given in hours.

“How do you feel?” I asked.

“Wet,” she replied snarkily, causing Ripper and me to laugh.