“Rhodes is standing guard at the trailer. I stepped away to make a call.”
Xander nodded. “I’m going to head back. I’ll text you when we’re ready to head home.”
He made his way to the trailer and Rhodes was nowhere to be seen. No way in hell would the man take a break with Sasha inside. After the incident with Cassidy, her security, someone new to Alpha’s firm, had been fired for neglecting to meet her at the door and walk her to the car. Xander had no doubt everyone involved in this situation had been warned.
He glanced around the trailer, catching sight of someone laying in the bushes across the way. Which meant Sasha was in trouble. He shot a regret-filled look at the man on the ground and pulled out his phone, hitting redial for Jared. He filled him in as he ran to check on Sasha.
He jogged up the steps and yanked on the doorknob only to find it locked. She always left it open for him when she was inside, knowing her security detail was close by.
“Sasha?” he yelled out, trying again to yank on the doorknob. “Open up. It’s me.”
No one answered.
Frustrated, he called out again. “Sasha!”
The sound of something crashing came from inside. Without wasting more time, he stepped back and slammed at the door with his foot. No luck. Trying again, he rammed into it with his shoulder this time, the door flying off its flimsy hinges.
He burst inside to find the same guy who’d tried to keep him off set the first day of filming standing with an arm around Sasha, a knife at her neck.
He immediately held up his hands. “Take it easy,” he said to the man whose eyes were darting everywhere, sweat beading on his forehead.
Xander met Sasha’s panicked gaze, trying to calm her with a look. He didn’t have a clue yet how he’d get her out of this mess unharmed, but that was the only acceptable option.
“You ruined everything!” the guy said, glaring at Xander. “She was supposed to be on this set alone. I’d have her all to myself. She’s mine. Mine! Do you hear me?” His hand shook and the knife pricked her skin.
She winced as Xander clenched his hands at his sides. “You don’t want to hurt her,” he told the man in a calm voice. “You care about her, remember? So why don’t you lower the knife and–”
Before he could finish his sentence, Sasha reached behind her and did something that caused the man to shriek in pain, but he held on to her arm. She tried to yank out of his grasp, and Xander rushed forward at the same instant the asshole lunged for her, shoving her hard, away from where Xander stood.
She hadn’t caught her balance from her attempted escape, and his hard push propelled her against the edge of the counter beside the couch. Her head hit the hard surface with a sickening thud.
His stomach rolled and panic filled him, but he dove, tackling the man, shoving the knife beneath the sofa and out of his reach. He had no patience for a struggle, so he lifted his arm and punched him in the jaw over and over until his head rolled back and he was out of commission.
Xander pushed himself up and ran for Sasha. Blood pooled from the side of her head, scaring him. He yanked off his shirt, knelt down and used the material to put pressure on the wound, reminding himself that head injuries bled heavily.
He placed his free hand on her cheek. “Hey, sunshine.”
She moaned and those beautiful sky blue eyes fluttered open. “Hi.”
He smiled because she was conscious and he didn’t want her to see how fucking frightened he was.
“Jesus!”
Xander heard Jared’s voice and turned his head. “Tie up that asshole. Then call 911 and the cops,” he said, heart pounding hard in his chest.
“No. I’ll be fine.” Sasha attempted to sit and he saw the moment she accepted defeat. He wrapped his arm around her and lowered her so her head lay in his lap and he resumed putting pressure on her wound.
She winced and he gritted his teeth. “Sorry but that head injury needs to be checked out. You’re bleeding,” he said, not wanting to scare her, but she did need to remain where she was.
Jared did his thing with the groaning man on the floor and then began to bark out orders on his phone.
“You did well,” he told her, stroking her cheek.
“I grabbed his nuts.” She tried to grin and winced instead. “Xander, I have something I need to tell you. Something interesting–”
“Shh.” He placed a finger over her lips. “Talking can wait. You need your strength.” From the looks of the head wound, she probably needed stitches, not to mention, she might have a concussion.