Chapter 16

Icouldn’t wait to call an end to this day.

Ronin and I could hardly talk without it turning into an argument. It had me fighting the urge to run right the hell out of the venue. To get high. To do anything to take away my frustration. Add to that, Averell’s attention, though flattering, was making my anxiety spike. It should be exactly what I wanted. Averell should be who I wanted. Easy, no strings sex.

Why couldn’t I just cut off these feelings for Ronin and focus on someone else?

But the longer I talked to Ciara, the more I realized that my problems had to take a backseat. I knew her almost as well as I knew Ro, and something was painfully wrong. She was way too quiet, and along with the boyfriend making disturbing comments, warning signs flashed in front of me like pyrotechnics on stage.

“Ro’s just being a typical big brother,” I reassured Ciara. “He misses you. And he worries.”

Her phone vibrated and she pulled it out of her pocket. “I have to take this. I’ll be right back.”

I watched her get up and head to the exit. I flagged down a server for another drink.

Booze in hand, I looked around for Ronin, but he was nowhere in sight. So, drink in hand, I did my bit and made the rounds of the room while I continued to search him out. I’d become more comfortable in the PR area with each passing year. It helped that I was a familiar face to music fans, so they often came up to talk to me. In a room with other musicians, or with fans, no worries, I could talk shop all day. But with suits and sponsors? Not my thing. Not for any of the guys, but me least of all.

Halfway through my drink, I headed back to where I started from.

I found Ronin sitting by himself, head down, checking his phone. While we had a moment alone, I considered opening pandora’s box by asking Ro about what happened at the photoshoot.

Did I really ready for his answer?

“Hey.”

“Where’d my sister and her boyfriend go?” he asked me.

“Uh, her phone rang when I was talking to her. I assumed it was work or something, I think she went outside to take the call. I have no idea where Dallas is.”

“I’m going to find her. I need to know why she’s dating that douchebag.”

“No shit. That guy gives me the creeps.”

Ronin nodded. Before I could say anything else, he stood up and took off. Instead of sitting around feeling unsettled, I went in search of Brodie and Holls. They were with their men and chatting up Evert and Jesse.

“Where’s Ronin?” Holls asked.

“He went to find Ciara.”

“Is she all right?” Van asked. “I saw her walking by and she looked upset.”

That anxious feeling wouldn’t leave my gut and I couldn’t let it go this time. “I don’t know. She’s been acting odd lately, not contacting Ro for weeks at a time. And her boyfriend said some pretty shitty things to her. Disturbing things. I’m gonna go look for them.”

Before anyone could say otherwise, before I could even tell my protective detail I was leaving, I headed for the door. Whatever, the place was crawling with security and I was just going to pop outside for a moment.

Averell stopped me on the way out. “You ready for that drink now?”

An hour ago, I would’ve said sure. And fuck knows, I needed to get my mind off Ronin. But there were more important things than my dick.

“Sorry, but I’ve changed my mind.” I shook my head.

Averell gave me a knowing look and nodded, pursing his pouty lips.

“What about tomorrow?”

My silence to Averell’s question said everything. He knew, I knew, fuck, everyone probably knew that all I wanted was Ronin. Well, everyone except the man himself.

“If you change your mind, give me a call,” Averell offered with a flirty smile, then he walked away.

I kept walking out of the venue and into the spring night and looked around. No sign of Ro or Ciara. No one, in fact. I turned around to head back inside but then I heard a shout.

“Let her go!”

I’d recognize that voice anywhere. I followed the sound around the corner of the building to the alleyway and peered around to find Dallas with his hand around Ciara’s neck, Ronin standing across from them, his arms raised.

What the fuck was happening?

Dallas shifted and it was only then that I noticed the broken beer bottle in his free hand. It was aimed at Ronin. I could’ve sworn my heart stopped beating, but thankfully, the rest of my body was working.

Pulling out my phone with shaky hands, I texted Lennie our emergency code and then cautiously slipped around the corner, trying not to startle Dallas.

“Hey,” I whispered as quiet as I could, walking up to stand beside Ronin.

Dallas startled and aimed the bottle at me. I held my hands up in surrender. “Put that down, man, there’s no need for that. Come on. Please. Put it down. Let’s talk it out.”

Ciara’s face was wet with tears, her hands frantically pulling at Dallas’s tight grip on her neck.

Dallas shook his head, then shoved the bottle closer to Ronin again. “Coming here was a mistake. I heard what you said to her. You told her to dump me! But that won’t happen. She belongs to me. To me! She does what I say! You get that?”

“Okay, all right,” Ronin whispered, his voice cracking. “I get it. I was in the wrong. Just calm down and let her breathe, please.”

“I’m always calm, that’s what makes me a great cop!” Dallas snapped and shook his head. “I shouldn’t have let her out of my sight. She didn’t listen to me and now look what’s happened!”

This guy was fucking crazy.

I glanced at Ronin, and I’d never seen him so fearful. My stomach pitched and I willed myself to hold on.

“You can walk away,” Ronin pleaded. “Just don’t hurt her, please.”

“Hurt her? What are you talking about? I love her!” Dallas shouted. “But she needs to do as I tell her! I know what’s best.”

“Yes, okay, you do,” Ronin repeated, his voice wavering. “Faise and I are going to step away, all right? You can put the bottle down now. We’re going to back away.”

Footsteps echoed in the distance, getting louder, and I prayed, closer. It had to be our bodyguards.

Dallas suddenly shoved Ciara away, against the brick wall, and then lunged at Ronin.

“No!” I shouted and reached for Dallas’ arm, pushing him against the wall as hard as I could, until I saw the bottle drop out of his hand.

He swung his other arm around and hit me in the face, the pain searing my jaw.

The next moment was a haze of shouting and screams, and the arrival, thank fuck, of Lennie and Petyr and Regan.

When they pulled Dallas away, I noticed Ronin collapsing, holding his hand to his chest.

The last thing I remember was him calling out my name.

“Faise, wake up.”

Brodie?

I blinked and opened my eyes to find him and Holls standing beside me. I was lying in a bed, but definitely not my own. It was the smell. Disinfectant and plastic. Oh God, not a hospital.

My face was aching, like I had a sore tooth. Then I remembered the party, and searching for Ronin. Ciara’s boyfriend holding her against the wall. Dallas lunging at Ronin.

Ronin…

“Ro!” I shouted and made to get up off the bed.

“He’s getting stitches, he’s okay,” Holls reassured me. But his red-rimmed eyes told me just how upset he was. He and Brodie both had wet streaks down their faces, and bloodshot eyes. “You guys scared the crap out of us.”

Van and Dawson were standing in the corner of the room, talking quietly, along with Petyr, Valen, and Regan.

“Ciara?”

“She’s fine, they gave her a sedative. Police are on their way to take your statements if you’re up to it.”

“Fuck.” I rubbed my eyes as the tears flowed. “I need to see him. Now!”

“I’ll see if he’s ready,” Brodie nodded and stalked out of the room, Van following him.

“Thank fuck you texted Lennie when you did,” Holloway’s voice shook. “God knows what would have happened. Shit, it’s like my fucking stalker all over again.”

He bit his lower lip, and his eyes were as watery as mine.

“I shouldn’t have left the party without telling Len. It was stupid. I just ran out the door ‘cause I wanted to find Ro.”

Brodie re-entered the room and Ciara was with him. Her makeup was streaked, mixed with tears, as she walked up to the bed and leaned down to hug me.

When she cupped my face in her hand, I spotted the dark bruise just above her wrist.

And the red marks around her neck. Dallas’ handprint. Jesus Christ.

“I’m so, so sorry,” she cried as she sat down beside me.

“This is not your fault.”

“But it is.” She sniffled. “I should’ve known better. He’s been getting worse. And tonight, when Dallas saw me talking to you?—”

“How long has he been abusing you?”

She chocked on a sob and swiped at her face.

“About a month after we started dating.” She paused and rolled up her jacket sleeves.

Holloway gasped. Or maybe that was me. Both of Ciara’s arms were littered with violet bruises.

“This one on my wrist is from three nights ago. I was late getting home. He doesn’t hit as hard when he knows I have to report to work. Not as long as I do as he says.”

It shouldn’t happen at all. No wonder Ronin had confronted Dallas.

“Ci, no one should hurt you like that,” I implored. “No matter what.”

Ciara’s eyes welled up.

“I know. I know. I just… I just don’t know how all this happened. How it got so bad. When I moved to New York, I didn’t know anyone. I felt so alone. Suddenly, Dallas was there, and he was relentless in pursuing me. I just couldn’t help falling, at first. But then,” she paused and wiped her eyes. “After we were dating a few weeks, things were different. He started in on me, telling me I’d forgotten things, like when to meet up for our dates. I started to wonder if maybe he was right. Maybe I was stupid and forgetful. Then he told me to stop texting Ro. Said I was too dependent on my family, I needed to toughen up. I knew something wasn’t right, but I kept thinking it was just my imagination. I thought it was just me.”

She leaned forward and let out a shaky sigh. “Then Dallas started losing his temper at the slightest thing. When he hit me the first time, I was too shocked to believe it. We’d been at a bar that night, and he thought I was flirting with someone else. He slapped my face so hard my jaw ached for a week. But he was apologetic afterwards, said it would never happen again. Until a week later, only, this time he made sure to hit me where no one would see. And what could I do? He’s a police officer. Who would believe me?”

She wrung her hands together, pausing to wipe her face.

“Dallas didn’t want to come down to Nashville, but I insisted. Something was telling me I needed to see Ro. I thought maybe, I could finally admit what was going on. But I was still scared. And now Ro’s hurt, and you’re hurt, and it’s all my fault.”

Her words were muffled by her sobs as she shook her head.

“Hey, no, it’s okay. Ro’s fine,” Holloway reassured her. “So’s Faise.”

I nodded. “I am. And you’re gonna be too.”

“I’m scared to go back home.”

I reached for her hand, and she tentatively took it. “You can stay with Ro for now.”

“But my life in New York, my job, the lease?—”

“You can find another job. And apartment leases can be broken.”

“Yeah, what Faise said.”

The sudden interruption of Ronin’s voice had fresh tears welling up in my eyes.

A nurse wheeled him into the room. Ronin was pale, with dark circles under his eyes, and a large bandage on his chest.

When his eyes met mine, I knew right then that tomorrow couldn’t wait.

“I’m so sorry about all this,” Ciara whispered. “I’m so embarrassed.”

“Nothing to be embarrassed about. We’ve all dated dickheads,” I remarked, trying to ease the tension.

“You have,” Ronin quipped from the other side of my bed. “Not me.”

I gave him my favorite finger, and he blew me a kiss. We were back to status quo.

Ciara shook her head and looked at me and then Ronin. “You guys never change.”

“I don’t think that’s entirely true,” I replied as I stared into Ronin’s unforgettable blues.

The intense look he gave me told me that maybe, just maybe, he was thinking the same.

A lot had changed. For the better or worse, I still didn’t know yet. But I knew I had to find out.

“Everything is so fucked up,” she sighed.

She slowly peeled off her suit jacket to reveal a roadmap of bruises up and down both arms.

“Jesus Christ!” Ronin hissed. “Ci?—”

“It’s been happening a while now,” she whispered as she put her jacket back on. “That’s why I came down here. I didn’t want to tell you over the phone. Then I got scared.”

“Anything you need, anything, I’m here.”

“That goes for me too,” I added.

“I haven’t told Mom,” she confessed. “I couldn’t. I was so ashamed. That’s part of the reason I stopped calling. I just knew that as soon as you heard my voice, you’d know.”

“Hey, it’s all right,” Ronin whispered as he reached across the bed for her hand. “You know you can always come to me. And thank fuck you did.”

Van and Brodie, accompanied by Jesse, Averell, and Dawson, entered the room, concern all over their faces.

“How’s everyone doing?” Van asked. “Do you need anything?”

Brodie’s husband wasn’t just our former manager. He was part of our family.

“Everything I need is right here,” Ronin declared.

I couldn’t have said it better myself.