Chapter 17

Iput on a good face in front of my sister, but I didn’t lie to myself.

Dallas was an abusive asshole and people like him didn’t take no for an answer. His arrest tonight would probably only fuel his anger towards her. Not to mention, news of the incident was going to be plastered all over the tabloids sooner rather than later.

Jesse had assured me the label was doing their best to keep the incident low profile. But a cop, arrested for assault on his girlfriend and her famous brother, and bandmate, was hard to keep silent. Someone would inevitably talk. And I had a bad feeling it might be Dallas himself. Jesse agreed and, in conjunction with our PR lead, Zoe, issued a statement on my behalf.

Right now, all I cared about was Ciara’s security and that of our band family. We needed to get my sister’s things from the hotel and have her speak to a therapist. Then, I was going to bury Dallas Bledsoe in so many lawsuits, he’d be the one fleeing New York.

I watched my best friend as he talked to my sister. Faise’s gentle manner with her had my heart squeezing tight in my chest.

Tears threatened again as I realized how lucky I was to have him in my life. For his calm way with Ci, for sticking up for her and for me, for coming after me, for protecting me. For always being there when I needed him.

“My phone is blowing up,” Ciara admitted as she passed it to me.

“We’ll get you a new number,” Jesse replied. “We’ll take care of it now.”

“Can I be discharged?” I asked. “I want to go home.”

“What about our statements for the police?” Faise asked.

Lennie stepped forward. “I’ll have a word. They can meet us at your house.”

While Van and Jesse arranged for our discharge, Len and the security team, including Regan, had us recall the events of the night, taking detailed notes.

By the time we got out of the hospital and made it back to my house, I was wiped. And the wound on my chest was itching. Thirteen stitches was gonna take a bit of time to heal. The doctors warned me it might scar, and referred me to a plastic surgeon, but I didn’t care. I was okay, and honestly, a scar was the least of my worries.

Sore, exhausted, and in dire need of peace and quiet, I just wanted my bed.

Unfortunately, sleep would have to wait. An unmarked black sedan was waiting just outside the gates to my place.

“It’s the detective assigned to your case,” Regan announced.

Once we drove past the gates and parked, Lennie and Petyr helped us inside and Regan met with the driver of the car.

A blonde woman in a black pantsuit walked up to us and held out her hand. “Sergeant Ailey Collins, I work in the major crimes division.”

“Ronin Stadler, this is my sister Ciara, and my band mate Faisel Reed.”

After the initial introductions, we walked inside and gathered in the living room.

“So, tell me what happened tonight,” Ailey asked. “Ciara, why don’t you go first?”

Ciara held a shaky hand to her head. “Dallas left to go to the bathroom and Faise and I were talking for a while. Then my boyfriend texted me and told me to meet him outside. I told Faise I had to make a call and left the venue.”

“Why outside?”

“Dallas said he was smoking.”

“The hospital took photos of your injuries. Am I correct in assuming that all the bruises on your body are from him?”

Ciara nodded.

“How long has the abuse gone on?” Ailey asked softly.

“Two months,” Ciara admitted. “At first it was things he would say. Telling me I’d forget stuff and making me question my memory.”

“Gaslighting.”

Ciara sighed. “Yes. Then, he’d grab me and shake me when he’d get angry. Once, he slapped my face. Most of the time he left marks where no one could see.”

The longer Ciara spoke, the worse my trembling. Hearing it all over again made me angry and afraid for her.

“And what happened when you left the venue to find him?”

“Dallas was standing right outside and he… he grabbed me and started yelling. He accused me of flirting with Faise. He wanted to leave but I insisted on going back in to say goodbye to Ronin. That’s when he put his hand around my throat and?—”

Ciara paused, shaking her head.

“Take your time,” Ailey encouraged.

“And then,” Ciara started with a shaky breath. “Dallas dragged me into the alley around the corner of the building. I n-nearly tripped because the ground was littered with bottles. Then he hit me so hard I fell down, we struggled, and next t-thing I knew, he had one h-hand around my neck again and a broken bottle in the other. Dallas dragged me up to my feet. He’s s-so strong that I couldn’t fight him off. Suddenly, Ronin was there, and Faise. They tried to get Dallas to calm down but he wouldn’t let go of me. I heard footsteps, someone else was coming near us. That’s when Dallas attacked Ronin and Faise intervened.”

Ailey nodded and passed her tablet to Ciara. “Thank you. I know that wasn’t easy. If you could please e-sign your statement and add your contact details.”

Regan’s phone rang and she answered it in clipped tones. “Petyr, what do you have? … yes… good, send me the link.”

She nodded at Ailey. “The venue has CCTV footage of the street. It corroborates Ciara’s statement about Dallas dragging her away. And it shows Ronin walking in the same direction shortly thereafter, Faise doing the same, and lastly, our security team. No footage on the actual assault though. It doesn’t cover the alley.”

“This guy is supposed to serve and protect, not assault,” I muttered.

“Oh God, I just remembered that he brought his gun with him, he left it in the room safe,” Ciara admitted, her face pale. “What am I going to do? What if he comes after me again? I can’t go back to New York. He’s got so friends there, and most of them are in law enforcement.”

“Hey,” I reached over and pulled her in tight. “You don’t have to do anything right now. And there’s no way you’re going back there by yourself. We’ll figure something out.”

“Can we continue this tomorrow?” Ciara asked. “I need to lie down.”

“Of course, I have enough for now,” Ailey replied. “I’ll get working on the footage and go from there.”

“I have my purse and all my ID with me, but my clothes and other things are at the hotel.”

“We’ll have a police escort so you can collect your items.”

“And bodyguards. Two of my security,” I added.

“Sounds like a plan.” Ailey nodded and pulled out a business card, offering it to Ciara. “Here’s my contact details if you need to reach me.”

“Thank you,” Ciara whispered.

Then Ailey glanced at Regan. “Walk me out?”

Regan headed out with the detective.

“I’m going to head up,” Ciara said.

“Your usual room?” I asked her and she nodded, wiping her eyes.

“I can stay in one of the spares on this floor,” Faise offered.

“No,” I replied, my face flushed. “Can you… I mean—” Fuck, I was never this awkward with him before. But I knew one thing for sure. I didn’t want to be alone. “Stay with me.”

We shared beds all the time—first in our van, then crappy motels, and now five-star hotels and tour bunks. It was no big deal. Only, it felt like it now.

“All right.”

Faise smiled at me, and my body calmed. I couldn’t put into words how grateful I was that he was here.

I’d had my share of hookups spend the night, but I never needed them to stay. Not like I needed him.

That realization hit me with greater force than all the other shocks tonight.