Chapter 21

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Iris

My head throbs as I blink open my eyes, the world swimming into focus.

Candy's face hovers above me, her blue eyes wide with panic.

A soft blanket is draped over my body, and I realize I'm lying on the cold floor at Satin Dreams.

"Oh thank God, you're awake!" Candy exclaims, her voice shrill with worry. "Are you okay, Iris? What happened?"

I try to push myself up, but pain lances through my body.

Every movement sends shockwaves of agony rippling outward. "I...I don't know," I stammer, my voice raspy.

My throat feels raw, like I've been screaming. "Why am I on the floor?"

Candy's perfectly plucked brows furrow as she gently presses a hand to my shoulder, easing me back down. "Don't try to move, honey. I found you like this when I came in for my shift. You were just...lying here."

Panic claws its way up my throat as I take in my surroundings.

Candy doesn't look convinced. "I’m going to call Viper. He'll want to know?—"

"No!" The word bursts out of me with surprising force. Candy recoils slightly, startled by my vehemence. I take a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. "I mean...not yet. Let's just...give me a minute to get my bearings, okay?"

She nods reluctantly. "Okay, but if you're not feeling better in a few minutes, I'm calling him. Deal?"

I manage a weak smile. "Deal."

A chill runs down my spine as I realize how vulnerable I am.

"Candy," I say hesitantly. "Did you...did you see anyone else when you came in? Or notice anything strange?"

She shakes her head. "No, the club was empty. I just found you here on the floor. Bloody, clothes ripped…"

As Candy settles in beside me, I close my eyes and try to focus.

To push past the fear and pain and reach for the memories that seem just out of reach.

But all I get are flashes—the sound of a door opening, the feeling of hands on my skin, a voice that sends a chill down my spine.

My eyes fly open, my heart racing.

"Lyon," I whisper, the name falling from my lips like a curse.

Candy leans in, her brow furrowed. "Lyon? Your ex? Was he here?"

I shake my head, frustrated. "Yes."

As I speak, more fragments come floating back.

The shock of seeing Lyon walk into the club.

The anger in his eyes, the cruel twist of his lips.

The way he cornered me at the bar, his words sharp with malice.

"You think you can just walk away from me?" His voice echoes in my mind, dripping with venom. "You're mine, Iris. Always have been, always will be."

A sob catches in my throat as the memories assault me.

Candy wraps an arm around my shoulders, pulling me close. "It's okay, honey. You're safe now. I've got you."

I cling to her, trembling. "He was here, Candy. Lyon was here. He...he..." I can't bring myself to say the words, to give voice to the horror that's slowly coming back to me.

We sit in silence for a moment, Candy's presence a comforting anchor as I try to process what happened.

The pain in my body takes on a new, horrifying context as more memories surface.

"I fought back," I whisper, more to myself than to Candy. "I know I did. I wouldn't just let him..."

"Of course you did," Candy says fiercely. "You're the strongest person I know, Iris. This isn't your fault. None of it is."

I nod, trying to believe her words.

But shame and guilt twist in my gut, poisonous thoughts whispering that I should have been stronger, should have seen this coming, should have...

The sound of the club's front door slamming open startles us both.

Candy jumps to her feet, positioning herself protectively in front of me.

"Who's there?" she calls out, her voice steady despite the fear I can see in her eyes.

"Candy? Iris?" A familiar voice rings out, and relief washes over me.

"We're back here behind the bar, Rosa!" Candy calls back.

Footsteps approach rapidly, and then Rosa bursts behind the bar, Viper right behind her.

They both freeze at the sight of me on the floor, Candy hovering protectively nearby.

"Jesus Christ," Viper breathes, his eyes widening with shock and anger. "What the fuck happened?"

Rosa rushes to my side, kneeling beside me. "Iris, honey, are you okay? Who did this to you?"

I open my mouth to answer, but no words come out.

Instead, a sob tears its way out of my throat.

All the fear and pain and anger I've been holding back come crashing over me.

Viper grits out. “What the fuck happened here?! Huh?!”

Candy's voice trembles as she fills the heavy silence. "I... I came in to get ready for my shift and found her like this. On the floor, clothes torn..." Her eyes flick to mine, filled with anguish. "She's bleeding, Viper. Between her legs."

The words hang in the air, stark and brutal.

My mind reels, desperately trying to process what Candy's saying.

But as I lie there, feeling the cold floor against my bare skin and the dull ache between my thighs, reality comes crashing down.

Memories flood back in a sickening rush. Lyon's face, twisted with rage.

His hands on me, rough and violent.

The sharp pain as he backhanded me, stumbling and falling on the floor, his hands wrapped around my neck.

Then... darkness.

"Lyon," I choke out, my voice barely above a whisper. "He came into the club. He attacked me. And... and..." I can't bring myself to say the words, but the horrified understanding in their eyes tells me I don't need to.

Nausea roils in my stomach as the full realization hits me.

Lyon raped me.

The thought loops in my head, each repetition bringing a fresh wave of revulsion and shame.

A small, detached part of my brain notes with bitter irony that at least I wasn't conscious for the act itself.

"That motherfucker," Viper growls, his fists clenching at his sides. "I'll kill him."

"Viper," Rosa warns, but her own eyes are blazing with fury.

I try to push myself up, wanting to appear stronger than I feel, but a sharp pain lances through my back.

I cry out, collapsing back onto the floor.

"Don't move, honey," Candy says, her hand gentle on my shoulder. "We need to get you to a hospital."

The thought of more strangers seeing me like this, touching me, examining me... it's almost too much to bear.

But I know she's right. I nod weakly, fighting back tears.

"I'm so sorry," I whisper, though I'm not sure who I'm apologizing to.

Maybe to all of them. Maybe to myself.

Rosa leans in, her voice fierce but kind. "This is not your fault, Iris. You hear me? None of this is on you."

I want to believe her.

God, I want to believe her so badly.

But shame and self-doubt claw at me, insidious voices whispering that I should have been stronger, smarter, on alert.

As Viper calls for an ambulance, I close my eyes, trying to shut out the world.

As he pulls out his phone, I close my eyes, fighting another wave of tears.

I should be stronger than this.

I'm Iris fucking Ashton.

I've dealt with asshole exes and creepy clients.

I've reinvented myself more times than I can count.

But right now, lying broken on the floor of my own club, I feel utterly powerless.

"Stay with me, Iris," Viper's voice cuts through my spiraling thoughts. He's on the phone with 911, his tone clipped and urgent. "Help's coming. You're gonna be okay."

I want to believe him. I want to be the badass he sees me as.

But right now, all I can do is lie here, hurting and afraid, waiting for whatever comes next.

I reach out, desperately grasping for Viper's hand.

My fingers find his, and I cling to him like he's my lifeline in a storm.

His skin is warm, calloused, familiar.

It grounds me, even as my world spins out of control.

"Everything is gonna be all right, baby girl. I promise." Viper's voice is low, soothing.

I want to believe him so badly it aches.

The words hang in the air, heavy and suffocating.

Pure, unadulterated rage transforms his face.

His jaw clenches, a muscle ticking.

His eyes, usually warm when they look at me, have gone cold and deadly.

It's a reminder of the man he used to be, the monster who spent fifteen years behind bars.

He meets my gaze, and I see the storm of emotions there—fury, pain, and underneath it all, a fierce protectiveness that both comforts and terrifies me.

A shiver runs through me, equal parts fear and... something else.

Something I'm not ready to examine too closely right now. "Viper," I whisper, my voice cracking. "I..."

But I don't know what to say.

I'm torn between wanting him to hold me and never let go, and the irrational fear that he'll see me differently now.

Damaged.

Weak.

Instead, I tighten my grip on his hand. "Just... stay with me? Please?"

His expression softens, just a fraction. "I'm not going anywhere, baby girl. I've got you."

The wail of sirens pierces the air, growing louder as they approach.

I flinch at the sound, my body tensing reflexively.

Viper's hand tightens around mine, a silent reassurance.

"They're here," he murmurs, his voice a low rumble that grounds me.

The club doors burst open, and two EMTs rush in, wheeling a stretcher.

Their efficiency is both comforting and terrifying.

This is real.

This is really happening.

"Ma'am, can you tell us your name?" one of them asks, kneeling beside me.

"Iris," I manage, my voice barely above a whisper. "Iris Ashton."

They work quickly, asking questions about my pain level, what happened.

I answer, feeling oddly detached from my own body.

"We need to stabilize your neck and back before we move you," the other EMT explains. "This might be a bit uncomfortable."

I nod, bracing myself.

As they carefully fit the neck brace, I can't help but think how surreal this all is.

Just hours ago, I was feeling powerful and in control. Now...

They secure me to the backboard, and the pain that shoots through me is blinding.

I bite back a scream, tasting blood where I've bitten my lip.

"Easy, baby girl," Viper says, his voice tight with concern. "You're doing great."

As they lift me onto the stretcher, one of the EMTs turns to Viper. "We're taking her to Tinsel Creek Central. It's the closest trauma center."

Viper nods, his expression grim. "I'll be right behind you."

As they wheel me out, the Montana cold hits me like a wall.

I squint against the harsh sunlight, suddenly missing the dim interior of the club.

"Viper," I call out, panic rising in my chest.

He's there in an instant, his face filling my limited field of vision. "I'm here, Iris. I'm following right behind, okay? I'll meet you there."

I want to nod, to say something, but the words won't come.

Instead, I watch as he grows smaller, the ambulance doors closing between us.

The siren starts up again as we pull away, and I close my eyes, trying to breathe through the pain and fear.

I don't know how much time has passed when I open my eyes again.

The white ceiling and antiseptic smell tell me I'm in the hospital before I even fully register my surroundings.

"Hey, you're awake," Viper's voice comes from beside me.

I turn my head slightly—grateful to find the neck brace gone—and see him sitting in a chair next to the bed.

He looks exhausted, worry lines etched deep around his eyes.

"How long...?" I start to ask, but my throat is dry, the words catching.

Viper reaches for a cup of water, helping me take a sip. "A few hours. They ran some tests, gave you something for the pain. How are you feeling?"

I consider the question.

The sharp pain in my back has dulled to a persistent ache, and my head feels fuzzy. "Like I got hit by a truck," I admit. "But better than before."

He nods, squeezing my hand. "The doctor should be in soon with the results."

As if on cue, there's a knock at the door, and a woman in a white coat enters. "Ms. Ashton? I'm Dr. Patel. How are you feeling?"

I repeat my truck analogy, which earns me a small smile. "That's to be expected," she says. "We've got your initial test results back, but we need to run one more. We'd like to do an ultrasound."

My brow furrows in confusion. "An ultrasound? Is that... for my back?"

Dr. Patel's expression turns serious. "Ms. Ashton, before I answer that, I need to ask—do I have your permission to speak freely in front of Mr. Beckett here?"

I glance at Viper, seeing the concern in his eyes.

Despite everything, there's no one I trust more. "Yes," I say, turning back to the doctor. "Whatever it is, you can say it."

Dr. Patel nods, her voice gentle but firm as she says, "We need to do an ultrasound to check on the baby's condition."

The world seems to tilt. "Baby?" I repeat, the word feeling foreign on my tongue. "What baby?"

My heart races as I try to process this bombshell.

A baby?

How?

When?

My mind whirls, grasping for any sense of control.

I turn to Viper, expecting to see shock mirroring my own, but instead, I'm met with a radiant smile.

His eyes are lit up like I've never seen before, a mix of joy and wonder etched across his face.

"We're having a baby?" he whispers, his voice thick with emotion.

His happiness only intensifies my panic.

This wasn't planned.

This wasn't supposed to happen.

I'm barely holding my own life together, how am I supposed to be responsible for another human being?

"I... I can't..." I stammer, feeling overwhelmed. "I don't know how to be a mother. I'm not ready for this."

Dr. Patel's voice cuts through my spiraling thoughts. "Ms. Ashton, I understand this is a lot to take in. We'll have a nurse take you for the ultrasound shortly. We'll be extra careful due to your broken ribs."

Broken ribs.

Right.

That explains the searing pain in my back.

Viper leans in close, his warm hand enveloping mine. "Hey, baby girl, look at me," he says softly. "We're gonna deal with this together, okay? Don't freak out."

I want to believe him, to feel his confidence, but fear grips me tight. "Viper," I choke out, "we can't keep hiding anymore. We can't wait for Allegra to leave. We need to tell her... about us, about this. And I... I want to be the one to tell her."

He nods slowly, understanding the weight of what I'm saying. "Okay," he agrees. "If that's what you want, we'll do it."

His support should comfort me, but I can't shake the dread. "What if she hates me? What if I mess this up? God, Viper, I'm so scared."

Viper's tattooed arms wrap around me gently, mindful of my injuries. "I love you, Iris," he says fiercely. "We'll figure this out. I promise."

Despite everything, a warmth spreads through me at his words.

"I love you too," I whisper back, clinging to him like a lifeline in the storm of my emotions.