Chapter 4

Idon't know what Rogue had to do to get this address, but I don't think I've ever gotten my shit together so fucking fast. He got me out of jail after I finally got a hold of him. Thank god he's a lawyer with some pull at the hotel. I know how much he hates giving favors, and he probably gave more than he wanted in order to get me out.

As soon as I got back to the hotel room, I showered and got my car from the valet. I'd driven down to the bachelor party, enjoying the ride and taking my time. Now I'm eight hours from home and don't really have a plan for what's next.

The one thing I know for sure is I'm going to see Bambi again. I have to see her and explain what I felt. Maybe I could convince her to go to dinner with me or get a coffee? Five minutes is all it would take for me to convince her that there's something between us. Just like Dad always told us would happen, lightning struck, and I'm not about to ignore it.

I check the address three times as I look up and down the street. Someone who makes a couple of grand a dance should not be living in a place like this. There's trash everywhere, gang markings all over the building, and a homeless camp in the alley with at least half a dozen people sleeping in it. The building itself has a huge crack on one side and some of the windows are busted out. Could someone have given Rogue the wrong information?

I put my SUV in park and get out. I lock it twice and scan the street as I walk up to the building and see if there's a buzzer or anything. The door to get inside is a joke, because not only is there no lock, there's no handle. It looks like it was broken off a long time ago, and a brick props it open.

I walk up the rickety stairs to the third floor. Sirens sound nearby, and that's not the first time I've heard them in the past fifteen minutes. I shake my head and hope I'm wrong as I enter a dingy hallway that smells like mildew.

There are a ton of doors and half of them don't have numbers listed as I scan for the one I'm after. As I walk, I hear televisions and people talking, but then I hear something that sounds like a woman screaming. All the hair on the back of my neck stands up as I walk back from where I came to one of the numberless doors.

I stand there for half a second, making sure this is where I heard the noise, and press my ear to the door. Something breaks within and I hear a strangled cry. Even if this isn't Bambi, I know something is wrong.

With one movement I lean back, raise my foot, and kick the flimsy door so hard it comes off its hinges and bangs to the ground.

In front of me is what nightmares are made of. Bambi is on the ground with her eyes half closed, and the big bouncer from last night is on top of her with his hands around her throat. He looks at me, his eyes widen, and I'm like a bull seeing red.

I lower my shoulder and run straight toward him, knocking him back so hard he hits the wall on the far side of the apartment. The contact rattles my whole body, but I don"t feel a thing. It's probably the adrenaline mixed with the rage, but I see Bambi out of the corner of my eye, coughing as she rolls to her side, and I'm so goddamn thankful she's okay.

I hear Bouncer groan as he struggles to get to his feet. Oh fuck, no, he's not making it out of this room using his legs. I climb over all the mess in the room and stomp on his knee. There's a loud crunch before he screams, and I punch him in the mouth to shut him up. A few more hits and he's nearly out cold, but I grab his face and lean in close.

"Your biggest mistake was putting your hands on my girl." I hold his wrist up and with one twist, it snaps back and he cries out again.

"Angus." I hear her whispered voice from behind me, and I turn around to see Bambi is a mess as she watches me with wide eyes.

"Do you want to kick him in the balls?" I ask, and she takes a second to think it over.

She nods and then changes her mind and shakes her head. "I don't want to hurt my foot."

I stand up and do it for her, because fuck this asshole. He whimpers quietly and then I see he's passed out from the pain. That's too bad, but he'll probably be feeling that for a few days no matter what.

"How—?" She looks around like she's not sure where to begin or what question to ask first.

"Grab a bag. We need to be out of here when he wakes up." I glance into a bedroom next to me and motion for her to come.

"I don't even know you." There are tears in her eyes as she looks at the unconscious bouncer.

I try to think of a way for her to trust me and pull out my cell phone. "Here, you can take this. It's not locked and the favorites in there are my parents and my brother. You can call them and tell them you're coming with me, or call anyone you want, and I'll take you to a safe place. But we can't be here in case he told people where he was going."

I hold out the phone, and she stares at it like she's never seen one before. Then she rubs her neck and decides to take it.

"I'll just hold it for now." She tucks it close and I nod as I go into her room.

"Is this yours?"

She nods. I see a black bag on the floor, and I scoop it up. "Do you have anything of value you want to take?"

She looks around the room and sighs, then shakes her head. "There's nothing of value left. If there was, he would have sold it already."

I wonder if she means the guy passed out on the floor, and god, I hope not. She grabs some clothes, and I hold the bag out for her as she fills it quickly. Once she's finished, I zip it up and throw it over my shoulder. "Let's go."

I grab her coat by the door and help her put it on. Then I take her hand without thinking, and we walk out of the building. My car is out front, and thankfully nobody has messed with it in the time it took me to get her out of there. It's then I notice the all-black car at the end of the block and realize that's probably Bouncer's ride.

"Is there someplace safe I can take you?" I ask as I help her into the passenger seat and buckle her up. She's still a little too shaken to do it herself.

"N-no," she stumbles, and now I'm worried about her going into shock.

"Don't worry, okay? I've got a place." I snap the buckle, and for a moment I just stand there and we look at one another. "I'm going to keep you safe."

She takes a deep breath, and the words must give her strength, because she nods, and I see the trust there. The connection we had last night is still just as strong, and although I want to hug her, I don't. I close the passenger door and get in the driver's side.

"I hope you like road trips."