Chapter 41

FORTY-ONE

Canyon

I'd just made the turn onto Wilshire Boulevard, having stopped to pick up flowers for Saylor. I'm not really apologizing for anything, but it feels important to bring her something. And she loves flowers.

Then Ally called, and all hell broke loose.

I can't remember exactly what happened after that.

Ally had been crying, something about Russell and a knife and Saylor being in trouble.

Somehow, her garbled, hysterical words had penetrated my confusion and I barely stopped the car before jumping out. The front door of the gallery had been locked so I'd run around the corner and down the alley, full speed, praying I wasn't too late.

The scene I found when I walked in made me see red.

Fury exploded out of me, and I don't have much recollection of pulling Russell off of Saylor or how many times I hit him. The knuckles of my right hand are raw, though, and he'd been out cold.

I also didn't realize Ally had followed me into the gallery until I heard her crying.

And holding on to Saylor, whispering, "please don't die… please wake up…"

But Saylor's okay, currently nestled against my chest.

Now that it's over, I'm terrified.

How close had I come to losing her forever?

Would he have choked her if I hadn't arrived? If Ally hadn't gotten away and called me.

The police are here now, taking statements from everyone, but Ally is doing most of the talking. Ironically, she's calmer than the rest of us put together, telling an amazing story of Saylor's bravery. Her protectiveness. Her stupidity.

She'd thrown herself at a man with a gun who probably weighed two times what she weighs.

Yet that's how Ally had gotten away.

"…then Saylor told me to run," Ally told the police officer. "So I did. And called my uncle. Then he came and we found him choking her…"

"Saylor needs to see a doctor," Grim said, finally speaking up when the interrogation had been going on for about thirty minutes. "I know you have more questions for everyone, and they'll be glad to answer them, but she needs to be checked out. You're welcome to come to the hospital to finish talking to us there."

"What's going on? Saylor?" Stevie bursts in the back door. "Oh my God, your neck!"

"It's okay, Stevie." Ally runs to hug her. "Uncle Canyon got here in time to save us."

"To save…" Stevie's voice trails as she looks at me. "Everyone is out front, wondering why the door is locked. I came around back to check since Saylor wasn't answering her phone."

"Russell took it," Saylor whispers.

"I've got it," Grim says, holding it out to me.

"I want a lawyer!" Russell is in handcuffs, huffing and blustering. "And I want to press charges—he assaulted me."

"You assaulted Saylor first!" Ally yells, glaring at him.

"Ally. Hey. It's okay. Let the police handle him." I reach out a hand and pull her against me. Saylor is leaning on one side of me and now Ally's on the other.

My two girls.

I like this feeling.

And I don't plan to let it go.

"Mr. Marks, we're going to have to go down to the station. Mr. Harmon wants to press charges."

"That's not happening." Grim stands up. "Give us a break, Vic. We'll get you the video footage if you give me a little time." He apparently knows the detective who seems to be in charge. "Let us go to the hospital. You can follow us. You have my word Mr. Marks won't go anywhere."

"Where the hell am I going to go?" I mutter. "You think I'm leaving my girls?"

There are some heated words exchanged between Grim and the detective, but they finally come to an agreement.

"All right." Grim turned. "I'll drive Saylor to the hospital, and you can follow behind us. The police will follow."

"I want to ride with Saylor," Ally whispers.

"Honey, I don't think—" I begin.

"It's okay," Grim says. "She can ride with us."

I want to protest, but I'm too agitated.

It's not the first time I've beaten someone bloody, and though I have no regrets, it's not something I ever wanted Ally—or Saylor, for that matter—to see.

What will they think of me?

The last time I did it, I lost my sister and my niece.

That's not a risk I can take this time, but it's too late.

I've already done it.

With Saylor and Ally in the room.

My girls.

I squeeze my hands on the steering wheel of my Ferrari, trying to get my emotions under control as I follow Grim to the hospital. Stevie had said she would stay at the gallery while the police continued their investigation, and from what I've heard, our friends were already headed toward the hospital.

That Russell fucker is going to press charges.

This feels hauntingly familiar, but I don't care.

I would do what I did to Ally's dad a thousand times over again, and it's no different this time.

He had his hands around Saylor's neck.

Choking her.

Trying to kill her.

There is no universe where I wouldn't kill anyone trying to hurt someone I care about. Maybe that makes me a monster. I don't know, but I still wouldn't do anything differently.

I might need a lawyer.

But I'll deal with that once I know Saylor is okay.

That's all I care about right now.

I've worked myself into a mood by the time I get to the hospital, refusing to leave Saylor's side. Ironically, Ally won't leave her side either, so the small cubicle where they're examining her is pretty crowded. Grim is right outside the door, and a few minutes later Rage bursts in.

"Rage." Saylor immediately reaches out a hand to him.

Fuck .

Have I already lost her?

"Hey, hon." He approaches her gingerly, his eyes on her neck. "What in the fuck did he do?" He turns to Grim. "Did you end that piece of shit?"

Grim chuckles. "Didn't need to. Hockey star over there had him unconscious by the time I arrived."

"Good man." Rage nods at me.

"Yeah, tell that to the cops."

He frowns. "I'll take care of it."

He and Grim leave the room, and I look over at Saylor. The doctor has given instructions and has also left, so now it's just the three of us. As much as I hate to do it, I need a minute with Saylor.

"Ally." I clear my throat. "Do you think?—"

"You need alone time." She nods. "Got it. I'm good." She ambles out into the corridor without another word, and I stare after her for a second, confused. When did the most hormonal kid in L.A. suddenly become cool, calm, and collected?

I'll think about that later.

Right now, I need to talk to Saylor.

"How are you doing, baby?" I ask, reaching for her hand.

She closes her fingers around mine.

"I'm okay. Especially now that you're here."

That's good to hear.

"Look at your neck." I reach out to gently stroke my fingers along the bruises that are already turning purple. "God, I want to hit him again."

"It's okay. You got to me in time."

"I wish I'd been there sooner." I shake my head. "I stopped for flowers."

She smiles. "Where are they?"

"Still in the car. Why?"

"You can bring them to me. I like flowers."

"I know. That's why I bought them."

"Why were you bringing me flowers?"

I meet her gaze directly. "I was coming to get you. Both literally and figuratively."

"You were?" She frowns. "I thought…well, I thought you were focused on Ally."

"I'm a thousand percent focused on Ally. But that doesn't mean I can't focus on you too. Just a little bit less until the playoffs are over. I meant to tell you that the night we ended things, but you broke up with me before I could explain what I was thinking."

"I wanted…" She chews her lip. "I wanted to make it easy for you. How do you choose between a woman you're falling in love with and a kid who has no one else? But Ally needed someone—or maybe a few someones—to have her back."

"Oh, baby." I lean forward, resting my elbows on the edge of the bed next to her. "I'm sorry things got so complicated. Because here's the thing. I'm not falling in love with you anymore. I am in love with you. The timing sucks, and I know I'm not great at this relationship stuff, but?—"

"Canyon." She reaches out and puts a finger on my lips, shushing me. "Stop saying that. You're a great boyfriend. You just saved my life. You're always here when I need you. I don't need a different kind of boyfriend. I just need you."

"I've almost beaten two men to death in my life," I say, meeting her gaze. "I wouldn't blame you if that scares you."

"Scares me?" She reaches up, pulling my face close to hers. "You saved my life. You protected Ally from something horrible. I'd love you less if you'd just stood by and waited for someone else to do something. Seriously. I love everything about you, Canyon Marks. Every single thing."

"You are truly a woman like no other," I whisper, touching my forehead to hers.

We're quiet for a few minutes, just taking it all in and letting a sense of peace wash over us.

"Things are going to be rough for a while," I say finally, brushing my fingers along her cheek. "Between the playoffs and Ally, I'm not going to have a lot of time for romance until summer. But I love you. More than anything. And I want us to start building a life together."

"I don't need romance. Like I said, all I need is you."

"Are you sure?"

"Very, very sure."

"I thought maybe you and…Rage…"

Her eyebrows lift and then she starts to chuckle, shaking her head. "Are you serious right now? You're jealous of Rage?"

"I'm not jealous …I'm realistic. Good-looking guy who seems to like you and is very protective. I mean, why not?"

"First, because he's my bodyguard. Do you know how much I pay the firm for their security services?"

I grimace. "A lot?"

"A whole lot. Yes, we're friends too, but that's all. I haven't looked at another man since the first time you touched me. How could I? There is no one like you, Canyon. Not for me."

I drop my lips to hers, kissing her gently but with a possessiveness I've never felt before. Her tongue slides against mine, just for a few seconds, and I pull away as Ally comes back into the room.

"There are a lot of people here," she says. "Rage is back. Harper called some lawyer, and Stevie and everybody are freaking out, wanting to see Saylor. But I told them they have to wait. Can I let them in yet?"

I laugh at the idea of Ally playing security guard.

"It's going to be fine," Saylor says softly. "Let them in. We have nothing to hide."

"Damn right we don't."