13. Booker

Chapter 13

Booker

B rynne was supposed to be off work forty-five minutes ago and pulling up to the ranch half an hour ago, but yet, her car was nowhere to be seen. My laptop sat on the desk in front of me, the screen the same as it was when my eyes drifted to the driveway out the window a while ago, waiting for her arrival.

Another minute ticked by, and before I could stop myself, I was shoving out of my chair, leaving the computer open. I grabbed my black cowboy hat from the hook, shoving it on my head as I passed through the kitchen.

"Where are you off to in such a rush?" Austin called over the back of the couch. Henley wasn't around, most likely off getting into more trouble, despite our advice to quit getting involved in that shit.

"Going to town." If I said it was to look for Brynne, he'd know my feelings ran too deep for her.

He turned back to the TV, an arm draped over the back cushion. "Let me know how Brynne is."

I grunted, walking out of the house to my truck. I wasted no time, the engine roaring to life as I buckled, then headed toward town. I passed by the diner first, but moved on once I saw the restaurant was closed with the parking lot empty.

My truck slowly cruised by every side lot, not finding her vehicle. What if she was at McKenna's house, having some girl time? I was probably just overreacting when I had no business to. Turning down another block, my eyes landed on her sedan parked out front of the gym. The growing tightness in my chest eased a fraction as I realized she had only stopped for a workout after her shift. Now that I knew she was fine, I should've gone home, but instead, I pulled into the spot behind her car. A word with her definitely could have waited until she was back at the house, but I wanted it to be clear that she'd text if she was going to be late again.

Killing the engine, I got out, making my way around the front of the truck to head inside the building. The windows were foggy from the condensation outside, and there was old graffiti littering the brick. Right as I grabbed the door handle, a scream ripped through the air, and I was moving.

I crossed the gym in less than a second, following the panicked sound to the locker room. As soon as I stormed into the space and saw Brynne pinned by some man, my fists clenched so hard, my fingers nearly broke. I didn't hesitate, rushing over to them and grabbing the man's shoulder. With enough space to not accidentally hit Brynne, my fist swung, slamming into his nose. A satisfying crunch echoed as he let her go, but I didn't spare her a glance as I shoved him back, landing punch after punch into his sick fucking face.

He touched her, and that was a fucking mistake.

Brynne's rushed breaths came from behind me as the man's back hit the white cinder block wall. Blood sprayed from his mouth, nose, and other abrasions my fists brought forth. I wasn't leaving until he was fucking dead.

He tried to fight back, but he had no leverage. He wouldn't fucking get any. After a dozen or so punches, he started to slump, but I grabbed his arm, slamming it against the wall. With his palm exposed, I whipped the switchblade out of my jeans, sending the blade straight through the center of his hand. He screamed out in pain, his eyes both swollen. His face was already a deep galaxy of purples and reds.

With the knife sticking out of his palm, I grabbed his chin with my free hand, pushing his head back against the wall. "You touched the wrong fucking girl."

"Her boyfriend owes us," he croaked.

The term made my hand move on its own accord, squeezing around his fingers so they'd close over the knife in his skin. He yelled as the sharp edge ground against the tendons.

"If I let you walk away from this alive, you'll tell your boss to leave her the fuck alone." My voice boomed through the space, leaving no room for argument. "But unfortunately for you, I'm not feeling very generous tonight."

I ripped the blade from his hand, then sank it into the skin of his neck. Red splattered the wall, blood spurting to the ground as I let the man fall at my feet. I watched as he bled out, choking on the liquid. If I'd had the time, I'd have made him suffer longer. Pulled more information from him. But Brynne was behind me, potentially hurt, and for some fucking reason, I wanted to go to her more than I wanted to torture him.

As he struggled on the hard floor, I finally turned to Brynne. She was curled up in a ball, her breathing so fast, I was sure she'd pass out if she didn't calm down. I crossed to her, kneeling in front of her. Her eyes were vacant as she stared at the man on the ground.

I needed to get her out of here.

I grabbed her hands, forcing her to a stand, then wrapped one arm around her shoulder, leading her out of the locker room. Halfway across the gym, her steps faltered, and I pulled her closer to my side. "Almost there, Brynne."

As if the sound of my voice spiked her panic, her breathing came faster, and she tripped. Instantly, I scooped her into my arms, not missing a beat, and shoved out the door with my shoulder. "Few more feet."

Grabbing the handle, I opened the door to my truck and gently set her on the passenger seat. I buckled her in, then closed the door and went around to my side, sliding in beside her. As I started the truck, her breathing seemed to slow the slightest, though it wasn't much better than before.

I pulled onto the main street, speeding back toward the ranch. Austin and Henley would clean up the mess, make the body disappear, and it'd be like nothing ever happened. It wasn't the first time we'd had to hide a body.

As I turned onto the main highway that led to the ranch, Brynne's breathing picked up again, her chest rising and falling as I glanced over to find her hands shaking uncontrollably. She wouldn't make it.

Pulling into a turn-off, I kept the engine idling as I got out and went around to the passenger side. I opened the door, unbuckling her to pull her knees my way so that she was facing me. My palms, red and smeared with the man's blood, cupped her cheeks. The dim light of the cab exposed her red cheek, and it made me want to go back there and skin him alive.

"Hey. Hey," I said, softening my tone. Her eyes were frantic, tears spilling from them. My thumb stroked the soft skin of her face. "Brynne. Look at me."

She did, and I fucking hated the pain I saw in them.

"You're safe. I've got you."

Her hands came up to wrap around my forearms, her shaking limbs worrying the fuck out of me. The feeling was foreign. Why the fuck did I care so much if she hyperventilated and passed out? It'd get her to calm down. I mentally cursed myself for even thinking that. That's not what I wanted.

"Deep breaths, okay?" She tried, and I talked her through it. "Swallow your fear, Darlin'. Don't let it control you. Bend that fear to your advantage and use it as fuel."

Because if she didn't, she'd never make it through this life.

She tried to swallow, tried to nod, as she inhaled through her nose.

"That's a good girl," I murmured. I inhaled slowly, then released it through my mouth to show her, but I didn't know what the fuck I was doing. I'd never talked someone off a ledge before.

Once her chest was rising and falling at a slower rate, I noticed a portion of her hair was caked in blood. She was bleeding.

"I'm going to get you home so I can take care of you, okay? Only ten more minutes."

She nodded, her fingers digging into my arms. I let her. I'd let her do whatever she wanted if it meant she was calm. That she was okay.

I slid my hands from her cheeks, situating her back in her seat and buckling her in. After closing her door, I got back in on my side and continued on toward the ranch. Barely ten minutes later, we were pulling up the driveway and I was turning off the truck. My boots hit the dirt, and I opened her door a moment later. She'd unbuckled, her fingers unhooking from the belt as it retracted back into place.

Sliding my hand into hers, I helped her down from the truck and closed the door behind her. Keeping it grasped in mine, I led her up the porch steps and into the house. Austin and Henley were in the kitchen cooking something, and the moment they saw Brynne's current disheveled state, they paused their movements. I gave them a warning look not to say anything, and tilted my head in the direction of the door. They knew it meant they needed to clean up the mess. Usually, I'd go with them, but right now, Brynne was my top priority. I'd send them a text with the details once I got her upstairs.

Austin nodded his understanding, then tapped Henley's elbow. Brynne and I headed up to the second story, and not for the first time, I brought her to my bedroom instead of the one she was staying in. I hated that it was my first instinct, but I wanted her close and in my space.

I led her into the attached bathroom, not releasing her as I turned on the hot water faucet for the tub. I plugged the drain, then turned to her as I gave it time to fill. Her eyes were vacant, lost in space as she stood there staring at the water. I finally dropped her hand to come around behind her. The back of her hair was matted with blood, but thankfully, it was dry now, indicating the gash had clotted. I pulled her hair loose from her ponytail before coming back around to gently grip the hem of her crop top and pull it over her head. Letting it pool on the ground, I worked on getting her out of her sports bra. Once she was topless, I knelt before her to unlace her shoes, then slipped those off along with her socks. Staying crouched, I slid her leggings down, then her underwear, and helped her step out of them. By the time I undressed myself, the water was halfway up the tub. I turned the handle to stop the water.

I grabbed her hand again, helping her step into the steaming water. After she sank in, I got in behind her, placing my legs on either side of her hips. With my back to the porcelain, I eased her to my chest, wrapping my arms around her. My intention was to get her clean, but for a few moments, I could hold her. Just for tonight.

She didn't move a muscle as she sat there, my thumb running up and down her delicate skin. She was so fragile, so breakable in this moment, and a piece of me loathed that some stranger managed to break her determined attitude in the span of a few minutes. One misstep was all it took, and she was shattered.

"You want to tell me what happened?" I murmured, continuing my strokes.

I gave her a moment to decide where to start as she took a steadying breath.

"I was finishing up at the gym when he came out of nowhere," she said, her arms tensing the slightest bit. "I tried to get away, but he slung me over his shoulder and had me against the wall in seconds."

I used every piece of restraint in my body to keep my hands from tightening on her. Just the thought of some other man handling her like that had my mind slipping to dark places I wasn't sure I'd be able to pull myself out of. Not that I wanted to. I'd already proved I'd kill for her. Hurt for her.

I was quickly finding there were no limits to how far I would go when it came to Brynne.

"The glass on the mirror cut me, I think," she said, finally moving. She lifted a hand to the back of her scalp, prodding around until she winced slightly, finding the gash.

"It's not bleeding anymore," I reassured her.

She brought her hand back under the water, red seeping through the clear tub like tendrils of smoke.

"I tried to fight back," she continued, her voice gaining some of her usual self again. Determination. Strength. And that little bit of sass I was coming to like. "But it didn't go so well. And then you came in."

"Was it the same man from the diner?"

She shook her head, leaning back into me further. "No."

Knowing Chase's boss was sending multiple people to threaten her for answers didn't comfort me in the slightest. They wanted what he had, and they were determined to get it by whatever means necessary.

Unfortunately for them, I didn't allow anyone to put their hands on what was mine, and until I got that deed back, Brynne was mine to protect. I wouldn't let them use her as some chess piece because of her ex-boyfriend.

Silently, I wet her hair in the tub, not caring about the red tinge the water turned as I did. I washed her hair, scrubbed every inch of her body with soap, then helped dry her off afterward. Once she was in bed, wrapped in my shirt, I went downstairs to wait for Austin and Henley to get home.

I had a plan.