Chapter 24

Dominick

Chloe hasn't said so much as a handful of words since we got back to the penthouse. I've gotten her water and put on some silly TV show for her, but she's just not herself.

I don't blame her, of course, but I'm worried.

"Is there anything else I can get you?" Tell me how to fix this for you .

"No." She shakes her head. "I'm just tired. I think I'll go lie down."

"I promise you, Chloe. That guy won't get away with this. The police are searching for him, and I know Sean is combing the area around the club with the team."

"I know, Dom. This day has just been a lot."

"I get it. Go get some rest."

Chloe offers a weak smile and then pads off toward the bedroom.

I hang my head, sighing so damn hard.

This fucking attack was a new low, and Ethan's escalations don't bode well. I know he's just sitting behind the scenes, coming up with ways to torture Chloe.

It's fucking bullshit.

I can't head straight to bed after her. I'm too wired, so I stay up in my home office and go over the deets on Ethan and company again.

I also call Cameron.

"Hey, Dom. It's fucking late as hell. What's up?"

"Yasmin was attacked at the club. Craig got a concussion out of it, too."

I hear Cam shuffle with the phone, likely getting up to start pacing since he always does that when he's taking a call.

"Holy shit. Is she okay?"

There's intense worry in his voice, and I know this kind of thing is a bit triggering for him. His sister had been through a lot while he was away with us in the military.

It hits close to home, and don't I know exactly how he fucking feels.

"She had surgery. I got a call from the hospital a few minutes ago. She's in recovery, and now it's just fucking waiting."

"Jesus." I can hear typing on the other end, and Cam sounds farther away when he speaks next. "This that Ethan asshole?"

"Yeah."

"Fantastic. I'm adding it to the running document. We'll have plenty to throw at him if we can ever get evidence linking him to the events."

I sigh. "The guy was wearing a ski mask. Definitely some flunky. He ran off."

"Well, shit." Cam's other cell rings in the background. "Fuck. Hold on."

He's not gone long, and I know that phone is used for his lawyering bullshit, so I'm not surprised it rings so late.

"Well, I've got good news. The flunky was arrested."

I sit up straighter in my chair. "The cops brought him in, like, an hour ago. Just called the club's lawyers to see if we're pressing charges. I assume it's a yes ?"

"Duh."

"Good, that's what I said. Also said that Sean was especially helpful, as was the rest of the team, in helping to apprehend the suspect."

"Oh, sure." I scoff. "So what they mean is, Sean tracked down the guy and then called them."

"Basically."

"Assholes. Leave it to them to take their time getting to my club. We'd left in the ambulance, and I still hadn't seen them."

"Ambulance? You okay there, buddy?" I can practically see Cam's cocked brow.

"Fine. Chloe wanted to see what was going on with Yasmin. She's taking it really hard."

"I can imagine. This Ethan guy is a crafty fucker. He's dodged all sorts of paper trails while still managing to send Chloe threats and have someone get to Yasmin."

The name is a growl as Cam speaks, and if I didn't know any better, I'd think he was especially pissed that it was her.

"Which is why we need to do something about this. Do you have any more information?"

I lean back in my chair, closing my eyes against the frustration swirling in my brain.

"Unfortunately, no. The police made it sound like the guy was just a random thug. I'll see if I can get in to talk with him before he lawyers up."

"Okay." I pinch the bridge of my nose. "Thanks."

"Who's that?"

I look over and see Chloe standing in the doorway.

"It's Cameron." I hold up my finger. "Hey, I need to go. Call me with anything."

"Sure thing, Dom."

I quickly hang up, sliding my cell in my pocket, and head over to Chloe, wrapping my arms around her.

"I thought you were going to get some sleep?"

She shrugs. "I heard talking. What did Cameron say?"

Walking her toward the living room so we can sit on the couch, I plop down first, pulling Chloe into my lap.

"Well, they caught the guy that assaulted Yasmin. He's in custody."

Chloe shoots up a bit in my arms, her eyes flaring wide. "Did he say anything?"

"Not that I'm aware of. Cameron said he was just a nobody doing a job. He's going to try and talk to him before the guy's lawyer shows up, though."

"Okay." Chloe nods a few times. "Well, I guess that's good. At least Yasmin's attacker will go to jail."

I'm all too familiar with how this shit works by now. If the asshole does promise to talk, the DA will cut him a deal, and the guy won't face much time behind bars.

Plus, there's the all too real possibility that he'll get his punishment in jail.

Ethan won't like people squealing if he's anything like every other criminal fucker out there. He might have the resources to have someone kill the guy while in police custody.

"Yes. Cops will do everything they can."

"Have you heard anything about Yasmin?" Chloe raises her brows at me.

I sigh. "She's out of surgery and in recovery. She's resting."

I'm not breaking this woman's heart any more than I have to. Yeah, it's still very much touch and go, but there's no way in hell I'm telling Chloe that.

"Oh, okay. Well, I guess that's good, too. Yasmin got through surgery. That had to be the hard part."

Tucking a hair behind her ear, I can hear the strain in Chloe's voice. She's hanging on by a thread and trying to keep herself thinking positively.

There are also the dark circles under her eyes, and her head rests heavy on my shoulder.

"Let's get you back to bed."

I scoop Chloe up into my arms, carrying her to the bedroom. As I lie her down, I pull the covers up around her shoulders.

"I'll be back in just a few minutes. I'm going to make sure the house is all locked up."

"Okay."

Chloe fights me about everything. It's a fundamental part of her personality. She's not doing any of that right now.

Like I've flipped the switch, she passes right out, and I go about my rounds, making sure each door is locked, windows, too, and the security system is armed.

Snoring like a lumberjack when I get back to the bedroom, Chloe is curled up into a little ball beneath the comforter.

She looks small and so vulnerable; all I want in the world is to take her anywhere all this drama isn't.

It's only been a few weeks, but I know I'd do anything for her. Hell, I would have done that on day one, if I'm being honest.

I get ready to join her, shucking my slacks and plugging in my phone to charge. Unbuttoning my shirt and tossing it on the chair off to the side, I slide into the bed next to her.

I won't open the club tomorrow. Too much shit went down tonight, and I want to spend every second I can with Chloe.

After all this drama, I'm not letting her out of my sight anytime soon.