7. Brook

7

brOOK

I wince as I try to roll over in bed. The pain in my side is unbearable if I move a certain way. My head pops up, and suddenly it all comes back to me. The men at the restaurant, the beating, and Walker carrying me in here. A hand covers mine. “How are you feeling?”

My head jerks to the side, and Walker’s sitting in a chair next to the bed, watching me. Oh my God, I showered naked in front of him. Clearly, I wasn’t thinking right. I lower my eyes. “I’m fine.”

My gaze goes to his thighs, and I quickly look away. I’ll never, ever be able to see him again without thinking about being in the shower with him. He was hard. It was obvious, but I’m sure that’s just a normal reaction to the situation. At least that’s what I’m chalking it up to.

He squeezes my hand, and I wait for him to let go, but he doesn’t. “I need to ask you something before Logan comes in.”

I sit up in the bed, refusing to give in to the pain. “Oh my gosh, I fell asleep. He’s been waiting forever. I’m so sorry.”

Walker’s shaking his head and gets up to sit down next to me. His hip is positioned next to my leg, and he’s surrounding me as he puts one arm on the mattress next to me. “He can wait.” He takes a deep breath, and his voice softens. “Brook, I need to know... I saw bruising on your thighs and—well, did they... touch you?”

I gulp. I had wondered when they had me tied up if that was part of their plan. I tried not to show it, but I was scared to death at the time. “Are you asking if they raped me?”

His jaw tightens, and he nods.

“No, they didn’t. They only hit me and kicked me.”

His body tautens next to me, and I can feel the fury in him. Walker is a formidable, intimidating man to most people. I’ve never been scared of him before, but right now he even frightens me. I need to know. “Did they catch them?”

He shakes his head. “Not yet.”

My whole body trembles. I hate this feeling. I hate being scared and afraid. That’s not who I am. I’m stronger than this. My mental pep talk has me straightening my back and pushing the covers down. Walker tries to stop me, but the look on my face has him holding his hands up and back.

“Please get Logan. He can check me over, and then I’m going to get out of your hair,” I tell him with more determination than I’m actually feeling.

He pushes my hair off my shoulder and then puts his hand under my chin. I look up at him, and his face is so intense, I can’t make heads or tails of what he’s thinking. “Logan’s going to check you out, but like I said before, you’re stuck with me until this is over.”

He waits for me to argue, but I don’t. He nods his head like he just won an argument or something and walks to the bedroom door. “Logan, she’s ready.”

Logan comes in, rubbing his eyes. I look at the clock on the nightstand, and it’s two in the morning. My goodness, poor Logan. I’ve been sleeping while he’s been waiting to examine me.

“I’m so sorry, Logan. I was so tired; it just all hit me at once, I guess.”

“It’s fine, Brooky,” Logan says.

A growl comes from the corner of the room, and I’m surprised when I see the possessive look Walker is giving me.

Logan rolls his eyes. “I have to examine her, Walker.”

Another grunt comes from Walker, and Logan turns to him in frustration. “Why don’t you wait outside? It will only take a minute.”

Walker doesn’t answer him; he simply crosses his arms over his chest and plants his feet on the floor, staring at us. I’m so confused right now. He’s acting like a possessive boyfriend instead of my boss.

Logan is smirking when he turns back to me. “You okay with him staying here?”

I shrug, because I mean, he just saw me naked, and just thinking about it makes me feel hot all over. “Yeah, that’s fine.”

He pulls up a chair from the corner of the room and has me sit down. I pull Walker’s long T-shirt down my thighs and hook it over my knees. Logan checks my eyes, listens to my heart and lungs, and takes my blood pressure. He cleans the cuts on my face and puts some kind of ointment on it.

Walker’s gaze is burning into me, and I look at the ceiling to avoid looking at him. Now, after everything I’ve been through, I’m not able to keep my guard up, and I don’t want him to see what I’m feeling. I’ve had enough tonight, and I don’t want to add rejection on top of that.

Logan leans back in the chair, facing me. “Okay, so how are the ribs?”

I shrug. “Hurts a little, but it’s not unbearable.”

“Can I look at it?”

“Uh...” I start. I only have panties on under the shirt.

Walker walks toward us. “Lie down on the bed and pull the sheet up.”

I nod and do as he says. Logan inspects my ribs and has me roll over to look at my back. “I don’t think you have anything broken. There’s some bruising, but your breathing is fine, and you’re able to move pretty easily. Trust me, if it was broken, you would know it.”

I throw my hands up. “Great! So I’m good to go home then.”

Walker points to me. “You’re staying here.”

I shake my head. Does he not get it? I can’t stay here. “No, I’m going home.”

Walker draws in a quick breath and turns to Logan. “Anything else you need?”

Logan is looking between the two of us. “Nope, I think she’ll be fine. She needs to rest for a few days. No stress. No work.”

I’m so frustrated that I can’t help spitting out, “Well, it’s good I quit today.”

“You quit?” Logan asks, surprised.

“She’s not quitting.” Walker turns to me. “Don’t you dare get out of that bed. Logan, thanks for your help tonight. Tell the guys to call me with updates. You can see yourself out and set the alarm on your way.”

Logan just laughs as he heads out, and I don’t even tell him bye before I’ve turned on Walker. “What are you doing? Did I hit my head or something? Why are you acting like this?”

Walker strides across the room and leans over, pressing his fist into the bed on each side of me. His face is inches from mine. “Acting like what?”

Asshole comes to mind, but I don’t say it. “Like you’re my boyfriend or something. I’m not staying here, Walker. What will the guys think?” I slap my hand to my head. “What will Sam think? Oh my God, I need to go.”

I scramble out of the bed with the sheets wrapped around my legs. It’s a struggle, but I finally pull it off, and when I finally land on my feet, he’s standing in front of me, his hands on my shoulders.

“What do you mean what will Sam think?”

Shit, is it supposed to be a secret they’re together? Am I the only one that has put the pieces together? “Nothing, I mean, we work together. It is not your job to take care of me.”

“Obviously someone has to,” he says, fuming.

I put my hand on my hip and glare. “What is that supposed to mean?”

“I’ll tell you exactly what it means. No more dating! No more dating apps! No more meeting up with strangers! None of it.”

I stutter and stammer. “How did you know about the app? Cassie!” My own sister betrayed me.

“Yeah, your sister said that you were meeting a stranger for a date. No more dating!”

“You don’t—! What!” My blood is boiling. Who does he think he is? “You can’t tell me what I can and can’t do!”