Page 31 of Kodiak

“Thank you, Luna. I feel like a fool for letting my guard down. I never do that, even when I’m drinking.”

“I know,” I whisper. Because my friend has reasons that stem from her childhood for being cautious and aware of her surroundings at all times. But, that’s not my story to tell, nor is it pertinent to what recently occurred.

“What happened next?” Marcum probes. His voice sounds smooth and compassionate, yet the way his hands are gripped into fists, he’s working hard to maintain his temper.

“A song came on that is one of my favorites and I wanted to dance. I asked Joey, the guy I worked with the most, to watch my drink for me and he agreed. It didn’t even occur to me that he would betray me by slipping something into it. By the time that song ended, another one came on, and I liked that one too so I stayed out on the floor until my throat became parched. I was a sweaty mess by the time I slid my way back into the booth and grabbed my drink. Once that was empty, David offered to go to the bar and get me another one. I thought he was being kind since my feet were killing me. I wore a pair of heels that night and my soles felt like they were on fire.”

“So this Joey guy was in charge of protecting your drink and this David fuckwit went to get you a refresher. Were there more guys there with you?” Marcum asks, sometime during ourconversation he pulled out a notepad and pen and is jotting down notes.

“Yes. Liam and Niles were with us. They both never talked, I thought it was because they were shy. It turns out, it’s because they are degenerates who were criminal masterminds themselves. They are the ones who pick out the women who are easily manipulated.”

A shocked gasp escapes my lips. “They thought you’d be one of those women? Did they not pay attention to who you are and what you do?”

“They knew. They also know that I can’t let word of what happened to me get out or it would make me look weak and nobody would want to get in the arena with me,” she explains. “It would ruin my career in the fighting world and opponents would use it against me.”

“Bastards,” I spit out.

“In a way, they manipulated you, but Demi,” Marcum says, stopping long enough for her to look up at him. “They didn’t take into account that you would fight back. They didn’t think far enough ahead to the fact that in your line of work, you are admired and that if you did decide to break the silence, there’d be hell to pay. Your fans would revolt and the men who do have your back would do more than break a few legs. You hear me?”

“I hear you,” she quietly says.

“How many of the men there were involved in your rape?” I flinch when the R word is used, I’ve tried not to think of it let alone speak it out loud.

“All of them,” she admits.

“Give it to me play by play,” Marcum commands.

“I got woozy and the room began spinning around me. The guys acted like they were concerned about me and offered to take me outside for some fresh air. I agreed because it was getting hot inside the bar. My feet felt like I was wearing cement shoes, I was having a hard time lifting them. My tongue felt swollen and I couldn’t get any words out to explain how I was feeling to them. They basically carried me outside and leaned me against the brick wall. I didn’t have enough coherent thoughts to realize they’d walked me to the back alley where it was pitch black. I remember the stench of the trash bins and how it made me queasy. But I couldn’t talk, I couldn’t move, I was no better than a limp doll left to their mercy.”

I’ve only heard Demi cry on one other occasion, but never have I heard the sound that emanates from her as she recalls this experience. It’s gut-wrenching and has tears freely flowing down my own face as I lean over and pull her into my arms as best as I can given we’re in two different chairs.

“Shhh, Demi, and finish purging this poison so we can figure out how best to fight these assholes,” I murmur. “Pull on that badass, Demoness, who pulverizes her opponents. We’ll make them bleed for what they did to you.”

CHAPTER NINETEEN

KODIAK

I pulla Kleenex out of the box and pass it over to Demi. As she wipes her cheeks, the door to my office bangs open and my brother is standing there. His eyes are red-rimmed but it’s not from him crying, it’s because he’s so damn angry he could take on a raging bull.

“Xavier,” I call out, worried about what he’s going to do since he was eavesdropping on a conversation that had nothing to do with him. He’s not okay with women being assaulted, it’s one of the things that can set him off and cause him to black out.

“Out,” he growls, his attention aimed at me.

“Fuck you,” I rebut. “I’m not leaving this room. You had no right listening in on our private conversation.”

“Get. The. Fuck. Out,” he orders through gritted teeth.

“I don’t know who the hell you think you’re talking to like that, but you need to check yourself, brother.”

“Right now, I’m talking to my brother. I’m asking as politely as I can that you vacate the room,” he seethes. I tilt my head to the side, because if I didn’t know any better, I’d say there’s something between him and Demi that I haven’t been privy to. And I don’t like it.

“Conan,” Demi says his name like one would when they’re approaching a wounded animal. “Please.”

“No, Demi. We played this your way, now it’s time to do it mine,” he declares.

“What am I missing here?” I ask, damn near biting off my tongue. “Do you two know each other?”

A humorless chuckle escapes Xavier as he squints at Demi. “Would you like to answer that or do you want me to?”

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