Page 7 of Mac's Vow

Rage bubbled up and threatened to consume him. The only thing keeping him in check was Alyssa. Her legs shook and she was a breath away from a total breakdown. He could feel it because he was ultra-tuned to her.Keep it together for the both of you, goddamn it. Save that rage for Cameron.

He smoothed his palm over her bottom, trying to comfort her the only way he could. “I’m so damn sorry he did this to you.”

She glanced over her shoulder at him, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth. “I bet this isn’t how you planned to spend your Friday night, huh?”

That she could tease him at a time like this was a testament to her strength. If he hadn’t been half in love with her before, then he sure as hell was now. “Wild horses couldn’t drag me away from you, Alyssa,” he admitted, needing her to know that she could count on him to keep her safe. He wasn’t the hero type and he’d never imagined playing Alyssa’s knight in shining armor, but fuck it, he was here now and he planned to stay.

On impulse, Mac leaned close and kissed one of the welts. “As God is my witness, Cameron will pay for touching you.”

Alyssa turned around, then put a soft, warm palm against his cheek. He felt that slight touch clear to his soul. “I’m glad you’re here, Mac,” she murmured. “I’m glad it’s you here and not someone else. I feel safe with you. I always have.”

He frowned as another thought occurred. “Is that why you came to Leo’s Bar? You wanted my help?”

Alyssa shrugged. “I don’t think it was a conscious decision on my part, but yeah, I guess.”

She’d been hurting and she’d come to him. Mac stood and started to step closer, but the running water caught his attention. He turned and shut it off, then he did what he’d wanted to do since the moment he saw her sitting in Leo’s Bar. He closed the gap between them and took her into his arms. Her slight curves fit against him as if she were made for him. God, she felt good. He’d missed her so damn much. A few seconds went by before Alyssa wrapped her slender arms around his middle. The tears came then. A flood of them. He let her cry it out, soaking his shirt. When she seemed to run dry, he pulled back far enough to say, “I hate like hell to suggest this, but we need to document everything, Alyssa. We need a record of his abuse.”

She rubbed the tears from her cheeks and sighed. “You mean pictures,” she replied.

Mac took out his cell phone and held it up. “Yes, pictures.” At her blush, he added, “I’ll be as discreet as possible.”

She dropped her hands to her sides and stiffened her spine. “Go ahead.”

Mac opened the camera app on his phone and took the first shot of her face, making sure to zoom in on the dark, painful bruising around her eye, then her split lip. He moved downward to her shoulder next, then the bite marks on her breast. Mac seethed with rage all over again. Her hip bruise came next. Where she’d banged into the coffee table. He knelt down and stared up at her. “Turn around, little baby,” he murmured, hating that he had to put her through the added torture.

When she turned, he noticed the way the muscles in her ass tensed up. Goddamn it, Cameron’s days were numbered. Mac took two quick shots of the furious welts across her buttocks, then closed the camera app, shoved it back into his pocket, and stood. “All done.”

Alyssa turned toward him again, a small smile on her face. “Not exactly the sexiest nudes you’ve ever seen, I’ll bet.”

“All that matters right now is that you’re alive. The bruises will fade, Alyssa. For that I’m grateful as hell.” Mac didn’t give her time to respond as he dipped down, wrapped his arm around the backs of her knees and lifted her off her feet and into the cradle of his arms. He stepped toward the tub and placed her in the warm water. She lay her head back and stared up at him. Her body was clearly visible, every curve, every valley. The oil didn’t hinder his view one bit. He clamped down on is rising lust and backed up a few steps. Away from temptation.

“I’ll go make you a cup of tea, okay?”

She gave him a pained smiled and closed her eyes. “That sounds perfect, thank you.”

Mac started out of the room, but stopped and added, “If you need anything at all just shout.” She nodded, her eyes staying closed. Mac left her there and went straight to the kitchen. He located a large, white kettle on the stove and filled it with water and turned on the burner. He tugged his cell phone out of the front pocket of his jeans and hit Jimmy’s number. Damn, this was one phone call he did not want to make. Jimmy would lose his shit. And Alyssa was determined to keep her brother in the dark about the whole shitty ordeal. But Mac knew that if Alyssa was his sister, then he’d want to know. He couldn’t keep Jimmy out of it. Not even for Alyssa.

Jimmy answered on the second ring. “What’s up? Figured you’d be bedded down with some honey tonight after the two weeks you had.”

“We have a problem,” Mac stated. “It’s Alyssa.”

Chapter Two

When the water started to get chilly, Alyssa stepped out of the tub and dried off. She was wrapping the towel around her when Mac strode back in carrying a hot cup of tea. He’d picked her favorite mug with the saying,you are fearless, in bold black letters printed across the side of it. She wished the words were true. The only thing she felt at the moment was pain and a generous helping of cowardice. She should’ve kicked Cameron in the balls. Better yet, taken a bat to the asshole's head. What had she done instead? Ran to her bedroom and locked herself in. She’d been terrified he’d break it down and come after her. That he’d rape her after all. She was only too grateful those things hadn’t happened.

Mac looked her over and frowned. “You should’ve waited for me. I could’ve helped.”

God, that made her feel so pathetic. That he thought she couldn’t dry herself off without assistance. It angered her a little. She moved around him and headed toward her bedroom. “I’m fine, really. In fact, you can go home if you want. I’m sure you have better things to do, Mac.”

Mac followed, still carrying her steaming cup. “I’m not leaving you alone until Cameron is behind bars, Alyssa.”

She spun around, which was a terrible mistake because it made her head throb. She steadied herself with a hand on the dresser. “There is no jail time in Cameron’s future. I thought we went over this. He will never serve a single day for the things he’s done.”

He placed the cup on the dresser next to her hand and stepped closer. His silvery gaze landed on her with such concern it melted her heart. “Bullshit,” he bit out. “His days are numbered. I promise you; we’ll nail him.”

Alyssa stiffened. “We?”

Mac’s gaze quickly darted away. “Don’t get mad, but—”

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