Page 63 of Casualties

I rush out of the office, sprinting down the stairs.Noticing two security guards standing by the bar, I whistle for them to follow me.The three of us race through the club to get to whoever's in trouble.

I get to room four and use one of the master keys to try to open the door.I can’t hear anything—these rooms are soundproof for member’s privacy.The key is stuck, making it difficult to unlock.I know Denny is planning to upgrade all the rooms to key code entry, but he hasn’t done it yet.

I shake the key once more and scoff, then throw my shoulder into the door.It takes me three times, but I finally break in.I pause to take in what I just walked into.I see a man on the floor, holding his dick with one hand and the side of his face with the other.I follow the crimson trail of blood, and I’m horrified at who I see.

“Ace?”

Ainsley.

“Ainsley!What the fuck are you doing here?”I grab both sides of her face and start looking over her body for injuries.Her dress is ripped down to her waist, exposing her chest.I'm instantly enraged, seeing my beautiful girl looking so broken.

The security guards rush in, and I snap for one of them to hand over their suit jacket.With the chaos spiraling down here, I didn’t grab mine.He takes it off quickly, tossing it to me to cover her up.I wrap the jacket around her shoulders, guiding her arms into each sleeve.I need to do something to calm her down, she's shaking.I wrap her in my arms as tight as I can, holding her close to my chest.

“It’s okay.You’re alright.I’m here,” I say quietly, trying to soothe her.Her shaking slows, and she lifts her head to look at me.Her eyes are smeared with mascara as black tears roll down her cheeks.

“Baby, I need you to stay here.I'll be right back.”I turn away from her to see one of the guards pressing a towel to Jackson’s cheek.

“You motherfucker!What the fuck did you do?You piece of shit!”I'm full-blown raging at the pathetic bloody mess, kicking him as he whimpers in the fetal position like the bitch he is.

“No!No, Ace!T-t-t-take me home, please.I don’t want to be here anymore.Please Ace, don't leave me.”Ainsley frantically pulls on my arm, turning me back to face her.I know I need to get her home, but everything in me wants to make this fucker pay.

“Alright.Alright.Shhh…Let’s go.”I pick her up, cradling her in my arms, and tell the security guards to handle Davis.There's a staff-only staircase that leads to a back lot where I parked.

“Police!Cut the music!”a thunderous voice echoes down the hall.

What the hell is going on?

We're at the exit.Ainsley is still trembling in my arms—I need to get her out of here quickly.This night turned into a nightmare, and I wasn’t even supposed to be here.Shewasn’t supposed to be here.

I’m fucking coming for you, Jackson Davis!You fucking bitch!

I need to calm down or I'll freak her out more.We need to leave, and I'll have to explain to Denny why I bailed later.The door opens before I have the chance; Denny and Wally storm through, looking just as angry as I feel.

“Ace!Fuck, you’re still here.What the hell happened to her?”Denny frantically asks, looking back and forth between me and Ainsley.

“I can explain later, the cops are here.”

“I know they are.I got a tip from someone on the force, and we rushed here as quickly as we could.I need you to leave.Don’t worry, Walter will grab your laptop.I'll have it delivered to your house as soon as possible.”His hand grips my shoulder.It’s not in an aggressive way, more like a fatherly way, something my dad would do.Ainsley is uncomfortable—I can feel her tense up more.

“Are you sure—” He cuts me off.

“You aren’t twenty-one yet, and I can’t risk you getting caught up in this.I'll call you once this gets settled.Go!”

“Fuck, okay.We’re leaving.”I walk out the door holding Ainsley tight, but need to set her down so we can run to my car.I didn’t see any injuries on her.From what I saw, the blood was all Jackson’s.

“Princess, I need you to stand.Can you run with me to the car?We need to get out of here.”She nods, so I set her down.She's wobbly on her feet.I’m sure it has to do with her high heels and the adrenaline wearing off.More sirens sound, we have no other choice but to run.

* * *

Back at my apartment, I have Ainsley on the sectional, curled up with a blanket.She didn’t say anything in the car, and I didn’t push for her to talk.She'll talk when she’s ready.

I walk downstairs after grabbing some of my clothes for her to change into.She's still wearing that ripped green dress.I've never seen her like this—smeared makeup, wild hair, and a dazed, empty stare.She looks broken.I lean down, holding my hand out for her to grab.When she doesn’t, I reach under her arms to pull her up to a standing position.

She won’t take her eyes off the floor.I can’t see her like this; I need to do something.I cautiously place a finger under her chin and lift her face toward mine until she makes eye contact with me.She doesn’t fight me on it.She knows she's safe with me, no matter what Fuckface did to her.

“Hey, let’s get you into some clean clothes.Do you want to use another room?Or I could leave.”I'm trying to give her options.Safe or not, he fucked her up mentally.I need her to know she can do whatever makes her feel comfortable.Ainsley still doesn’t speak.She turns slowly, a quiet shift in her movements making it clear she wants me to help her out of the dress.“Are you sure?”I whisper into her ear.She nods.My hands move to the zipper on the back of her tattered dress.She took off the security guard’s jacket when I brought her the blanket.Regardless of how distraught she looks, she's still the most beautiful woman I've ever seen.I hate this night and what happened to her.I don’t hate that she's here with me, and I can keep her safe from him.

Jackson is probably at the hospital now—that was a lot of blood oozing from his face.

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