Page 2 of Challenging Her Protector

She bypassed the ladies’ room and went straight past the kitchen and out the back door of the club. Even though the sun was low on the horizon, the Texas heat still blanketed the air. She looked around and her breath hitched. She wasn’t sure what she had been expecting, but there was no one here. Maybe Hannah hadn’t received her SOS, or maybe she planned to meet her at the Lone Star Motel like she had Thalia write in the note. No one would expect to find her at a place like that. If a rescue wasn’t coming, she’d have to save herself like Hannah had years ago. She was just about to slip off her heels and run when a vehicle swerved around the corner.

The black SUV stopped, and the back door opened. Broad shoulders and a wide chest filled out the frame. She was momentarily stunned by the man’s size, even more so when he stood to full height. Her heel-clad feet were glued to the pavement as the man ran toward her. His gate was choppy, as if he’d had a recent injury. He stopped about five feet from her. “Vivienne, we’re here to help. We’re the good guys.”

Maybe she was stupid to believe him, but the way he paused to give her space and the soft expression on his face made him seem less formidable. She tilted her chin and instantly he was at her side, wrapping his arm securely around her shoulder. Now was not the time to be preoccupied by this stranger’s scent, but she found herself breathing him in, unable to get enough of the light, spearmint scent. Unlike her former fiancé’s expensive cologne, she had a feeling this man was content with a bar of soap in the shower. He protectively hustled her to the back seat of the car, lifting the train of her ridiculous dress. Refreshing cold air flowed over her skin, as he slid in beside her.

“Get down. Everything will be okay.” His voice was low and rough without a single hint of the panic she was feeling. The car accelerated. Staying down like the man suggested meant she couldn’t see where they were going, but she really didn’t care so long as it was away from her family. She angled her head to look at him and swallowed hard when she found his quiet gray eyes locked on her. “I’m Iron,” he said. “Up there behind the wheel is Silver. We’re friends of your sister, and we’re gonna get you out of this.”

There were so many things she wanted to blurt out ranging fromthank you for saving metoyou have the most mesmerizing, steady eyes I’ve ever seen, but the words were clogged in her throat.

“Nice to meet you, Vivienne.” The man driving, Silver, said in a tone almost as gruff as the man sitting beside her. Still, his voice did nothing to calm her like Iron’s did. She glanced to the left again, holding his intense gaze. Instead of feeling uncomfortable though, she felt grounded. Then the car swerved, Iron gripped her arm to keep her from flying, and Silver swore and slammed on the breaks.

“Jesus Christ.” The driver jumped out of the vehicle, slamming the door behind him. She sat up to get a better look at why he’d stopped and gasped, ramming against her own door. “Collin!” Her nephew had nearly gotten hit by their car.

“Vivienne, wait.” She ignored Iron’s voice and stumbled out of the car.

“Are you okay?” she asked coming up beside Collin. His hands were moving quickly in front of his face as he rocked forward.

“Mom. Mom and Aunt Regina.” He pointed toward the woods, voice high with panic. “The cards. I dropped the cards.”

“Smart.” Her nephew had autism, but even through what must have been an overwhelming event, not to mention whatever was happening in the woods, he’d found help. And she was certain that Hannah would need help if she was in the forest with Regina. She didn’t know what her older sister had planned but there was a sick sensation building in her belly and she wasn’t going to ignore it. She took off into the woods, kicking off her heels in the first few steps, as the men shouted behind her. Collin was right about the playing cards. They were littered over the ground like a bread crumb trail.

A twig snapped behind her and she glanced back. Iron was on her heels, but instead of being scared by his presence, she was relieved to have an ally. She stopped briefly where the cards ended and tried to listen to her surroundings over her ragged breath. Then she heard it. Her sister Hannah’s shout. She looked in the direction of the cry to where Regina was dragging her sister down an embankment. Iron was calling behind her, but she couldn’t wait. She couldn’t let Regina hurt her sister, especially after she’d come to her aid. “Regina! Stop,” she screamed. Her older sister stiffened, then stood, letting go of Hannah.

“Stay where you are.” Regina’s voice was shrill, and she raised her hands pointing a gun in her direction. A shot rang out as something solid slammed into her side, knocking the breath out of her. Her cheek smacked against something hard, and pain radiated up her arm. She struggled to get air into her lungs, and when she was able to take a breath, she instantly relaxed. Spearmint. Iron had dived on top of her. She hadn’t been shot. Chaos was erupting around them, though, as police officers arrived, shouting demands. Her eyes found Hannah, who was hugging her Navy SEAL boyfriend, Branch.

She struggled against Iron, until she twisted her body beneath him. “Are you okay?” Fear made her voice shake.

His head jerked back, and he raised his brows. “I’m the one who should be asking you, sweetheart.”

Sweetheart.

It was silly for her stomach to somersault at the endearment, but suddenly she was all too aware of his hips pressed into hers. The weight of his muscled body. A pang of longing spiked through her body, shocking her. Maybe it was the adrenaline, or because Iron had saved her life without hesitation, but the elemental pull she was currently experiencing was deeper than anything she’d ever experienced. His eyes darkened, pupils expanding, as he met her gaze. “You protected me. You don’t even know me. So you first. Are you okay?” she repeated.

“Fuck.” He muttered and closed his eyes. No one had ever sworn in front of her before, but that word rolling off his lips seemed more like a prayer or a promise than a dirty word. “I’m okay, but you’re not. I jumped on you hard. Cheek’s bleeding.” One moment passed, then two, until he cleared his throat and gingerly rolled off her. Suddenly she no longer felt warm and safe.

She sat up, tugging at her dress that had been pulled down dangerously low.

Iron made a strange sound in the back of his throat and whipped his shirt over his head. “Don’t know how you ran so fast in that dress. Here, put this on. You’ll be more comfortable.” Iron didn’t wait for her reply before he slipped the shirt over her head. She sighed when the soft fabric, warmed by his body, covered her exposed skin. The urge to breathe in the T-shirt to capture his scent again was strong, if not a little weird. Her reactions to Iron were unlike anything she expected but perhaps she should cut herself some slack. It wasn’t everyday she was face-to-face with a man who made her mouth go dry.

She’d been pushed toward modeling at a young age and seen all types of well-honed muscles and beautiful faces. It wasn’t as though Iron wasn’t handsome in the traditional sense, but his body wasn’t anything like the pampered and glossed individuals on her photo shoots. His form was rough, hard, and heavily tattooed. Scars and deep gauges ran the length of his torso. She wanted to ask how he’d gotten each one, but now wasn’t the time. Who was she kidding, she’d probably never have a chance to ask because once she got to safety, the man would most likely be long gone. He was helping her because of Hannah. Nothing more.

When he muttered something beneath his breath, she followed his gaze to his leg. It was bent at the knee in an unnatural position that made her stomach roll. “You’re not okay at all. Your leg. I’m going to get one of the officers and—”

The warmth of his palm right above her elbow stopped her from standing “Appreciate the concern, but this injury is old.” He lifted the right leg. Between the gap between his sneaker and ankle, a metal prosthetic was visible. She’d never seen one before, but knew they existed.

She didn’t say anything for one breath, then two. There were so many questions she was interested in asking, but instead she locked them away for the time being. “Do you want help getting up?” She moved over the dirt, getting onto her hands and knees.

She couldn’t pinpoint the expression on his face, but he stared at her for a moment. “Sometimes, too much sweat loosens the grip of the prosthetic. Rarely happens, but it can.” He rolled up the hem of his pants over his knee.

“It’s not broken, is it?” After all he’d done to help her, she’d be devasted if he damaged his prosthetic. She placed her hand on what she supposed was the calf of the device. His gaze dropped to where her palm rested.

“No. Don’t think so.” His voice was so quiet, it was almost lost among the crackle of radios and Regina’s hysterical cries.

She removed her hand, and for some odd reason wished she didn’t have to. “I’m going to check on Hannah.”

Leaves crunched beneath her feet as she stood and turned toward the hill and Hannah. Regina was being led out of the woods by three officers, and seeing her disappearing into the thick forest lifted a perpetual weight off her chest. Her breath caught when she realized Hannah was still laying down. Branch was kneeling at her side across from a paramedic taking her vitals, there was another at her feet. The smears of red marring her dress made static buzz in her ears. She rushed forward and dropped down next to Branch by her sister’s head. “Oh my God, Hanni. This is all my fault.”

“Absolutely not.” Her breathing was shallow, like it hurt Hannah to talk. “You’re not blaming yourself.”

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