Page 83 of Gather the Storm

“Hear that?” Jace said. “She changed her fucking mind.”

Gray shook his head. “Fucking cock tease.”

Jace advanced on him. “What did you fucking say?”

“Come on, man,” Gray said. “They want it, they don’t want it, but they really do want it. You know how they are.”

He’d barely gotten the last words out when Jace’s fist slammed into his face.

Gray staggered backward, but Jace wasn’t ready to stop. He stalked toward Gray, who was holding his nose, blood dripping though his fingers, and slammed him against the wall of the building.

I wondered if the brick hurt his back too.

He punched Gray again and blood streamed down his face. He was on the verge of beating Gray to a pulp when I remembered that Gray was my boss’ son.

Iworkedwith him.

“Stop!” I said. “Stop it!”

Jace froze and looked at me over his shoulder. “He was going to rape you.”

Gray groaned through bloody lips. “That wasn’t rape, that was— ”

Jace punched him again. “Did I tell you to fucking talk?”

I held up my hands. “I’m… I’m okay now. Please…” My drunkenness had cleared just enough for me to get a glimpse at my future mortification. I’d gotten myself into this mess but it wasn’t too late to smooth it over. “We work together.”

The words didn’t look like they meant anything to Jace, but Wolf uncrossed his arms and walked toward him. “That’s enough.”

Jace hesitated, then backed away from Gray like an attack dog given a stand-down command.

But Wolf wasn’t done. He walked up to Gray and fisted his expensive shirt.

He was a few inches taller than Gray, and he bent down to get in his face. “If you even look at her the wrong way, we’ll find you. And no amount of money will save you then.”

Wolf stood there for an extra beat, letting it sink in, then let go of Gray’s shirt all at once, like Gray was trash he was eager to be rid of.

Wolf walked over to me and peeled me off the brick wall. “You okay?”

My blouse was twisted, my skirt still riding up my thighs. I could tell my hair was matted from the brick, but I didn’t bother trying to smooth it. I just wanted to get out of there.

“I’m fine.” There was no hope for dignity at this point. “Can we go now?”

He put his arm around my shoulders and walked me toward the front of the alley where Otis still stood like an avenging angel.

I heard him and Jace fall into line behind Wolf and me.

“My car…” I said as they guided me to Benji, parked half a block up, near the Mill. My stomach was not good, the alcohol and near assault hitting me like a ton of bricks as I staggered up the street.

“Give me your keys,” Otis said. “I’ll drive the Mustang home.”

I stopped and dug through my purse, which was miraculously still around my shoulder, then handed him the keys.

“See you at home.”

He started down the street toward Cantwell and Wolf opened Benji’s passenger side door. I was too humiliated to look at Jace, the night playing out in my mind like a bad movie.

Me, getting drunk and stupid, coming on to Gray, leaving with him, planning to fuck him even though we worked together.

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