Page 63 of Stunner (Whiskey Dolls 3)

Asher

I kicked out with all of my might, connecting with Daniel’s shin. He let out a grunt of pain, his hold in my hair loosening. I started crawling away, my sweaty palms slipping on the wood floor as I tried to get away from him.

I let out a shriek when his fingers locked onto my ankle.

“Get back here, you bitch,” he hissed as he yanked me back by my leg. “You’re gonna fucking get it.”

I screamed as he crawled over me, kicking and punching with everything I had, desperately trying to fight him off, but he was so freaking strong.

I clawed his face, three angry lines of blood forming just before he backhanded me across the cheek, causing stars to burst behind my eyes.

“You’re gonna pay for that,” he said, his hot breath on my face and neck, making me whimper.

He brought his weight down, his heavy body pressing me harder into the floor as he latched onto my wrists and pinned them above my head.

Tears rushed from my eyes, spilling down my cheeks as I cried and thrashed to no avail.

“That’s it, baby,” he said with a slimy grin. “Fight me. I like being rough.”

I sobbed as he leaned in and dragged his tongue up the side of my face. This was it. The worst was about to happen no matter how hard I fought.

Once last scream wrenched free from deep within my throat. Then the most miraculous thing happened.

I heard the most ferocious snarl seconds before Daniel shouted out in agony. One moment he was on top of me and the next he was flying across the room, yelling and begging for help as Triumph latched onto his arm and locked his jaws, violently shaking his head back and forth. Gus was there as well, snapping at Daniel’s flailing legs, both dogs looking positively feral.

I felt hands wrap around my shoulders and let out another scream.

“Shh, baby,” Owen whispered, lifting me up and pulling me onto his lap. “It’s all right. I’m here. I’ve got you. You’re safe.” He looked over to the corner and barked, “Heel!”

Triumph and Gus unlatched from Daniel and came to me, sniffing and nudging me with their noses to make sure I was all right. Daniel was now sobbing like a baby, having been torn to ribbons by my protectors. He was no longer a problem, and, as long as I was in Owen’s arms, I knew everything was going to be all right.

This was ridiculous. I’d been sitting in the hospital bed for three hours now, going out of my mind as people came in and out of my room with alarming frequency. So far, I’d seen the whole crew from Whiskey Dolls, Owen’s parents, Hardin, and my mom and dad, who’d gone down to get some coffee a few minutes earlier. The doctors and nurses had been in and out, and I’d gone over the details of what had happened with at least three different police officers. I was exhausted, and all I wanted to do was climb into bed with Owen and sleep for a week.

“I’m telling you, this isn’t necessary,” I attempted again. “I’m fine, I swear. It’s just a few bumps and scrapes. I don’t understand why I can’t go home.”

Owen cut his eyes to me, the ice in their green depths making me shiver. While I was rattled by what had happened with Daniel, Owen was downright murderous. He’d been pacing my hospital room since they’d wheeled me in there, standing sentry like a big, black cloud hovering throughout the room. Even the police officers who’d come in to take my statement earlier had kept one eye on him the entire time.

Turned out, when they went to search Daniel’s house, they found a creepy-as-shit shrine to me in his bedroom closet. There were all kinds of pictures he’d taken when I wasn’t aware, along with several tubes of my lipstick, the jewelry I hadn’t been able to find, and some of my underwear. Needless to say, I planned on burning everything that was left. I wasn’t going to chance that his disgusting hands had been anywhere near it.

Unbeknownst to everyone, he’d been stalking me for nearly two years, and seeing me with Owen at the anniversary party a few weeks back had made something in his brain snap.

He was currently in the same hospital as I was, only on a different floor and handcuffed to a bed, under armed guard. Apparently, the dogs had really done a number on him, tearing the shit out of him for attacking me, and he needed to be stitched back together before eventually heading off to jail.

“Just a few bumps and scrapes?” Owen gritted out, his jaw locking so tight the muscle in it ticked violently. “You were just attacked and nearly raped by a fucking psychopath,” he seethed.

I raised my eyebrows and lifted my hands. “The operative word there beingnearly.” I lowered my voice, trying to keep my tone calm. “Honey, I’m fine. You got there before anything could happen. You and our boys saved me. Speaking of, they’re getting filet mignon every night for the rest of their lives.” It was the least they deserved.

“That goes without saying,” he grumped, crossing his arms over his chest and casting his gaze to the side. “Christ, Asher.This could have been so much worse. I could have—” His throat worked on a thick swallow. “I could have lost you.”

I patted the paper-thin mattress at my side until he sat down beside me.

“But you didn’t,” I assured him. “I’m right here, no worse for the wear, and the threat is gone.”

He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply as he wrapped me in his arms and lowered his forehead to mine. “You’re never going back to that apartment,” he grunted. “I’ll get your boxes and hire movers to handle the furniture, but you’re never setting foot in that place ever again.”

He wasn’t going to get any argument from me, that was for damn sure.

“Starting right this moment, you’re officially moved into my place.”

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