Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 90164 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90164 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
He ends the call and looks at me.
“Erin’s in trouble.”
“I’ve got the kids,” Millie says immediately. “Go.”
My adrenaline has never been higher as we run out of the shop and over to Chase’s cruiser.
“Roger called 9-1-1,” Chase says as he cranks the engine. “He just got home and heard someone yelling, so he didn’t go in. He looked in the window and saw a man yelling at Erin.”
My hands close into fists. “Stalker?”
“That’s the only thing I can think of.”
Blind fury pulses through me. “If he’s laid a hand on her, I’ll kill him.”
“You can’t say shit like that to me,” Chase mutters in frustration. “We don’t go in until backup arrives.”
“Fuck that.”
“You listen to me, Rem. I only brought you because I knew you’d go on your own anyway, and because she’ll need you, but I’m in charge here, and there are protocols when it comes to circumstances like this.”
“Fuck your protocols.”
“Don’t make me cuff you and keep you in the car.”
“I’d like to see you try.” I glare over at him, but he doesn’t back down.
“I’ll do it. Don’t think I won’t. If you fuck this up, it could fuck up the whole investigation, so you’ll do what I say.”
He parks a couple of houses down, and we immediately run for the house. Roger’s waiting for us on the sidewalk.
“There’s a man in there with Erin,” he says immediately. “He’s yelling nonsense at her. I think he hit her.”
“No,” Chase says, gripping my arm. “Are you sure he hit her?”
“Yes,” Roger says. He’s beside himself, shaking in fear. “That poor girl, we have to get in there and help her. I don’t know what I’d do without her.”
“You did the right thing,” Chase assures him. “As soon as backup arrives, we’ll go in.”
Without a word, and with the sound of sirens behind me, I set off for the house. I’ll be damned if I’ll let her sit in there alone while a maniac has his way with her. He could be doing anything to her in there, and I will not have her in there for one more second.
Just as I bust through the door, I see him pull his fist back, and he punches her, square in the face.
I don’t stop. I run for him and tackle him to the ground, and with him on his back, I punch him in the face myself.
“You like to hit women, you piece of shit?” I hit him again, satisfied when blood spurts out of his nose. Men swarm into the room, and I’m pulled off of him. “You just got a death sentence,” I yell out.
“Stop,” Chase says, yanking me by the shoulder. “Take care of her and leave him to us.”
“She wanted it,” the asshole cries. “She loves me. I’m her soulmate, and we’re going to be together forever.”
“Get him out of here,” I snarl and then crouch next to Erin.
She’s out cold and tied to the chair, so I quickly untie her, lift her into my arms, and lay her on the couch.
“Wake up, baby.” I kiss her hand. “Come on, Doc, you have to wake up for me.”
“Don’t you touch her like that!” They’re leading him out, and he’s struggling to reach us. “You take your filthy hands off my wife!”
“Jesus Christ, I’m going to punch you in the face if you don’t shut the fuck up,” Chase says as he muscles the man out the door.
“I’m so sorry,” Roger says as he lays a cool washcloth on Erin’s forehead. “I don’t know how that man got into my house.”
“It’s Clay,” Erin whispers, and I turn to her in relief. She’s awake. “Well, he was pretending to be Clay. He’s really Steven, and he pretended to be Clay so he could get close to me.”
“Shh.” I kiss her hand again. “Don’t talk, baby. How badly did he hurt you?”
“Some smacks to the face,” she says as she fights to sit up but falls into my arms, clinging to me, and the tears start to come. “I was so scared. I thought he was going to kill me and that I’d never see my f-f-family again, or you and the k-k-kids.”
“Shh, it’s over, baby. It’s over.” I rock her back and forth as she sobs, letting it all out. “It’s okay. I’m right here.”
She continues to cling to me, and I kiss her head, rubbing my hands up and down her back.
“You’re going to the doctor,” I announce, and she nods in agreement.
“Yeah.” She looks over at Roger and smiles softly, wiping tears from her cheeks. “Are you the one who called for help?”
“Of course, I did.” Roger takes her free hand in his. “I’m sorry, my sweet girl.”
“I’ll be okay. At least now we’ve caught him.” She looks back up at me with those swimming green eyes. “I have so much to tell you and Chase.”