Jay didn’t wait for Wyatt to continue. He turned and threaded his way through the mostly empty cocktail tables. As he moved, he catalogued how many people were by the live stage, the bar and the few stragglers sitting at random tables. He also noted the exits, something he did everywhere he went. It was akin to breathing. Three were visible, but he knew there had to be more. Behind him he thought he heard Wyatt mutter something under his breath, but ignored him as he entered the hallway. The music was still audible here, but a much lower decibel.
His heart rate picked up a notch when he heard a male shout and Ellie’s scream from the only door cracked open in the hall. That sound was like a knife to his chest. Withdrawing his SIG, he slowed as he reached the edge of the opening. He risked a quick glance behind him, unsurprised to find Wyatt had also drawn a weapon.
Even though he wanted to blast his way in there, Jay used his training and common sense to slowly ease the door open with his boot. He could see Ellie’s purse on the floor turned on its side. Beads of sweat dotted his forehead as he held up a hand motioning to Wyatt that he was going in and that Wyatt should hold off. He knew Wyatt would understand why.
He was basically going in blind and needed backup in case things went south.
“Stop!” Ellie screamed.
The sound of Ellie’s terror slammed into Jay. He slammed his foot into the door, deciding to use the element of surprise as he swept the room with his weapon. It took scant seconds to assess the situation.
A big man wearing all black had a smaller man pinned against the wall, his hand wrapped around the guy’s throat as he gasped for breath. The smaller man looked like an extra out of a seventies porno, but Jay’s focus was on Ellie. Tears streamed down her face and her silk blouse was ripped right down the middle, exposing her soft skin and lacy bra.
Her expression was terrified as she pointed at the big man. “Jay, he saved me! Don’t let him kill that bastard and throw his life away.”
The big man looked over his shoulder, a murderous expression on his face as he glanced at Jay and now Wyatt, who Jay could hear entering behind him. Still holding the smaller man against the wall, the man who’d saved Ellie blinked, as if coming out of a daze. He still didn’t let go, but he loosened his grip a fraction so the other man could drag in a couple breaths.
The most profound sense of relief slammed into Jay at seeing her unharmed. It was like a body blow. “Ellie, what’s going on?” he asked, putting himself between her and the two strangers.
“I…” To Jay’s utter surprise she burst into tears, real sobs wrenching from her in a way he’d never imagined. Ellie never cried. Not even when they were arguing—which wasn’t very often. She’d once told him she’d rather punch him to make him see the error of his ways than to use tears to her advantage.
Though he wanted to comfort her, Jay wasn’t lowering his weapon. He held it steady on the other two men.
The man in the dark clothing looked past Jay and for a moment he saw a flash of recognition in those brown eyes as he focused on Wyatt. Just as quickly, the man looked at Jay. “My name is Cody and I work—worked—here as security. I found Leonard here attacking Ellie and decided to beat the shit out of him.”
Jay flicked a glance at Ellie for confirmation. She wasn’t crying anymore, just sniffling as she held the pieces of her shirt closed over her chest. She nodded in affirmation, her eyes wide and glassy with the remnants of lingering unshed tears. Immediately he sheathed his weapon in his concealed shoulder holster, mainly because he knew Wyatt was backing him up, and crossed the few feet to Ellie.
To his surprise, she ran into his arms and wrapped her arms around his waist as she buried her face against his chest. Holding her close, he inhaled her subtle vanilla scent as she trembled in his arms. She was usually so feisty and outspoken he sometimes forgot how petite she truly was. At barely five feet, two inches, she seemed almost fragile as he held her.
He rubbed a gentle hand up and down her spine, murmuring soothing words to her while keeping an eye on the other two men. Despite his anger at her, a primal protectiveness swelled inside him, making him pull her closer. Wyatt had come up next to him, weapon not pointed at the men, but held firmly in his hand.
While Jay had a dozen questions, he knew he needed to comfort Ellie first. Even though he wanted to get her the hell out of there, she needed to be calmer first. When she finally pulled back, mascara smudged under her eyes as she looked up at him with embarrassment. “I’m sorry.”
He ignored the apology for now. They had a ton to talk about, but not with an audience. “Did he hurt you?” The inflection in his voice made it clear what type of hurt he meant.
Ellie shook her head. “Not like that. He pulled my hair, threw me to the ground and kicked me in the ribs, but Cody—”
Jay swiveled to face Leonard, using his body to block Ellie’s. For a moment, a red haze rimmed his vision. Maybe he should have let Cody beat the shit out of this guy. When Jay felt Wyatt’s hand on his chest pushing back, his blue eyes filled with silent warning, Jay froze. He hadn’t even realized he’d taken a step toward Leonard. And if Wyatt hadn’t stopped him, he knew he’d have done something he couldn’t take back.
He narrowed his gaze on the red-faced man still pinned to the wall. Cody had let the guy slide down so that he was on his feet and had given him enough space that he could breathe properly. “Ellie, do you want to press charges?” Jay needed to know if they should call the police and since he didn’t have all the details of why Ellie was even here, he wasn’t sure what the hell she’d want.
“No.”
“Wyatt…” Jay trailed off as he stepped forward, knowing his friend would protect Ellie if need be. Stalking closer to Cody, he said, “Drop him.”
The security guy didn’t pause, just let his arm drop and stepped away as Jay zeroed in on Leonard.
After a quick pat down told him the guy wasn’t armed, Jay stood, towering over the man as he glared at him. Very soon Jay was going to find out everything possible about this piece of garbage who had dared to touch his Ellie. And he was going to make Leonard regret it. “Give me your wallet.”
Despite the terror oozing off him, the man blinked, as if that was the last thing he’d expected Jay to say. “What?”
/> Jay rammed his fist into the man’s ribs, a sense of pure elation humming through him as Leonard doubled over, crying out in pain. Holding onto his side, he held up one hand in surrender before reaching into his back pocket. Still wheezing, he pulled out his wallet and held it up with shaking fingers.
Jay opened it and took the man’s driver’s license out, making sure Leonard Smith—Smith, really?—saw him do it before he tossed the wallet to the hardwood floor. Then he shoved the license into his own pocket. Leaning close so that only the man could hear him, Jay whispered menacingly. “You come near Ellie again, even think about her, I’ll gut you and leave you in the desert for the coyotes to feed on. I’ll watch as they rip your flesh apart. Ellie does not exist to you. Understand?”
Eyes wide with raw fear, the man nodded as he straightened, wincing in obvious pain.
Jay wasn’t sure if he believed the guy so he’d be following up. Stepping back, he put some distance between them, but still didn’t take his eyes off him. Once he’d reached Ellie and Wyatt, he saw Wyatt had given her his jacket to help her cover up. She clutched her purse to her chest as if it could protect her. And she was shaking. Shit. He needed to get her out of there.
Questions later, he reminded himself. Wrapping his arm around Ellie’s shoulders, he started to steer her out of the room when he saw Brannon hovering in the hallway acting as a lookout. He nodded once to indicate they were clear, but before they could leave, Ellie stopped and swiveled in the direction of the security guy.
“Cody, are you going to be okay? I’m sorry I got you fired.” The words spilled from her at once as if she’d just found her voice again.
“This was a long time coming.” There was a dark, deadly edge to the man’s voice that surprised Jay. “You guys get out of here. I’m going to clean up this mess.”