* * * *
Monte was sitting at the island in the kitchen when he received a text from Mason. He had just pulled up in the driveway, along with Steven, Virgo, and Dale.
“You have company, Sally. I’m turning off the alarm.”
“Who is it?” She turned to ask him and he had to hide his anger at seeing her beautiful face all battered and bruised. He swallowed hard. He knew how Mason and Steven were going to react. He had a feeling Virgo and Dale would be just as upset, too. Virgo was trying to get BJ to tell him who assaulted Sally, so he could go hunt them down. That would be a bad situation. They needed to obey the laws. Even though he thought about hunting Garret and Keiffer down himself.
“Mason, Steven, Dale, and Virgo,” he stated. She covered her cheek with her hand.
“It will be okay. They care and they’re worried.”
She shook her head. “I don’t want to see them. I don’t want to see anyone.”
“They’re worried, baby. We’re all like family. They care.”
She lowered her head and turned toward the kitchen counter.
* * * *
Sally heard them enter the house. She heard their footsteps, and she began to shake. They were all very big men. All commanding and military types. She didn’t want to be judged over what had happened. She didn’t want to be called stupid and naïve. She felt like crap. She felt timid and on the verge of tears. She took a deep breath. She needed to act brave. She wouldn’t break down and be weak in front of a man again. She especially didn’t want to be weak in front of Steven and Mason. They were so righteous and hard. They would really think she was stupid now.
“Hey, Sally.” She heard Virgo’s voice and knew he entered the room first. She imagined him standing there, over six feet four and extra large. He was a muscle machine and a sweetheart.
“Hi, Virgo. What’s going on?” she asked as she pretended to wipe down the kitchen counter.
“We all came to see you,” Dale stated.
“Hey, Sally,” Steven said. She was shaking. She didn’t want to turn to look at them. She didn’t want them to see her ugly bruised cheek and swollen lip. The bruising was even more discolored.
“You guys didn’t have to come by. I’m fine, really,” she stated, but she wouldn’t turn around.
“Sally?” Steven whispered, and she felt him approach. She felt his hand touch her shoulder, and she tensed.
“Baby?” he whispered.
“You didn’t have to come here. I don’t want to see anyone.” She gripped the counter, and Steven covered her hand with his then moved her hair off of her shoulder so he could see her.
She swallowed the lump of emotion in her throat and slowly turned toward him. He was six feet three and filled with muscles, and she stared at his chest. The deep brown color of the shirt he wore would surely highlight his hazel eyes. She tilted her head up and saw his eyes darken and his teeth clenched behind his lips, now formed into a thin line. “Oh hell.”
She tried to turn away, but he touched her chin with his fingers.
“Sweet Jesus, baby. Did you go to the hospital?”
She shook her head.
“Why the hell not?”
“Nothing was broken. No need to.” She stared into his hazel eyes, and he still looked so angry. It made her belly quiver.
He examined her face and swallowed hard as Mason approached.
“You’ve been icing it a lot?”
“Yes.”
Mason now stood next to Steven. They towered over her, and she pressed back against the counter.
Mason stared at her and he had a scowl on his face. He reached for her chin. She felt his thick, warm fingertips against her skin. She swallowed hard and closed her eyes a moment. It was too much having Steven and Mason this close to her and touching her. They acted as if they cared. She wasn’t a sad social case that they needed to assist with. She turned away and Mason’s fingers dropped to his sides.