“This is nothing. I get worse when I box with this guy.”
“You fight each other?” she cried.
“Yeah.” Duncan grinned.
“I thought you liked each other.”
Rylan chuckled. “We do, baby. It’s not the type of fighting you’re thinking of. We box together as exercise, and it helps with stress.”
Her mouth turned down. “I don’t understand.”
“It’s ’cause you’re a girl,” Duncan accused her in a funny voice.
To Rylan’s delight, she laughed. “Yes, I am.” She stiffened when there was another knock on the door.
Duncan got up to answer. He turned to Rylan. “It’s the cop here to ask her questions.”
Rylan made sure she was covered and tucked her closer to his body when she started shaking. “Baby, it’s going to be okay. Just tell them the truth, all right?”
She tightened her grip on his shirt and nodded at him.
“Good girl.” He looked at Duncan. “Let him in.”
The officer walked in. “I’m sorry. I know this is a bad time, but I have a few questions.”
She glanced at the cop and then back at him.
He nodded and smiled reassuringly.
Duncan led him over to a chair. “Have a seat.”
Rylan was glad when Duncan came and sat on the sofa with them.
“Tell me how you know the men,” the officer told her.
“They both work in the building. The man, S-Steve, I met before I started w … working here. He dates a friend of mine.”
“What were you doing in the building this late?”
“I—” She glanced up at Rylan. “I’m sorry.”
“Baby, you have nothing to be sorry for. I just wish you had trusted me enough to talk to me.”
She turned back to the cop. “I was living here until I saved enough money for a down payment on an apartment.”
“You had nowhere else to go?”
She shook her head. “Besides a homeless shelter, no. I swear I wasn’t hurting anything or anybody.”
The cop nodded. “The owner of the business, Mr. Simmons, would have to contact us and accuse you of trespassing, and only then could we investigate. Since the owner’s here, I think you’re all right.”
The cop looked down at his pad of paper. “Have they threatened you in the past?”
“They cornered me on the elevator one day and said some things, but I ignored them. Then about three days ago, I heard them outside the door here. I slept on Rylan’s sofa because I felt safe. They tried to get in, and I hid. They somehow unlocked the door and came in. That’s when I heard them talking about r … r … raping me.”
Furious, Rylan clenched his teeth. She had to have been terrified, he thought. He tightened his hold on her. “Shh, they’ll never hurt you again.”
The police officer stood. “That’s all I need for now. Can I get in touch with her here if I have any more questions?”
“Yes, she’ll be with me.”
The officer nodded and left.
Rylan looked over at Duncan. “I’m going to take her home.”
“I’ll call the car service. Do you want me to get her things?”
“Baby, is there anything here that you need tonight?”
“No. But all my clothes are in my bag. How long will I be with you?”
“We’ll talk about it, but if I have my way, forever.”
“Good.” Duncan stood, took a few steps away, and made a call.