“I think she said you need to leave,” I hear behind Lane. Holden.
“What will you do about it?” Lane turns to face him.
Holden snatches me away and Lane lunges for me.
“Hands off. Security is on their way,” he snaps.
“Not much they can do, I’m famous,” Lane licks the fingers of the hand that was just in me.
“MMMM, you taste sweet like honey mixed with a little fear,” he smirks at me.
Holden steps closer to Lane as Lane tries to kiss me. I hear the crack before I see it. Holden punched Lane in the face. He stumbles back, holding his face, and grinning like a lunatic.
“You’ll regret that,” Lane growls.
“Leave!” Holden yells at him before turning to me as Lane walks off into the casino.
I collapse on the ground in a fit of tears. Holden goes to his knees, checking on me, brushing my hair to the side so he can see if I’m okay.
“I can’t go back upstairs looking like this. I can’t tell King what happened. What will he think of me? I mean I’m dirty now.”
Holden
She collapsed on the ground, but I approached slowly, listening to her say she was dirty. She’s not dirty.
“He will think Lane is a dick who forced himself on you. This isn’t your fault. We can go grab some coffee until you feel better,” I say.
“Okay,” she says as I help her up and smooth her hair down. I can see the wheels spinning in her head, they’re off the rails.
“Stop thinking. You didn’t ask for it, you didn’t do anything wrong,” I say we step up to place our order. I order her the same coffee as before and we find a table in a corner to sit so she can get her nerves under control.
“Stop,” I place her coffee in front of her, trying to relax her. It’s not working.
“I’m trying,” she admits, “I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t shown up.”
“We’re always on the lookout for you, in case you wander off, and we’re always looking for Lane. I wanted to get a coffee because your brother was snoring up a storm. I couldn’t sleep.”
She smiles, knowing how I feel, “I sleep with earplugs, growing up with Thorn.”
“I’ll get some today,” I grin.
“I’m glad Thorn kept you up or I don’t know where I would be,” she says softly.
It was a good thing I needed a coffee because I hate to admit it, where would she be? Lane put his hands on her. That’s not okay. I don’t want to keep it from King, but I don’t want to tell him until she’s ready. Briar is family and no one messes with family. Lane is going to figure that out soon.
Kingston
I wake up to her side of the bed empty. Where did she go? Her phone is here. I shower and dress, maybe she’s in the living room.
There is a note on the fridge saying she’s gone downstairs for a coffee and I see that I have a message from Holden that she’s with him which makes me feel better. Viktor said he would have extra men here today for security. I grab my gloves and wake Tristan up so we can head to the gym. I turn to see Thorn in our suite watching TV.
“Morning.”
“Morning, King,” he greets me.
“You coming to the gym?” I ask him.
“I thought I’d get a workout in,” he says.