Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 72659 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 363(@200wpm)___ 291(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72659 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 363(@200wpm)___ 291(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
"No," Carter says, maneuvering me around so he can get in my face. "You need to check on Elle. We'll deal with him."
Hearing her name has my eyes shooting in her direction. The fight instantly leaves me and the boys drop my arms as Max disappears from my thoughts. Fuck, I hope she’s ok. I rush towards her and pull her into my arms. “Babe,” I say, giving her a slight shake. “Can you hear me?”
She doesn’t respond but at least she’s breathing. She’s clearly unconscious and I realise this is much more than just drinking too much. Did he give her something or did he knock her out?
I gently scoop her up into my arms, making sure to protect her precious head. I start making my way out of the trees and back up to the house, knowing the boys will do whatever it is they need to do to deal with Max.
I go in through the back entrance so I don't disturb the wedding and take her up to my old bedroom. I lay her down on my bed and find her some clothes. I head into the bathroom and wet a washcloth before sitting down on the edge of the bed and cleaning her up as best I can. Preferably, I'd like to get her in a shower but that's going to have to wait.
The more scratches and grazes I clean over, the more that rage starts to return but knowing Elle needs me right now is the only thing keeping me from going back out to the bushes and annihilating the fucker.
I sit beside her in the bed watching her sleep and getting some sort of relief knowing she’s safe. A knock sounds at my door and I find Carter and Sean, each with bloodied knuckles.
“She ok?” Sean asks.
“I think so,” I tell them. “Is he dealt with?”
“Yeah. We took him up to the front gates and called the police. He’s gone.” Carter says before cringing.
“What is it?” I demand.
"We found pills in his pocket," he says.
“Shit,” I curse. “Do you know what they were?”
“No,” Sean says. “You should get her down to the hospital. They can run her blood and check her over.”
“No,” I tell them. “Let her rest. Can we get a nurse out here?”
“Yeah,” he says as he looks past me into the room. “The police want her to give a statement.”.
“Ok, I’ll take her down in the morning.”
They each nod before turning away. “We’ll call when the nurse comes.”
“Thanks,” I say to their retreating backs. “Hey,” I call out and wait as they turn back. “Don’t tell Cass about this. I don’t want her worrying on her wedding day.”
“You got it,” Carter agrees before they disappear.
I close the door and climb back in bed with Elle. I pull her unconscious body into my arms and hold her, willing her to wake up but seeing as though it’s the middle of the night and she’s been drugged it probably won’t happen for a while.
I lay awake, listening to the music from downstairs seeping up through the massive house, unable to find enough peace to close my eyes. The more I think about what happened, the more I need to do something.
I tuck the blanket over Elle and slide out of the bed. I grab my suit jacket and pull it on before I dash downstairs. I head into the party and look around for the one guy who will be able to give me the peace I'm searching for.
I find him amongst the other guys from my team and head over.
“What’s up with you?” Tony asks. “You look like shit.”
“Don’t I know it,” I grunt. “Listen, can we talk for a moment?”
“Sure,” he says.
I nod and lead him away to another room, where we can have a proper conversation without one of my teammates coming and slurring about how fucking wasted they are.
“What’s up?” he asks as I close the door behind me.
“It’s Max,” I say before explaining everything that has gone down tonight. The more I talk, the more horrified his expression becomes.
“Fuck,” he finally grunts as he slams his drink down on the table. “How’s Elle?”
“Sleeping. We have a nurse coming to check her out and see what’s in her system.”
“Good.,” he says. “If it’s ok with her, could you let me know those results.”
“Sure,” I say with a grim nod.
“You spoke with the cops?” he asks.
“Not personally but my brothers dealt with them.”
“Ok,” he says, slipping into manager mode. “We’ll deal with it in the morning but rest assured, effective immediately, he’s on suspension pending an internal investigation.”
“Good,” I say, knowing exactly what’s going to come out of that investigation. Denver Thunder have always been known for their excellent reputation. We don’t put up with bullshit and never have. At the moment it’s just my word against his but as soon as Elle can give a statement and they find out what’s in her system, his ass will be out of there and I’m sure locked up for attempted rape.