Page 51 of Broken Bonds

Where the fuck was Ace? Wasn’t the whole point of me coming in here with him to protect me?

Ponytail took another step forward, and his friends followed. I flew backward onto the floor. They stopped and laughed as I groaned in pain, my legs feeling like someone was shredding them apart.

“Celine, what’s going on?” Ace’s voice came from the shower stall.

Get out of the shower, Ace, please.

Ponytail raised his index finger to his lips, telling me to be quiet. He took a small step forward, indicating for his friends to stay put as he stalked closer.

“I’ll scream,” I warned him, my voice shaky with fear. My heart was in my throat, and my stomach was sloshing, threatening to revolt.

“I want you to.” He flashed me a grin, his mouth full of crooked teeth. “I don’t like the quiet ones.” Bile rose in my throat. This wasn’t happening. Why was this happening? Where the fuck was Ace?

“Get the fuck away from my girlfriend before I fuckin’ kill you for speaking and looking at her like that,” Ace’s threatening voice echoed through the locker room, damn near booming. He was standing in front of me in a towel, water dripping down his shirtless, tan back. His tattoos wrapped around his shoulders, dark lines slicing over his shoulder blades. The word “FORTIS” was written in cursive across his upper back.

“Ah, the cowboy has finally joined us,” Ponytail taunted. “You think you’re some hot shot, don’t you? Working your southern charm on the ladies.” Ponytail took a step forward, his sidekicks moving with him.

Ace helped me up, holding me to his tense, damp body. He was getting my clothes wet, but I didn’t care. He was here now. I was safe. He was protecting me, just like he promised me he would.

“Screw off—now,” he snarled, his hold on my trembling body tight.

“There’s three of us and one of you,” one of the other cronies scoffed. “I think I like my odds of having some fun with the girl.”

No. No. No.

I looked into Ace’s blue eyes, seeing a storm brewing in their blue depths. His hold on me was so tight it hurt, but I didn’t make a sound.

The homeless man, Timmy, walked into the locker room at that exact moment, pushing his shopping cart into the small room. He stopped abruptly, taking in the scene.

“What’s going on here?” His gruff voice bounced off the walls, almost as booming as Ace’s had been.

“We just wanted to have some fun with the girl, but he won’t let us,” one of the sidekicks muttered, pointing at Ace, who ground his jaw, the sound of his teeth grinding loud next to my ear.

“I think you better leave, Richard,” Timmy said, looking between Ace and Richard warily. It was clear he wanted no part of this, but it was nice to know he was sticking around anyway and not turning his back on the help we clearly needed. I didn’t want to see these guys attack Ace. And I didn’t want to know what would happen to me if they managed to overpower the only person I had on my side right then.

“Don’t get involved, Tim, you waste of space.” I watched Timmy’s face fall before anger unlike anything I had ever seen before took over his features, and he lunged at Richard.

Tim threw one swift punch at Richard’s temple, knocking him out cold, leaving his two sidekicks speechless and fearful.

“You slimy piece of crap!” Timmy huffed before looking at Ace and me with a kind smile. “You can put some clothes on. I’ll make sure she’s safe.” Ace hesitated, looking at me for confirmation. I nodded, sinking to the bench with Ace’s help as he eyed Timmy. “I used to have a daughter,” he said quietly as the other two guys left the room, dragging their unconscious friend out the locker room. Ace nodded once and stalked off, his muscles tense and his movements agitated.

“I’m sorry,” I said quietly in response to Timmy’s admission.

He shook his head, his eyes downcast. “I lost her to my addiction to drugs. She left when I couldn’t sober up, and now, I can’t find her.” Sadness filled his aging, gray eyes.

“Thank you, Timmy, for stepping in.” He nodded, still staring at the ground.

Ace came back a moment later in the sweats he had been wearing the last few days. “Thanks, Timmy. I owe you,” Ace told him, clapping the older man’s shoulder.

“You don’t have to thank me for doing the right thing. These guys don’t deserve mercy.” With that, he headed for the showers, leaving Ace and me alone.

Ace carried me out, my arms wrapped tightly around his neck, still trembling from the adrenaline that’d surged in me. “I’m so sorry, princess.” Ace’s voice was thick with anger, and I was sure it was aimed at himself. I glanced at his face, frowning at the disappointment etched into his eyes.

“It wasn’t your fault.” I rested my head on his shoulder, finding comfort in the steady beat of his heart against my side.

He shook his head, grinding his teeth again. “I should’ve been there sooner. You were almost hurt. I promised your family. I promised you…” He trailed off, his voice vibrating against my ear.

“You saved me.” I swallowed thickly, knowing he needed to hear those words. “You saved me, Ace.”

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