Page 51 of Breaking Storm

Sean is standing outside the house. “I called you as soon as possible. He blindsided me and hit me over the head. By the time I got my bearings, he ran upstairs and locked the door.”

“Please tell me Teagan isn’t in there.”

I’m halfway up the stairs. My hand smacks the wall when Teagan screams.

Sean’s eyes dart from mine as he rubs his mouth. Danny and Reuben are banging on the door. I fly down the stairs, round the back, and use the drainpipe to climb up to the balcony. Heaving myself onto it, I storm into the room. Teagan’s gaze meets mine. Blood drips from her mouth and nose mixed with tears. She’s hanging over the bed, naked from the waist down, along with James.

James smiles at me. “Got here just in time. I thought I’d—”

Before he finishes the sentence, we collide, and I slam him against the wall. My fists of fury erupt and make contact with every accessible part of him until his face is bloody, and he's sliding to the floor. I turn to find Tea, her body trembling as she tries to put on a pair of jeans. I help her and she sits on the bed as I kneel in front of her.

Teagan’s sobs steal her breath until she’s able to say, “I fought as hard as I could, Joey.”

My hands hold her face. “Love. You did good.”

I kiss her before opening the door for Danny and Reuben, and instruct, “Put him in the trunk of the car without anyone seeing and take him to the silos off Damen Avenue.” I hand Reuben the keys. “Keep him quiet until I get there, but don’t kill him.”

They drag James out of the room while I sit on the bed, holding Tea in my lap. She’s a mess in my arms.

“Sweet Tea.” I rock from side to side. “Did he—”

She pushes away a bit and shakes her head. “No. Like he said, you got here in time.”

I press my lips to the top of her head and say, “Sean will take you to the doctor to get checked out.”

“Why not you?”

“Because I have to take care of James.” Her eyes catch on mine. “It’s an opportunity for me to find out where my mom is being held.” Teagan nods.

Sean has been by the door and approaches, asking, “Do you want us to come back here?”

“Yeah.” I direct my next response to Teagan. “I need you to pack whatever items you want and need. Clothes, pictures, whatever.”

She stands barefoot, glancing at the both of us. “Why?”

“While I deal with James, I want you and Sean far away from here.”

I slide the bedside table over, remove the floorboards, and pull out the duffel bag full of money. Then I do the same on the other side. In the walk-in closet, I take down the suitcases.

Teagan’s following me around the room as she asks, “Where are we going? How will you get there?”

In front of her, I coddle her against me. “I have a lake house, and Sean has the address. There’s an SUV in the garage I can take.”

I release her and toss the duffle bags toward Sean. “Take them. Don’t use your credit cards. Use this cash.”

Sean moves the bags to the door. “Joey, are you sure you want me to leave? I can bring Tea to my place and help.”

My head shakes as I toss clothes into a suitcase. “No. I want you and Tea out of here. I don’t want to have to worry about either of you.”

Teagan moves trancelike while packing her items. Traumatized by what happened, Sean and I keep an eye on her until she’s gone through the bedroom. Just thinking about James hurting her, touching her, causes the blood to pump harder through my veins. The sight of what he was about to do, the blood on her face, created a savagery rarely brought forth. I wanted to kill him. Still do.

Salted tears stain her gorgeous skin. I take her hand, bring her into the washroom, and place her on the vanity. Between her legs, I wet a washcloth to run over her face, and plant soft kisses on her.

She stops my hand and holds it. “Forget the doctor. Other than my face, he didn’t do anything else.” I bite my lower lip. “Promise me you’ll be careful, Joey. James is…” Teagan bites back a sob.

“I will, Tea.”

Her sad eyes rest on mine. “If James tells you where your mom is, are you going to get her?”

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