Page 250 of Dark Love

“I’m coming to get her now. Call me if something changes.” I click off the phone. “Payne, I need you to drive.”

“On it.” His eyes move to Imogene. “Should I see if Immie can stay with Barb?”

Dahlia is crying. She might need a woman. Even thinking that feels wrong, but it’s not about me. “Bring her. Dahlia might need her.”

Payne walks over to Imogene and scoops her up off the couch.

She pulls her earbud out. “What’s going on?”

“Dahlia is in trouble.”

With that, we run down the steps and out of the club into Payne’s car. Ignoring the unmarked vehicle waiting for us to use to rescue Marlie. She will just have to wait.

There is nothing and no one more important than Dahlia.

It’s the longest drive of my life even though Payne ignores the speed limit and most laws.

I jump out of the car even before it stops in front of the government building.

Adonis steps out the door, holding Dahlia in his arms.

He’s dead. I’m going to kill him. Tear him limb from limb.

My beautiful Dahlia is a small mass in his arms. Her hair is mussed, and her face is hidden against his chest.

WHAT HAPPENED TO HER?

“Give her to me.” I don’t wait for him, but reach out and carefully take her from his arms.

“Vex. I want Vex,” Dahlia whispers.

“I’m right here, Dahl. You’re safe.” I squeeze her tight.

“He’s going to hurt her. He’s going to hurt me.”

“No one will ever hurt you.” That is a vow I’m going to keep.

But I can’t just walk away with Adonis staring at her like he owns her. I lean over and whisper in his ear. “If you ever touch my woman again, you won’t have hands to touch anything else.”

Then I stand upright and say, “Thank you for taking care of her.”

Imogene hops out of the car and closes the door after I slide in with Dahlia in my arms.

“What happened?” Payne asks as Imogene gets in the front seat.

“I don’t know yet.” But I’m going to find out. Dahlia might need Barb. “Head to the club.”

Payne nods, and the car starts moving.

“Dahlia. It’s me, Vex. You’re safe, Dahl. You’re safe in my arms. Nothing will happen to you.”

“Vex?”

She lifts her head up and her tear-streaked face almost breaks me. “Can you tell me what happened?” Who do I need to kill?

“He got her. No one believed her. And now he’s got her, and he’s going to hurt her.”

It takes every ounce of self-control that I possess not to tighten my body and hit something. “Dahl, you said he was going to hurt you. Who was going to hurt you?”

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