Page 49 of Fallen Ink

She was shaking her head even as he asked. “The door looks fine, so I think it’s just like last time with the paint on the front. I’m going to go in and check, though, but I’ll be okay. She held up her keys that were between her fingers. “I learned how to walk like this a long time ago.”

“Well, let us know if you need us,” Dimitri said while Thea came forward and gave her a tight hug.

“Seriously. If you want a donut or a crawler or something, just come on over. I want whoever did this caught.”

“I know you do. Me, too. I hope it’s not hurting your business.” Adrienne had gotten to know each of the owners in the area since they’d started constriction over a year ago, but her first priority was always Thea with Abby and her tea shop now following a close second.

“Business is fine,” Thea said as she slid her hand through the flour in her hair. “Be safe, and come over later for hot cocoa or something. I miss seeing your face.” She hugged her again before whispering, “And I want more Mace details, please.”

Adrienne laughed and waved at Dimitri as the two of them went back to the bakery. Adrienne couldn’t help but watch as the two walked closely together, talking to one another as if they had done this morning trek countless times before. She wondered what all of that was about, but knew it was not only none of her business, but she also had to get into the shop before she froze. She’d wait for the cops there. The other shops wouldn’t be open for another hour at least, so it was pretty empty in the area, but she didn’t mind. Fewer people to deal with and see the front of her part of the building.

Even as she walked inside, careful not to touch any paint and mess, she couldn’t help but wonder if she’d felt some sort of zing when it came to her sister and Dimitri. It was probably just because the two of them were beyond attractive and had chemistry that spoke of what was most likely friendship, but Adrienne could always wonder. Of course, if anything did happen, it would be a mess of epic proportions, considering how the two knew each other.

She was just about to turn on the lights and take a look around when a hand covered her mouth. She froze for the barest instant, knowing she’d made a damn stupid mistake.

“I told you to leave,” the man behind her spat. “You’re ruining our community. Why couldn’t you get that? If destroying your business won’t get you out, then I’ll have to destroy you.”

He ripped at her hair, tugging her to the side and pushing her into the wall. She screamed and turned, punching out with her fist. She got him in the jaw, her key digging into his flesh. He shouted, blood pouring down his face and onto his pristine suit. It was the same man that had come into MIT the first day. The same man who had threatened them, only to seemingly disappear. But if he was here now, maybe he hadn’t been all that far away, after all.

“Bitch!”

Adrienne was fast, but he was faster. He grabbed her arm, practically wrenching it from its socket, and she sucked in a breath as pain shot through her system, forcing bile up her throat, coating her tongue.

“Fuck. You.” She tore her arm away, a sharp pain ricocheting down her arm, but she ignored it. She had no idea what his problem was, but she knew if she didn’t get out of there soon, she wouldn’t be leaving MIT’s doors at all.

“You were supposed to leave,” he shouted. “You were supposed to get scared off from the graffiti. The others were supposed to push you out, not want you near them. They weren’t supposed to rally around you. Then the cops were supposed to shut you down. So was sanitation. But you kept fucking your way to the top, didn’t you? Because that’s the only way you got through all those barriers. You slept your way to get what you wanted. Used those hips and tits and that ass of yours, and now you’re ruining our good name in this part of town.”

Adrienne honestly couldn’t quite believe what she was hearing. This man wanted MIT gone because it set a poor example or some shit in his mind? Yet he had the audacity to call her those things? To accuse her of using her body?

He was not only seriously deranged, he was also a dangerous asshole with apparently enough power to get at least some people to listen to him—or that’s what he thought he had.

The man came at her again, and she ducked, using her shoulder to get him in the gut. Only she’d used the shoulder he’d hurt, and she retched, the pain almost too much. It wasn’t her dominant shoulder, thank God, but she knew she was in trouble if she didn’t get out of there.

He came at her again, and she kicked him in the balls, using the pointed toe of her boot. The man went to one knee but still reached out for her. He had her cornered, but if she kicked out again, she might be able to run out of the building and call for help. She’d dropped her phone and keys after the first punch and could have rightly cursed herself for doing so.

He lunged for her again, but the door opened behind them at that instant. Mace was there, fury on his face as he grabbed the stranger into a headlock. She kicked the man in the balls again for good measure, and through the anger in his gaze, she saw pride on Mace’s face.

The man went limp in Mace’s arms, blood draining from his face from what had to be a tremendous amount of pain—she wouldn’t be surprised if he’d busted a ball or something. The asshole deserved it.

Dimitri and Thea were through the doors right after, with Dimitri pushing Thea behind him. Adrienne was damn grateful for that, even though her sister didn’t look too happy about it.

Adrienne’s adrenaline seemed to have waned completely by then, so she backed up to the wall and slid down, her eyes on Mace.

“Hey. Thanks.”

“Jesus Christ.”

He was still holding down the man who had tried to destroy her dreams and had hurt her, but all she could think was that she was damn lucky she wasn’t alone.

“I fought back.”

Mace smiled then, just a small one, but enough that she relaxed marginally. “Yeah. You did.”

“But thanks for saving me anyway,” she put in. He didn’t laugh, but she didn’t think he could right then.

“I called the cops,” Thea said as she went to her. “They were already on their way for the vandalism, but they’re probably coming faster now. And they’ll probably need an ambulance.” She didn’t touch Adrienne but was near enough that it was comforting. Adrienne wasn’t sure she could handle being touched right then anyway. Her shoulder and head where he’d pulled at her hair hurt way too damn much.

Dimitri moved to help Mace, and then Abby was inside the building soon after, sitting next to Adrienne. She smelled of tea, while Thea smelled of sugar and chocolate, and Adrienne couldn’t imagine a better place to be than in between them—other than Mace’s arms.

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