Page 105 of Get Undressed With Me

Gus was there, broad and strong and angry as fuck, judging by the flush of his skin and the way his powerful fist drove into the stalker’s face over and over again. Brittany watched, her body still tense as she gripped the bat, just in case the guy made a move against Gus.

Finally, Gus dropped the guy to the ground, a crumple of clothes and blood where a man used to be. He turned, finding Brittany immediately and going to her. Gus pulled her tight against him, and that’s when she heard him muttering to himself, his words barely above a whisper.

“You’re okay, you’re okay, tell me you’re okay.”

“I’m okay,” she croaked, wincing at the sound, her throat already hurting. “Are you okay?”

She felt him nod against her.

“What do you need?” he asked.

“Don’t let me go.”

“Baby, I’m never letting you go again.”

CHAPTER 25

GUS

Gus stepped into the hospital room where Brittany was waiting to be released, two cups of tea in his hands. She dressed in the clothes she had been wearing when they got there, staring at the floor. When she heard him, she looked up, the ghost of a smile on her face.

“I was wondering where you got off to.”

“Heard the café had a secret stash of tea. Thought we’d indulge.”

She smiled, wincing slightly, and Gus felt rage all over again for what that asshole had done. He gave her a searching glance.

“What did the doctor say?”

Brittany grimaced. “Cracked ribs. Some bruises and scrapes. Nothing that won’t heal with some patience and TLC.”

Relief rushed through Gus, even as his eyes landed on the bruising on her neck, his thoughts dwelling on what could’ve happened if he didn’t get to Brittany in time. His blood running cold.

Brittany’s hand landed on his, gently squeezing. “Doc says I’m good to go.”

“Then let’s get out of here.”

Brittany had refused the ambulance ride but agreed to let Gus take her to the emergency department. Kyle, the stalker, had been taken into custody, and was already confessing to everything, from spoofing his number to trick Gus, to breaking into his condo and attacking Brittany. Apparently, Brittany wasn’t the first woman he had done this to, but she was the first he had become physically violent with. And now he was going to prison for as long as the prosecutor could manage.

Gus couldn’t remember the last time he had felt such terror than coming home to find his door busted open, and a man on top of Brittany, his hands choking her. When Brittany told him Kyle had pretended to be Curtis, the flames of anger had entered Gus’s brain and still hadn’t let him go. If she hadn’t already met Curtis, Gus couldn’t imagine how this night would be ending. After the police had taken away Kyle in handcuffs, a quick search of the building had found Curtis in the parking garage, knocked out with a head wound and stuffed into his car. Kyle had apparently been very thorough in his plan to kidnap Brittany.

The thought made Gus shudder as they walked out of the hospital.

“How’s your door looking?” she asked, breaking him out of his thoughts.

“I’ve got a replacement coming tomorrow, along with some new fancy locks.”

She nodded, and his mind raced.

“Are you okay with going back to the condo? If not, I can get us a hotel room somewhere without the memories.”

Gus didn’t want to think what it would mean to him if she didn’t want to go back to his place. He’d have to sell it, find somewhere new, maybe somewhere closer to Los Angeles.

“I’d prefer the condo. All my stuff is there. That asshole doesn’t get to ruin your home.”

Relief flooded him, and they fell into silence as they stepped outside, Gus leading her to where he had parked. He helped her in, buckling her seat belt for her in a way that had her smirking at him.

“I’m not an invalid.”

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