Page 103 of Tamed By You

“It is when I find you like that. When people are overdosing in my club. When Brad tells me—”

“Brad swore he wouldn’t tell you anything,” I shout.

“Tell me what? What does he know that I don’t?”

I say nothing. Scared I have already said too much.

“Does Brad know what this is all about? Is that why he called me to come back?”

“He called you?”

“Yeah, yeah, he did, said you needed me, but it seems you need everyone else but me. You won’t talk to me; you won’t see me. Why, why Ali? Why won’t you let me in?”

“Because I’m scared,” I bellow.

He takes a step towards me and the sound of the front door and Gabby’s voice ringing through the apartment stills us both.

“Ali. Don’t let your fear win… please,” he whispers.

My heart rate picks up. This is it, there’s no hiding now. Everything I have fought to keep hidden is being dragged to the surface and there is nothing I can do.

“Al, you in here—” She enters my room and stops, eyes wide as she looks between me and a half-dressed Harry.

“What’s going on, are you two…”

I close my eyes as if it will make me disappear and take me away from this situation.

“Can someone explain, please?” she pleads.

I open my eyes just in time to see Harry hand Gabby the folded piece of paper. “Don’t leave her on her own,” he says firmly before he grabs his clothes and heads for the door. Before he disappears from view, he says,” I mean it. I’m not giving up on you.”

His footsteps fade away, and the door slams.

A sickening silence falls between Gabby as she unfolds the paper and she reads the opening lines, her hand flying up to cover her mouth. I choke on a sob and my legs suddenly feel like they are unable to hold me up.

“Ali, I…” She gasps, looking up from the paper.

“They want to let him out Gabs, they are going to let him out,” I sob, my legs giving way and she reaches me just before I hit the ground.

“I’ve got you, it’s okay, I’ve got you,” she repeats, holding me and pulling me in towards her chest as we sit in the middle of my room.

Then I hear her talking on the phone. “Hey, Ri, it’s me. Ali needs us.”

Chapter Forty-Eight

Harry

The cab ride to the club went by in a blur. Rage, hurt and anger clouding my judgment and decisions. I text Brad asking where he is, and he replies telling me he is at the club waiting on a delivery.

I ball my hands into fists and scrunch my eyes shut. My heart rate reaching what I’m sure is an unhealthy pace.

Raped.

The word goes around and around in my head. Why didn’t she tell me? Why did she tell Brad? How could someone hurt her like that? Is this why she has tried so hard to keep me at arm's length, but why does she think I’d judge her? Feel any different about her? Because I don’t, not even a little. It only makes me want to be with her more, prove to her that not all men are the same, show her the type of love and life she deserves.

The cab pulls outside the club, and I charge through the staff entrance, heading for Brad’s office, needing answers. Still dressed in last night's clothes that I threw back on before the cab arrived, I look disheveled and likely unhinged. I’m not thinking clearly, and I know it, but I can’t stop myself.

“Harry?” Jack says looking up from where he’s sitting on the dark couch in Brad’s office. Then, I see Brad, zone my eyes in on his whiskey-colored ones and I charge at him, like a bull to a red flag. I grab him by the collar and throwing him against the wall.

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