Page 86 of Trapped and Tackled

And then, something breaks.

Nearby guests are on their feet. Men rush Talon, tackling him from behind. Still, he goes down swinging, managing to catch Craig across the face for a second time and once in the stomach.

I watch as Craig’s head snaps back. Blood flies from his nose and lip in slow motion, splattering a nearby debutante’s pristine white gown.

That stain will never come out.

I shake my head at my thought. But still, I don’t move. I can’t.

“Breathe.” Marlowe shakes my shoulder.

At her command, I suck in a gulp of oxygen.

“She’s in shock,” Marylee declares.

And then, Mom’s at my side. Her arm is around my waist, ushering me to the side of the room. Away from Talon.

Where’s Talon?

I crane my neck, trying to spot him.

“You don’t have to see this,” Marylee says.

But I do. I need him. He’s protecting me. He’s keeping me safe.

Talon’s pressed against the floor, the knee of a police officer digging into his back as he’s handcuffed.

He doesn’t resist arrest. He doesn’t say a word. Instead, his eyes find mine and I read the concern in his dark eyes.

He’s worried…for me.

Beside him, a paramedic checks out Craig. Oh no! They’re worrying about the wrong guy.

I open my mouth to scream but no sound comes out.

Instead, a small smirk turns the corners of Craig’s lips as he glances at me. See you soon, he mouths.

A shudder runs through me, locking down my limbs. I nearly collapse as my knees buckle.

“I got her.” Keller scoops me up and carries me from the room.

“She needs water.” Mom hurries beside us.

I’m taken to a private seating area in the venue. The floral arrangements in the space are the same as the centerpieces on the tables in the ballroom and it strikes me as odd how delicate they look. Sweet and pretty and fragile.

A blanket is wrapped around my shoulders. A water bottle and a teacup are set down on the table in front of me. Mom and Marlowe sit on the sofa on either side of me, bracketing me like book ends. Keller paces in front of the room, guarding the door like a caged lion. Time passes both quickly and slowly. In fact, I lose sense of it altogether as a heaviness cloaks the room and presses down on me.

“Adeline is with Jasmine’s family,” Keller tells Marlowe who lets out a sigh of relief.

“Leni, Leni, why didn’t you tell me?” Mom sobs into her hands. “Has he hurt you? Threatened you?”

I work a swallow. My throat is so dry, it feels cracked. But I need to come clean. I need to admit everything to Mom. I’ve waited too damn long.

“Why didn’t I see the signs?” Mom continues, blaming herself.

It’s not your fault! The thought yells in my mind but I can’t make myself say the words.

“Leni,” Mom says, staring straight at me. “How long has Talon been hurting you?”

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