Page 37 of Bee

"I was so messed up. He dragged me to the back of a dumpster. I couldn't fight him off." My voice cracks and Sugar comes to kneel in front of me. She put her hand on my knee and squeeze gently, not interrupting me but just letting me know that she's here for support. "I gave up, just laid there while he tried to rape me."

"The fuck." Press growls but I don't look up at him.

"It would've happened had Rye not come out. He ripped the guy off me and fought him. The attacker had a knife but Rye didn't even think about his own safety, he was only there to protect me. When it was over and the man had run away he brought me back to his house, let me sleep and in the morning I surprised him with a knife to his chest. Still, he tried to make sure I was okay. Rye is one of the good ones. I don't care what the circumstances look like, I can feel it in my bones. He's not working with Sonny." I finish my story and look up at Vexx.

She knows how serious this is.

I have to make her see.

"I hear you. Fine. If we're going to get involved in this then we have to make sure we have all the information. That means we're going to have to get the other business owners to tell us what they know." Vexx gets right to business and everyone turns in her direction.

We've got a new mission.

Save Rye.

15

Rye

I haven't heard from Bee all day, and I'm about to lose my mind.

She said she was going to talk to the girls at her club and even though I'm not exactly happy about the arrangement, I can't deny that I need the help.

Rye and Barley is everything I've worked for in my life.

Still, I'm not used to being on the receiving end of assistance. That's my job.

My savior complex is itching at the back of my brain.

It's only right then that I realize Bee doesn't need saving, and it doesn't make me want her any less. She can leave me in the dust, going on with her life and be good. I'll probably lose my shit, but at least I know she'll be okay.

This is the first time that I can remember really having strong feelings for someone who viewed me as a member of her team and not just someone to swoop in and save the day.

It's freeing.

I lean up to stretch before leaning back down to soak the scouring pad in my hand. Even after Bee left, I stayed in thebar to clean up the walls. It's a bunch of gibberish spray-painted up here, but the message is clear, Sonny is telling me he's not through with me.

Every time I have any dealings with that man, it makes me regret I was ever desperate enough to need to take money from him. It doesn't matter that I've paid him back in full already. The man is like a filthy stain on my soul that refuses to wash away.

I knew what I was getting into when I let him put that money in my hand. I just prayed that it'd be long over by now.

My arms are hurting, and my fingers are already blistering but I need to get this done. I don't want Sonny or that bastard Evan to think that he's won. Besides I've got a lot of extra energy to get rid of.

Bee and I never finished what we started last night and my body knows it. We were so close. Fuck I can almost feel her hands on my body now. The way she moaned and said my name. God. Fucking. Damn. It.

I launch the scrubber at the wall and throw my head back on a growl. I need to get her off my mind.

I don't think I'm going to be able to. Not until I feel her soft body against mine again.

On the other hand, part of me actually hopes that she doesn't show back up. That she thinks my drama is too much for her to handle. I won't fault for her if she does. It's actually better that way, it just means that she won't get hurt.

Of course, I know that the possibility of her staying back and just letting me handle it on my own is slim to none she already told me that she was as committed to getting to the bottom of this as I was.

That means having to deal with the fact that she might get hurt.

Before I can think too much about that I hear the sounds of engines pulling up to the front of the bar. The sign out frontclearly says I'm closed so whoever is out there isn't here for a drink.

I thought I had more time. Thought I would be prepared the next time Evan or someone else decided to show up.

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