Page 3 of Rooster

Ellis lowers the gun, but it does nothing to stifle my rage.

"He's the one who is hurting you?"

"No," Kaylee says, a level of exhaustion in her tone as she turns her attention back to her husband. "Can you please untie me?"

"Is this some sort of kinky game you two play?" I ask as I cross my arms over my chest because this entire scenario is really fucking weird. I watch as Ellis works through the knots in the rope at her wrists.

"She was fucking tied up," Ellis snaps.

"It was the guy who you were arguing with last night," Kaylee says, sitting up with a wince as she reaches for her ankles.

"Are you okay?" The concern in Ellis's voice makes me wish for someone who would care for me as much.

"How are you sure?" I ask.

"How many other guys do you think would tie me up and text you to come up here?" Kaylee asks, glaring at me as if I had something to do with any of this.

"You saw his face?" I'm not intentionally playing twenty questions when she has been traumatized, but I just can't believe what I'm hearing.

"Who is it?" Ellis demands as if he'll raze the entire earth for vengeance.

"He was a little creepy, but I don't think he'd do something like this," I answer.

"Why are you protecting him?" he growls.

"How do you know this isn't connected to your marriage-for-sale scheme?" I challenge back.

Why is this man so quick to point fingers and place blame when clearly his lifestyle has put Kaylee in danger?

"He's not the bad guy," Kaylee says, her words coming out on a sob that makes me feel like a complete asshole.

"Sweetheart," I whisper as I go to her and wrap my arms around her.

Screams from downstairs drift up, and the fear that has been building inside of me triples as I hear pounding on the stairs.

Ellis lifts his gun, pointing it back at the door as he repositions himself to where both Kaylee and I are blocked from whatever danger may be coming.

The tension in his back eases when a man walks in wearing full combat gear and carrying a rifle bigger than anything I've ever seen on television.

For some reason, in all of this, the anarchy patch on his vest draws my attention for the briefest of moments.

"She was attacked and tied up," Ellis says just as another combat guy enters the room. "The suspect climbed out the window before I could get to her."

The newest guy repeats the information into a black device on his chest.

"We need medical," Ellis snaps as he looks back at Kaylee.

"Have you been hurt, sweetheart?" the guy asks.

Ellis snarls, sounding like an animal preparing to attack.

"Not the time for that shit, man," the guy snaps at Kaylee's husband.

"I'm not hurt," Kaylee assures him.

"Your ankle," Ellis challenges, pointing to the mark the rope left behind on her skin.

"Can't be healed by a paramedic," she mutters.

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