Page 77 of Trust

Suddenly, he surged toward her, and now, the alarm screamed through her system. She tried to step back, but he grabbed her by her upper arms. “I need to protect you. I don’t know who did it, but someone did, and they will probably come after you.”

Panic had her opening her mouth to scream. She was amazed that Eden and Emily hadn’t come rushing out. When he yanked her forward, she tried to glance behind her. From this position, the ladies couldn’t see them.

“Rick, you need to let me go.”

“She wanted me to. She wanted me to do that the entire time. But I couldn’t do it. I didn’t want to let you go.” He was now babbling as he dragged her away from the house. His fingers were digging into her skin. She was sure there would be bruises. Even in the day’s heat, she was freezing, her body shivering from the bone-chilling fear seeping into her soul.

“Rick.”

He looked at her, his eyes widening at something behind her.

“Get your bloody hands off her,” Jakob roared from behind her.

“I’m trying to save her, man. You don’t understand.” But he did let her go.

Jakob grabbed her and spun her around.

“Love, are you okay?”

She blinked at him, her head still spinning from the turn of events. The fury in his gaze sent alarm racing through her.

“He didn’t hurt me,” she said. “Everything is fine.”

“The hell it is,” he said, handing her off to someone behind him. She realized it was Emily.

“Sorry, Lani. I turned away when Jakob came running down the hall.”

“It was a split second. Not your fault.”

“Argh!”

She whipped her head around to see Jakob had tackled Rick. They were rolling over the grass, punching each other. Correction, Rick was trying his damndest to get away, and Jakob was beating the living hell out of him. He ended up on top of Rick and started to pummel the other man.

“Mate, you’re going to kill him,” Ian said, although he didn’t do anything to stop Jakob.

Lani stepped closer. “Jake, please stop.”

He didn’t seem to hear her. The scene before her was wavering, and she realized she was crying. She wasn’t worried about Rick but didn’t want anything to happen to Jake.

“Please let him go. I need you,” she said, hoping that would get his attention. And apparently, that was all she needed to say. He stopped in mid-punch and turned around. Rising to his feet, he approached her and took Lani into his arms.

“Don’t cry, love. I didn’t hurt him that much.”

“I don’t care about that idiot. I’m worried about the man I love going to jail for assault.”

There was a long beat of silence that seemed to stretch and stretch.

He pulled back and looked down at her, cupping her face. Using his thumbs, he brushed away her tears. “I love you, too.”

He dipped his head and brushed his mouth over hers as her heart filled with joy. Even in this horrible moment, she could find happiness.

Lani turned and saw that Ian was on the phone, probably with an ambulance service, because Rick was unconscious.

An hour later, things were still in an uproar. HPD, TFH, and every other letter agency known to man were at the house. Lani was resting far away from the trouble in the guest house as Jakob watched HPD and TFH argue about who had jurisdiction.

“Don’t worry, Hollywood. We won’t let them throw you in the slammer.”

He shook his head. “Not really worried about that.”

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