Page 45 of What the Doctor Ordered
I just caught a meager glimpse of the two grappling people before they entered an alley, and even though I knew that Kiley was waiting for me in the cafe, something in my gut was screaming at me to turn down that small, empty street.
When I caught up to them, I felt my blood boil with rage.
Fucking Kramer had my woman.
That bastard had Kiley in a death grip, one of his big hands clamped over her mouth, the other holding both her wrists together behind her back as he dragged her down that dark alley. Kiley’s wide, terrified eyes found mine and my anger multiplied tenfold.
It was suddenly as if the alcohol evaporated from my system. I was more alert and focused than I had ever been as I dashed forward and slammed my fist right into the side of Kramer’s face.
Unfortunately, I didn’t hear a crunch, so I didn’t break any bones. Too bad. I had the momentary satisfaction of the sight ofhis head snapping to the side as he yelled out before stumbling back, letting go of Kiley’s arms.
Kramer fell to the ground, and I quickly stepped between him and Kiley. “Get up, asshole, so I can knock you down again.”
“You’ll regret that, Vale,” Kramer cried out, spitting some blood out onto the ground.
“I doubt that,” I seethed, straightening my spine but keeping my fists clenched. “Not as much as you’re going to regret touching her. It will only take a couple of phone calls to ruin your no-good life. That will come after I beat you to a bloody pulp.”
I could feel the rage rolling off me in fierce waves. I had been itching to beat Kramer up since we were in high school together, but I was going to enjoy it so much more now. Just recalling his hands on Kiley and the way she had stared at me with such utter terror in her eyes when I found them made me want to kill him right here in this fucking alley.
I felt my hands flex and curl into a fist as I stalked forward, reeling my arm back to pound him again. I whirled back when I felt two tiny hands on my arm, stopping me.
“Simon, don’t,” Kiley begged, tears in her voice and her eyes. “Please.”
I stared down at her in amazement. “He hurt you,” I seethed. “I am not going to let that go unpunished.”
“He didn’t hurt me,” she said, seriously, holding my gaze captive with her kind green eyes. “And you’ve already punched him. Please, let’s call the police. And then I just want to go home.”
I had wanted nothing more than to make Kramer pay for daring to lay a hand on Kiley, but as I looked into her eyes now,what I wanted suddenly didn’t matter. Kiley needed me at that moment, and that was the only thing that mattered.
That bastard would get what he deserved in prison.
I felt my body relaxing slightly. I took her chin in my hand, tilting her face, studying her carefully to ensure she really wasn’t hurt. “Okay,” I said finally. “Wait right here. I’ll only be a moment.”
Kiley was reluctant to let me go, probably hearing how dark my voice had gotten but she stepped away from me obediently.
I turned slowly to Kramer still sitting on the ground where I’d dropped him. I felt some small satisfaction when I saw that he had blood dripping from his nose and looked more than a little disheveled. It still wasn’t enough for me though.
Kramer glowered up at me and I rewarded the look by grabbing him by the collar and pulling him up so that we were eye-to-eye.
“This is your final warning,” my voice was a dark storm of threat. “Not that you’ll have another chance where you’re going, but if your sorry ass gets released from prison, you’d better believe I’ll be watching. You ever touch her again—hell, you even look at her again—and I will ensure that you lose everything you care about. Got me?”
Kramer might have been a prick but he wasn’t an idiot. He knew that while he was powerful, I was even more so. He might have been on the board, but I had access to any number of my father’s resources, including his lawyer friends, cops, and judges.
I could ruin Kramer if he chose to cross me again.
Kramer’s blue eyes were filled with hatred, but he nodded once.
“Good,” I said. I shoved him away from me roughly, causing him to fall on his ass once again.
Without taking my eyes off the bastard, I made the call.
I kept Kiley close to my side the whole time, watching grimly as Kramer was taken away in handcuffs. I wanted to feel satisfaction as he was dragged away but I found that I was just concerned for the shivering girl in my arms.
Once the police cruiser disappeared around the corner, I held out my hand to Kiley, who took it quickly. I put a protective arm around her and led her away.
I was feeling mostly better but decided to get a taxi anyway. I wasn’t willing to put Kiley’s safety at risk by having either of us attempt to drive in the state we were in, but also it just felt nice to sit in the back seat with her and hold her against my chest.
I was relieved when Kiley didn’t resist me at all, placing her head against my heart and cuddling up to me. She would have had every reason to reject me after the way I behaved. She could still reject me, I realized. It could just be her reaction to the fear of nearly being raped by Kramer. I shuddered at what could have happened if I hadn’t shown up when I had. If I’d been seconds later, he would have had her down that alley and I wouldn’t have seen them.
