Page 63 of Don't Stop

Before he could hit me again, the door flew open, and three guards hurried in, including the one that had ushered me here in the first place. He grabbed onto the bigger man, pulling him away from the altercation.

“That’s enough!” the guard yelled. “I said enough!”

My arms were dropped, and I fell to my knees for a second before one of the guards grabbed my elbow and hauled me to my feet. The sharp twinge of pain in my shoulder made me hiss. I was escorted out of the room, and behind me I swore the bigger man and the guard that half held him were smirking.

Panic flooded my veins at the thought of Amanda home alone. Dallas had bigger connections than I realized.

***

“That’s why I’m hacking into the cameras,” Ronan said. His keyboard clicked in the background. “There’s got to be a video of the attack. There are cameras on every corner down there. One of them caught it, and I’m going to find which one.”

I groaned. “Hey wise guy, this is a recorded line.”

“I’m not stupid.” Ronan scoffed. “I’m obviously wiping the recording and any trace left behind. This isn’t my first rodeo.” He laughed, sounding far too amused for my liking, and I grumbled.

“You’re right.” I lowered my voice. “What is your plan?”

“Besides getting the video?” He paused like he had to think about it. “I’m going to find out who his connections are, and your girl is filing a police report.”

Instant concern flooded my veins, and my blood roared in my ears, drowning out the hum of the prison around me. “She’s what?”

“Drake, you know we’ll have a better chance if there’s a record of the attack onher. Right now it looks like you went ballistic and beat a man within an inch of his life over an assault that wasn’t even reported.”

He was right, but I didn’t like the idea of Amanda sitting in front of officers that would scrutinize her. Ronan took a deep breath like he knew what I was thinking about. “The bruises on her cheek are still there. They’ll believe her,” he said.

“Fine,” I sighed, pausing. “How is she? Is she okay?”

Ronan’s voice softened. “Yeah, she’s okay. We’re keeping an eye on her.”

“Thank you. Don’t let anything happen to her.” I demanded, touching my nose and wincing. “I mean it.”

“Don’t worry. We’ve got her. She’s safe, Drake. I promise.” Ronan was serious, and then he paused and chuckled. “That girl loves you. I don’t get it.”

He laughed a bit louder, and I couldn’t help but join in. “Man, just get me out of here before she forgets that she does.”

“You didn’t hear the way she talked about you.” Ronan sounded almost amused. “She’s not going to forget.”

I grumbled, desperate to bury my face against Amanda’s neck and inhale the sweet vanilla scent that radiated from her. A scent I’d craved since the police hauled me away from her house. “Just fucking get me out of here.”

Ronan laughed loudly. “Jesus, you’re bossy.”

Chapter forty

Amanda

MyhandsshookwhileI poured the glass of wine I so desperately needed to stop my mind from repeating the officer’s questions. He had been so skeptical the moment I walked in the door.

You’re sure you want to report it?

Did anyone else see this besides your friend?

Why didn’t you just call the police?

Was that what Elliott meant when he said I would have to be convincing? I’d have to convince them he had touched me at all. Apparently, the bruise on my face wasn’t enough. It was lighter, but it wasn’t gone—it could still be seen clearly on my cheek.

Before I could take a much-needed gulp, someone knocked at the door. My heart halted. Mackenzie wouldn’t have knocked, though I knew she would be on her way over, and Bryson still wasn’t talking to me. The glass clattered against the counter when I sat it down, and I held onto it to make sure it was balanced before I let go.

I looked through the small opening next to the door, groaning at Dallas standing on my porch. “Go away,” I yelled through the wood. What was I supposed to do? One of Ronan’s supposed colleagues was keeping an eye on the house, but I didn’t know exactly where he was parked.

---