First Love: A Superbundle Boxed Set of Seven New Adult Romances (162 page)

It’s worked well for us because we’re so close to the college, and we don’t charge a cover, so the kids from down the street come in here to get their club fix in without going to the bigger clubs. Plus, because they become more familiar with us, they’re more likely to come in for a couple of drinks or dinner during the week.

Chelsea looks up from the drink she’s blending. “Did Angel find you?”

“Huh?”

“She was looking for you, but I got busy and she wandered off.” Chelsea gives me a knowing smile. It’s no secret Angel and I have gotten closer this week, and I doubt Chelsea realizes just how much I’ve behaved myself. If I hadn’t lived it, I’m not sure I’d believe it myself.

I instantly worry that something might be wrong, and I give a cursory look around the bar.

Chelsea rolls her eyes, but she’s smiling. I think she sees how happy I am since Angel got here. “It was cute, she was so worried you’d be upset because some guy bought her a drink.”

I would be and I am, but I can’t help smiling that she cared I’d be upset. I feel like her and I have stumbled miles in the right direction this week, though trying to be patient is killing me. “I’ll go find her.” I try to keep the bar on the up-and-up as much as possible, but the college kids are—well, they’re college kids. There are always a few bad apples who try to make trouble, and our live band nights tend to draw more of the type.

“She looked smoking, too. I think she’s hoping to catch your eye.” Chelsea winks.

I sure as hell hope Angel knows she doesn’t need to try and catch my eye. I’ve only got eyes for her. But I don’t like the idea of all the other guys whose eyes she’ll be catching, too. I need to find her. “Thanks, Chelsea.”

Chelsea lightly touches my arm, expertly filling the little sister role. “I’m sorry for the shit I gave you about her, Axel. She’s all right.”

At that moment, I spot a guy trying to slip out the door with Angel in his arms. She’s far from all right, and when I get a hold of that motherfucker, he ain’t gonna be all right, either. “Get Dougie, now!” I snap at Chelsea. Thank God Dougie came back to work today, because I might need backup.

The bouncer at the front door is looking unsure, but he lets the guy pass with my girl tucked in his arms. I make a mental note to fire Jordan, even though I pay him to keep the trouble out, not to keep the trouble in. “Stop him!” My voice booms through the crowded bar, and several heads turn in my direction.
 

In the commotion, several people step into my way, asking if they can help. They can help by getting the fuck out of my way, and I think my expression tells them as much.

Jordan darts out the door and I’m not far behind him, but every second carries the weight of an eternity. What’s worse is the fact that we don’t have a parking lot on this side of building; the bar sits right on the street. I frantically scan both directions, and then I hear the
blurp-blurp
of someone unlocking their car to my left. I turn and sprint down the street, while Jordan heads the other direction, scanning parked cars.

The asshole has Angel pinned against his Camry, braced with his hip while he fumbles with the passenger door. Her head is lolling to the side.
 

“Get the fuck away from her!” I scream.

He looks up and sees me just as he manages to get the door open. He starts shoving her into the seat.
 

Adrenaline is coursing through my veins, my heart is exploding in my chest, and my fingers ache to strangle him. Or break each of his fingers. Or both. But I’ve got to make sure she’s okay.

My fist closes around the collar of the guy’s shirt, and I grab his arm with my other hand then yank hard, tossing him aside like a sack of yesterday’s trash. He lands on his ass on the sidewalk, and I’ve never been more grateful for all the time I spent working out to chase Angel’s memory away. It may have just saved her life, or what sanity she has left. I don’t know with what, but I know she’s been drugged. She’s breathing erratically, and her eyes are closed while her arms hang limply beside her. A soft moan tumbles through her lips.

I leave her sitting in the seat for a moment, turning my full attention on the guy. Dougie barrels up the street, skidding to a halt just behind the prick who is now picking himself up off the ground. Anger pushes away all reason, and cold satisfaction chills its way down my spine as my first collides with his nose.

Blood runs in an angry rivulet down his face. The guy is big, but I’m bigger and I’ve got something worth fighting for. He’s got determination though, I’ll give him that. He bends over, ducks his head and charges at me. His arms wrap around my middle, slamming me into his car.

Dougie is behind him, trying to pull him off me. The guy tilts his head in Dougie’s direction, spitting blood. As soon as he leans past me, I whip my elbow to the side, connecting in a firm hit to his jaw. He staggers backward into Dougie.
 

“Let him go, get Angel out of his car, and take her upstairs,” I snarl. As soon as Dougie releases him, I begin to pummel the dude’s face with my fists.
 

He drugged her!

I hit him again.

He hurt her!

I hit him again, harder.

I’m supposed to protect her.

I hit him with everything I’ve got.

Then Jordan is there, pulling me off him, and Chelsea is screaming at me. The guy who drugged Angel is lying on the street, barely conscious, squinting at me through swollen eyes. My breath comes in jagged bursts.

Chelsea tugs on my arm. “Let Jordan handle him; you go make sure Angel is okay.”

I don’t budge. I hear her words, and I know I need to see to Angel. But I can’t do anything to Nick, no matter how much I want to. It’s like I’ve taken all my hate for him and dumped it into the asshole before me, and I can’t tear myself away.

“Axel, go!”

“Boss, should I call the cops?” Jordan helps the guy to his feet but keeps a hand on his arm.
 

“Get his name and address off his license then stuff him into his car.” I jerk my head toward the Camry. A burning desire to get to Angel’s side overwhelms me, and I head back into the bar. The cops can wait. I pull out my phone, flip it open, and snap a quick picture to hang behind the bar to make sure we never let that motherfucker back into my bar.

Chelsea walks beside me as we head back inside. “Tell everyone to go home, we’re closing down early tonight.”

She looks like she wants to say something, but then she nods.

I take the steps in the hallway two at a time, conquering them in long strides, angry that they’d dare wait between us. The only thing that matters now is getting to her side.
 

When I step into my apartment, Dougie stands and gives me a wary look. “Are the cops on the way?”

Angel’s huddled under a blanket on my couch. Her eyes snap open. “No cops!” Her chest heaves beneath the blanket as she struggles to sit up.

I don’t think I can make it across the room fast enough. The speed of light wouldn’t be fast enough.

I sit on the other end of the couch and pull her into my arms. As soon as I touch her, she shudders, then begins to sob against my chest.
 

“Do you think we should take her to the hospital?” Dougie asks.

Angel shakes her head, and I translate. “No.
 
She’s coming out of it pretty fast. It was probably ketamine.”

“Fucking bastard. Guys like that don’t deserve to walk the earth.”

I couldn’t agree more, and I honestly don’t think I would’ve shed a tear had I killed the guy. It’s bad enough that he drugged a girl, but Angel is
my
girl.
 

“How do you feel now?” I stroke her hair, smoothing it against the back of her head.
 

“Tired. A bit sick to my stomach. But not as dizzy.” Her words slur slightly.

“Want me to get you some crackers from downstairs?” Dougie asks, sounding eager to be helpful.

“Yes, please,” Angel says, licking at parched lips.

“Do you need some water?” I ask, and she immediately blanches the palest shade of white I’ve ever seen.

She manages a watery half-smile. “Ginger ale.” Her lips move as if in slow motion, like she has to work to form the words.

“Be right back.”
 

Dougie disappears out my door, and I pull Angel closer. “Want to tell me what happened?”

She sighs, and for a moment, I think she might have blacked out, but then she finally starts to speak. “It’s my own fault. He’d been an ass at the bar when I wouldn’t let him buy me a second drink. He said he was sorry he offended me and offered me a bottle of water. It looked full and like it was just one of the bottles Chelsea had in stock behind the bar. I took it to shut him up then went to the bathroom. He grabbed me when I came out, and I freaked out. I think I passed out from fear.”

Fury zings through me, and I wish I could go hit the guy some more. “More than likely it was from the drug than fear, but it could have been either one.”
 

“I tried to call for help, but it was like my brain disconnected from my mouth.” Her lower lip trembles, and she lifts her fingers to it as if willing her body to settle.

“I’m just glad you’re okay. I’m so sorry, I should have been there.” I don’t even want to think about what would have happened if I hadn’t looked up and seen him carrying her out at that moment.
 

“You can’t protect me every moment. And I’m the idiot who took a drink from a stranger.” I hate the way her voice is filled with such misplaced self-loathing. At least it seems like speaking is coming easier for her again.

Chelsea comes through my door, and she must have heard Angel’s last comment. “No, I shouldn’t have pushed you to let him buy you a drink. I’m so sorry. Forgive me?”

Angel sighs as if the effort of answering questions is too much. “Of course.”

Dougie enters with crackers and soda in hand, and Angel’s hand trembles as she reaches out to take it from him. The way she’s shaking, I think she might drop it. After she eats one and sips some of the soda, I take it from her, putting it on the end table.

“Are you sure you don’t want to call the cops?” I ask, because I don’t know how to help her. If we do call them, there’s a good chance I’d be spending the night in jail as soon as they see the guy’s face and my fist-prints on it, but I don’t care. I’ll do whatever it takes to help her heal, and I’ve heard it’s good for girls to confront their attackers. No clue if that’s true or not, but it sounds like it makes sense.

“I’m sure. Besides, you saved me before anything could really happen, and I’m already starting to feel better.”

It’s been a long night, and I want to strip her down, put her in a hot bath, and then hold her all night long. “Dougie, can you make sure Chelsea gets home? I doubt that guy hung around, but I don’t want to take any chances.”

“Of course.”
 

Dougie and Chelsea say their goodbyes, and then Angel and I are left alone with the weight of what almost happened between us. She ran away from Nick without confronting him—not that I blame her; I think she did the right thing. Now she doesn’t want to press charges on this guy, which is just another form of running. I can’t help being afraid that all the progress we’ve made will be undone tonight as she realizes how close of a call she had. I’m not sure if my heart can take it if she runs from me, too.

“Will you stay here with me one more day? After this… I don’t think I can stand having you almost an hour away. I need you close for at least one more day.”

Twenty Eight

Angel

Arion is waiting for my answer, and I keep my head tucked against his chest while I think. The truth is, this is not at all how I expected our last night together to go, and I wouldn’t mind a do-over. It’s a shame we don’t get extra lives in real life, because I could definitely use one. “Okay.”

I try not to let his breath of relief worry me. Part of me is tempted to stress that
one
more day part, so he doesn’t get the wrong idea, but I just don’t have the energy to risk an argument. It will have to wait.
 

“How about I run you a steaming bath, and you can soak. I’ll even wash your back.”

Before my disastrous trip downstairs tonight, I’d been trying to think of ways to move our relationship into the territory of ‘more.’ Maybe, despite my nerves, part of tonight can be salvaged. “From in the tub with me?” I lift my head so I can look at him to judge his reaction.
 

His Adam’s apple bobs for a moment, then he slowly tilts his head down to meet my gaze. “If you’re sure that’s what you want.”

My smile is my answer, and he hands me the plastic cup of ginger ale. “Drink a little more, if you can.”

I take a small, cool sip as he heads into the bathroom. It’s amazing how much better I feel now compared to when Dougie brought me upstairs. The fog is still there, at the corner of my mind, but it’s rapidly clearing.

Tears well in my eyes at the thought of it. I was so stupid. I—of all people—know better. I know the dangers more than most. If Arion hadn’t been there…

“Hey. Don’t cry.” Arion comes out of the bathroom and kneels on the floor in front of the couch, taking my hand in his. I set my glass back on the end table then softly stroke his face. His cheek is slightly rough, with just a bit of stubble. He leans into my touch and lets out a soft sigh. I squeeze his hand in mine, wanting to give him a sign that I’m all right, and he winces but doesn’t draw his hand away.

Bruises are forming on his knuckles, and dried blood is smeared on his palm and there are even a few drops splashed on his wrists. “You did this because of me,” I whisper.

Arion’s hazel eyes are so deep and dark, I could fall into them and be lost forever as he says, “No Angel, I did this for you. I will protect you, always.”

I trap the sob that’s trying to fight free in my throat and rise unsteadily to my feet. “You’re definitely getting in that bath with me.”

It’s only when we reach the bathroom that I realize that, for him to get in with me, we both have to be naked together. I have no qualms about seeing Arion. I’ve seen enough of him to eagerly await the chance to see all of him. But I’m not as confident about him seeing all of me.