Page 18

I am vengeance.

The switch is flipped.

I see her and the killer inside me roars.

Laney is slumped against the wall, her body barely holding itself up. The bastard is pawing at her, his filthy hands on her ripped shirt, his mouth on her neck.

Something inside me snaps so violently I think I might black out. Never in my life have I felt such cold icy rage.

I don’t hesitate.

I just move.

With a roar, I grab the roadie by the back of his shirt and hurl him off her. He stumbles back, eyes wide with shock.

“The fuck do you think you’re doing?” I growl, my voice shaking with rage.

His face goes pale as he sees the violence in my stare.

“She—she wanted—”

My fist collides with his face before he can finish that sentence. The crunch of bone is drowned out by the pounding of my pulse in my ears. He stumbles, blood spraying from his nose, but I don’t let up.

I punch him again. Harder. His head snaps back against the wall, and he crumples to the floor.

I want to pound him until he takes his last breath, but I know Laney needs me more than my rage needs an outlet. I suck in a breath and wrangle it to a simmer so I can tend to her. This piece of shit can wait.

I drop to my knees beside Laney, my hands cupping her face. Her pupils are blown wide, her breaths uneven, her clothes torn.

“Laney, baby, I’m here. I’ve got you.” My voice breaks.

She blinks slowly, her body sagging against me.

“Jesus,” I choke out. I run a trembling hand down her arm, checking for injuries. Her skin is cold, too cold.

“Security!” I roar, my voice hoarse with fury. Two of my men run down the corridor, their eyes wide as they take in the scene. I’ll deal with their negligence later but, for now, I need to focus on my woman.

“Get this piece of shit out of here! I want him taken to the trailer. Lock him in. I’ll deal with him myself.”

The clatter of boots echoes down the hallway as my security team rushes in.

They hesitate. They know what I mean. They know what’s coming.

“I said lock him in. Nobody touches him but me,” I snarl. My blood is boiling, my fists still twitching. I want to see the fear in his eyes when he realizes I’m going to make him pay for what he did to her.

I scoop Laney into my arms, holding her gently against my chest. She’s too light. Too still.

“Find me a doctor!” I shout, my voice raw. “NOW!”

I carry her back to my dressing room, kicking the door shut behind me. My hands shake as I lower her onto the couch. Her breathing is shallow, her eyelids fluttering.

“Laney, stay with me, sweetheart,” I murmur, brushing her hair from her damp forehead. “Help is coming, okay? You’re safe now.”

A tear slips down her cheek, and my chest aches like someone took a knife to it.

I press my lips to her temple. “I swear to God, baby, I’ll never let anyone hurt you again.”

She whispers my name, and it’s the only sound in the world that matters.