Page 131 of Between Never and Forever

“Women?” I asked quietly because I wanted everyone in the room to understand what I already knew.

“Kee was supposed to be special. I’ve fucked countless of girls under my labels before. They all squirm and act like they don’t like it at first, but they learn. They all belong to me. They can spread their legs for me too, and when I’m done with them—"

It was enough. We’d all heard enough. He wasn’t going to hurt another woman again and he definitely wasn’t going to hurt my future wife anymore.

I punched him harder this time, hoping I delivered enough pain for him to shut up as he wailed on the floor. I stepped over him so I could keep him from rolling on the floor as I continued to punch him, blood spurting from his nose.

When I pulled back for a second, he screamed, “You’re fucking stupid. Do you know who I am?”

I breathed in deep as I looked around the room. My tunnel vision cleared for a moment to take in my brothers staring at me, not one of them with a hint of question in their eyes. They knew.

They were ready. And so was I.

“It doesn’t matter who you are.” I said, my voice devoid of any emotion. I’d felt the rage and the fear at losing Kee because of him. Now, I felt nothing as he threatened me. I’d feel nothing when he begged too. “We’re the men who rule this world. And you attempted to assault the woman I love. For that, you will pay with your life.”

“Please,” he started the begging sooner than I expected.

All I could do was smile.

ChapterForty-Two

KEELANI

A drug can morphyour reality, mix up time, and confuse your space. I woke up fighting the arms that were wrapped around me, scared it was Ezekiel.

Scared for my life.

Yet, Dex hushed me right away and murmured over and over, “I got you, Kee. I got you.”

When I finally stopped flailing, it occurred to me I was in pajamas, back in my suite, and lying next to him. Every word caught in my throat as I tried to be strong and say something.

His hand hovered close to my face before he softly laid it on my cheek like he wanted me to see him going slow so as not to startle me. “I promise I’ll never ever let you go again,” he whispered. “I’m so sorry he got that close to you.”

This man. He was apologizing when actually he’d saved me. “Is he… Did he—”

“We were there seconds after you passed out. You’re fine. He’s taken care of.” Dex’s jaw flexed. “Rest, Kee. I. Got. You.”

My eyes drifted closed again. I didn’t know if it was the drugs that had been laced in my system or that my body was mentally drained. Either way, I slept into the night only to wake and puke up whatever was in my stomach.

A doctor checked on me then and explained that the effects of the drug I’d been given were much like being roofied. I would be fine, but he recommended rest.

Dex didn’t leave my side.

That night, my mind couldn’t take on thinking about anything else.

The media, the wedding, everything waited.

It was Dex and me in that room together, him holding my body to his as he whispered over and over, “I got you.”

The next morning, I stared at the ceiling for a couple minutes, knowing I had to move forward. I wasn’t going to let what happened with Ezekiel control me again. I knew I’d have the tools to work through it. I knew I’d have the people around me to work through it too.

Life sometimes isn’t fair and we have to go through hell. Life sometimes is beautiful too in that hellish fire, showing you that you’re strong enough and that you have support around you to make it.

I let the tears escape for a minute, and Dex rubbed his thumb back and forth on my chin before he turned my head toward his. “I got you, Kee.”

“I know,” I whispered. “I’ll be okay too. I know I will.”

He nodded. “What do you want to do today, heartbreaker?”