Page 81 of Nails

When he finally stopped what he was doing and looked up at her, she could see his jaw was tight, and his eyes were almost black with fury.

“I’ll be okay,” she tried to assure him, but she swore his eyes became even darker as his gaze swept over her bruised cheek, the scratches down her arms, and the blood on her shoulder.

“You’re bleeding all over the damn place.That’s not fine.”His voice cracked, and she realized that under all that anger was fear.”He shook his head again before picking up the cold bottle of water and gently pressing it against her cheek.

“Fucking bastard.I should’ve killed him,” Nails muttered.

Riley looked at him.

“How did you know I was in trouble?”she croaked out.

Nails glanced at her.His jaw was still tight.

“I was coming back inside with two of the other guys when I saw that asshole dragging you inside the room.”He placed his hand against her cheek, looking into her eyes.“I ran as fast as I could.”

A fresh wave of emotion surged through her.Relief.Rage.Shame.She closed her eyes and breathed through the pain, the fear, the pounding echo of what almost happened.

Before she could say anything else, the door opened, and Erik stepped in.His expression shifted from confusion to shock the moment he saw her.

“What the fuck?”His eyes moved to Nails.“What happened?”

“She was attacked,” Nails bit out.“Some drunk asshole tried to drag her into one of the private rooms.Me and two of the others were coming back inside when we saw it.By the time we were able to get up there, he already had her inside the room.”

Erik’s eyebrows scrunched together.“Where was Kumar?He was supposed to be manning that part of the VIP section.”

Nails gave his shoulder a little shrug.“I don’t know.That is something that you’ll have to ask Kumar.”

Erik looked at Riley, and she could see the concern in his eyes, but there was something else, fear.And Riley had a good idea why.Adam wasn’t going to be happy when he found out about this.

The door to the room opened again, and two more bouncers stepped inside.They were the ones who were with Nails.One of them, a big guy named Deion, spoke first.

“The guy and his friends are gone.We made sure to let them know that they are not welcome back here.”He handed a piece of paper to Erik.“That’s the guy’s name.He was the one whom the reservation was under.Adam should have his information.”

Erik nodded his head and slipped the paper into his pocket.

“Did the guy say anything?”Erik asked.

Deion hesitated.“He kept saying that he paid for her.Like insisting.His friends said the same thing.”

Riley’s stomach churned.“That’s exactly what he said to me, too.He said he spent two grand on some private time with me.I told him that he must have had me confused with someone else.But he was adamant that I was his for the night.He even laughed at me like I was the punchline to some sick joke.”She shook her head.“It makes no sense.”

Nails’ gaze sharpened.“It sounds to me that someone promised him something they had no right to promise.”

Erik’s frown deepened, but he didn’t say anything.That silence told Riley everything she needed to know.He was already trying to think of how this conversation with Adam was going to go.

Nails finally looked at Erik.“She’s done for the night.”

“Yeah, of course,” Erik agreed quickly.

“And I’m taking her home.Who knows if those assholes are still out there.”

Erik nodded, though Riley knew that Nails didn’t give a damn whether he approved or not.

Once Erik and the other two guys left, Nails helped Riley stand up.

She groaned, feeling the aches in her body.

“Careful,” Nails said, keeping one arm around her waist as he helped her over to her locker.