CHAPTER FIVE
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GIA
The bar was packed that night, and it was just what I needed. A night with my good friend, Jane, who was only in town until tomorrow. Besides Jane, I didn’t have many other friends. Too busy working, too busy trying to make a place for myself. Too busy trying to take care of the only family I had left.
I thought working at Crane Towers at the gallery might have helped with all of those things. But not with a jackass of a boss like that.
The music started up again and Jane dragged me to the dance floor. Halfway tipsy and prepared to get a lot drunk, I stumbled along behind her. Just like hers, my skirt was a little too short and heels a little too tall. In addition to that, I’d let my inhibitions down. That’s what being young was all about.
Damn Isaac Crane. He had no idea how to be fun—no doubt that was why he was such a dick. That and he had a stick so far up his ass, it’d take a miracle to remove it.
“I’m glad I quit,” I told Jane as she swiveled her hips in front of me.
“Good. You deserve to work somewhere you love.”
“I do!”
“You could come work with me,” Jane said.
“I’d have to move.”
Jane grinned, pitching her voice above the music. “Obviously. You need that, G. Somewhere to start over.”
I’d considered it before. Wanted it more than I could say.
Then I shook my head. “I can’t. You know I can’t.”
Jane gave my arm a shake. “You don’t owe her anything, you know.”
My mom, that’s who she was talking about. She’d been sick for years, and in an institution I had to help pay for with my measly paycheck even though she treated me like shit. All of the sudden, the beer I’d drunk earlier swirled in my stomach. I’d quit my job. And I’d turned down the offer for an even better job.
“I’m not feeling very well,” I told her.
Jane linked arms with me and we both walked from the dance floor. Once we stepped outside, the air cool against my cheeks, I felt more sober. But I still knew I’d made a rash choice today. One that was going to cost me.
“I’m going to head home, too,” Jane said. “You want me to come to your place a bit first?”
“No. I know you have to pack.” I hugged her. “I’ll call you soon.”
She hailed a cab, then nodded. “Remember what I said. You can come live with me. I know you’d love it there.” The cab pulled to the curb and she opened the door. “You coming?”
I shook my head. “I’ll walk. I need the fresh air.”
She glanced around. “Bad idea.”
To placate her, I waved her on and said, “I’ll catch the next one then.”
She nodded. “Call me!”
Once she was gone, I sighed and contemplated pulling off my shoes. If I took a cab, I wouldn’t have to walk in them. But I felt like, if I got in a cab right now, the lack of fresh air would make my small dinner and overindulgence in drinks come right up.
A moment later, my phone rang. I answered it without paying attention to the number, thinking it was Jane. “Hey.”
“Ms. Tanner.”
His voice made a shiver work its way down my body. Then I frowned and started walking in the direction of my apartment, not caring about my heels anymore.
“Mr. Crane,” I returned with contempt in my voice. “Why are you calling me?”
Voices sounded over my shoulder and I glanced behind me. Two men walked several feet behind me, whispering about something.
He must have heard the background noises too. “Where are you?”
“You’re not my boss anymore—it’s none of your business.”
“That’s what I called to talk to you about.”
“My life being none of your business? That’s the first time we’ve agreed on anything—”
“Have you been drinking?”
“None. Of. Your. Business.” It sounded funny coming from my mouth, which just made it clear how much I had been drinking.
“It sounds like you’re outside,” he murmured, then cursed. “Logan.”
“Logan?”
He said something, mouth turned away from the phone, almost like he was giving instructions.
“I don’t want to talk to you right now,” I told him.
The voices behind me grew closer, and I looked behind me again. One of the guys smiled at me, teeth flashing white in the darkness.
“Gia,” Isaac said calmly. “I’d feel better if we talk about this in person. And I hope you’re not alone if you’re outside.”
“I’m not…” I looked over my shoulder again when one of the men jeered at me. “There’s someone behind me.”
“Where are you?” he snapped.
I gave him the street I was on, suddenly cold despite the heat of the evening. “Isaac…”
He was saying something to someone else, giving them instructions. I walked faster, hating that I’d strayed so far from the club. I didn’t see anyone else around except for the two men.
“Find someone else, Gia,” Isaac said. “Run into the street if you have to.”
I started to take his advice but arms came around me from behind. My phone fell from my hand and smashed on the sidewalk. I tried to scream but a hand came over my mouth. Both men pulled me into the shadows of a building.
Oh God, oh God…
One of them ran his hand over my face, his breath foul. “Quiet now, sweetheart. Don’t be afraid.”
I tried to kick, but they were too strong. I bit the hand over my mouth hard, giving me some wiggle room.
“You little bitch!” the man hissed.
He backhanded me across the cheek, making the world go black for a moment. My ears rang and I felt like I was going to fall over. But when I felt hands on my body again, I screamed at the top of my lungs and kneed the man in front of me in the balls.
He doubled over as the other man reached for me. I swung my purse at him, and then turned and ran. I’d never run so fast in heels before. My breath came in sharp pants, threatening to tear my lungs apart. When I rounded the corner and slammed into someone, another scream rose up.
“Ms. Tanner,” a voice snapped.
I looked up in a daze and saw Logan, his eyes glinting in the darkness, jaw hard. “Oh my God,” I breathed. “How did you get here so fast?”
“I was already on my way.” He pointed. “Get in the car.”
I hadn’t noticed the black car parked along the side of the street until that moment. My body shaking with equal parts fear and relief, I hurried to the car, jumped in the front seat and locked the door.
<<<>>>
ISAAC
I paced the floor of the suite, shoving my hand through my hair. I’d tried to go with Logan because I needed to see if Gia was okay. But my legs fucking locked in the elevator, and I rode a wave of panic so intense, I had to kneel on the tile and wait for the tightness in my chest to pass.
The moment the elevator dinged, I was at the doors. When they opened to reveal Logan and Gia, her arms wrapped tightly around herself, I blew out a breath of relief.
“I didn’t ask him to bring me here,” she said softly, not stepping out of the elevator.
“I did.” I reached out my hand. “Come here.”
She licked her lower lip, and that’s when I noticed it. The bruise forming on her cheek.
“Motherfuckers. What did they do?”
She flinched, balking inside the elevator until Logan coaxed her out. He looked like he had something to say.
“Give me a minute,” I said to him with a curt nod. Then I held my hand out for Gia. “Come with me.”
I softened some when she didn’t hesitate, just placed her hand in mine. I led her to my bedroom, because it’d be more comfortable for her than the spare. “You look tired. You can rest in here.”
She blinked up at me. “I…should probably go home.”
“Not tonight.” She frowned at the snap in my voice, and I struggled to calm down. “You’ll be safer here. I’d feel better if you stayed.” I touched her cheek, surprising her. “I’ll kill whoever did this to you.”
“I’m fine.”
That didn’t make me feel better, but I stepped back and kept my comments to myself. She didn’t need this right now—I could tell by the way she was eyeing the bed and then the bathroom.
“I need to talk to Logan. I’ll give you a minute. Feel free to use the shower.”
I walked out and closed the door, heading straight to the living room. Logan stared out over the city, lights twinkling near and far.
“Tell me you got those bastards,” I said.
Logan turned and nodded. “She got one right in the balls—he was still doubled over when I got there. The other one tried to run, but…”
My teeth gritted. Part of me wanted to ask if he’d killed him. Assholes like that deserved it. But I pushed away those thoughts. My psychiatrist would say they weren’t rational—they were based on emotion. Damn right. What the hell else was I supposed to base them on?
“Once he saw my gun, he stopped. The police came and picked them up. I kept her name out of it,” Logan said.
“Good.” I almost wished I could have been there to see them get what they deserved. “I’m going to make a list of things for you to pick up. She’ll need stuff for tomorrow.”
Logan didn’t even blink. It wasn’t his place to question, so he just waited for me to write the list and then stuffed it in his jacket.
I returned to the bedroom, surprised when I spotted Gia sitting on the end of the bed wearing one of my T-shirts. The blood drained from my head and went straight to my cock. Her legs were bare, hair wet and dangling past her shoulders.
“Sorry,” she said, plucking at the shirt. “Mine was dirty. And ripped.”
“You’re welcome to anything you need or want. I’m having Logan pick you up the essentials.”
Her cheeks burned red and she stood from the bed. “That’s not necessary. I mean—don’t think I don’t appreciate what you’ve done—what you did.” She took a deep breath and exhaled. “I’m trying to say thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“And that I can head home now.”
“No.” I took a step closer, towering over her without her heels. “Did you not hear me the first time? I tried to tell you it’s not safe out there. The world is full of terrible people, and yet you still trust them.”
“Not everyone is like that.”
I gave her a sharp smile. “That’s where you’re wrong.”
“You’re not like that. You helped me tonight.”
My laugh was low and harsh. “I might be the worst of all. You should probably stay far away from me.”
She lifted her chin. “Then why am I here?”
I swallowed hard. Because I needed her safe. I needed her near. Mostly, I just needed her.
“You should get some rest,” I said quietly.
She crossed her arms. “Fine. But you’re not doing a very good job.”
“Of what?”
She moved closer, just two steps, but her bare feet were nearly touching my shoes. “Of pretending you’re an asshole. You’re not like those guys tonight, and I wish you’d just stop trying so fucking hard to prove it to me.” She rose up on her toes and kissed my cheek, lips just a whisper against my skin. “Thank you.”
Then she walked to the bed and climbed under the covers. I turned off the light on my way out and tried desperately to remind myself how wrong I was for Gia. But I couldn’t seem to convince myself this time.
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