Chapter Ten

Chapter Ten

LUC stared at the closed door of the bedroom. He could still hear the

slam reverberate in his head.

Her anger had been tangible—and well deserved.

Swiping a hand down his face, he felt exhaustion seep into his bones.

Yet . . . deep inside, he itched, wanted, yearned. It had taken everything

inside him to be honest about their future and let her walk away.

Seeing Tyler‟s mouth on Alyssa‟s had wrung his guts inside out. The

beast inside him had screamed, lurching to life, demanding her body and

submission. And anything else she‟d give him. He couldn‟t even put a

name to everything he needed from her. But it wasn‟t good-bye.

Yes, she‟d let Tyler kiss her, but Luc knew that, of the two of them,

he‟d fucked up more. After tonight, after losing control with her, he

deserved whatever she threw at him.

Now that Alyssa had gone, he had to confront the most basic question

rolling around in his head: Why did jealousy get the best of him whenever

he thought for a moment that she might have another lover? He couldn‟t

stay. Why did he take his frustration out on her sexually?

Because you’re falling for her, and that scares the hell out of you.

He staggered to the bed, then sank down. Was that even possible?

Could he really have fallen for her in a matter of days?

They had as many arguments as they did sexual encounters, both

heated. But Alyssa was so much more. Determination, grit. Kind to the

other girls. Smart. Pragmatic and unafraid . . . except that vulnerable side

she‟d let him glimpse only once or twice. There was a part of her she kept

hidden that he was dying to know. Everything about her fascinated him.

Despite being in a flashy business, Alyssa was so . . . real. More real to

him, in fact, than any of his previous lo vers.

But she didn‟t fit in the future he had planned.

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Since she wasn‟t his exclusively and never would be, he had to stop

acting like a jackass, even if it killed him. She‟d demanded that he leave

her in peace until he departed Lafayette. Somehow, he would. It was for

the best, and he owed her that. He‟d just have to figure out how to forget

her. Or learn to live with the open wound.

A moment later, someone pounded on the door. Wincing, he trudged

across the room and pulled the door open. Tyler.

Luc had no idea what to think about the man. On the one hand, he

acted with the familiarity of Alyssa‟s lover. The guy had to be one of her

friends with benefits, right? But Alyssa had sworn that Tyler wasn‟t. Luc

wanted to believe her so badly.

appearance, at Alyssa‟s ripped garments strewn across the floor. Then he

gritted his teeth. “Goddamn it, did you hurt her? Where the fuck is she?”

How the hell did he answer that? “I didn‟t hurt her physically.”

Tyler hauled back, making a meaty fist. Luc saw it coming a mile away

and did nothing. The right cross was a killer, and his head slammed back

and pain seared its way through his head, rattling his brain.

He rubbed his sore jaw and glared at Tyler. “If it‟s any consolation, the

minute she left, it was like being hit by a semi. She barreled over me, and I

feel like roadkill.”

fragile. She doesn‟t show her emotions to anyone, but since you came

here, she‟s been wearing them all over her face. And she looks fucking

desolate.”

Luc hung his head. He‟d treated her like a whore, had sex with her to

get her out of his system, accused her of sleeping around. He‟d been

astounded by her intelligence. It had never occurred to him that a stripper

could complete advanced degrees. With any other woman, he would simply

have admired her accomplishments, not been shocked. He‟d all but forced

his way into her body and tried to push his way into her heart with no intent

to stay around and give himself back to her.

He deserved every bit of his broken heart and more.

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Do you know how hard it‟s been to stand back and watch?”

Incredibly difficult, Luc was certain. He hadn‟t liked Tyler kissing her,

but if he‟d been sidelined while being forced to watch another man seduce

and mistreat her, he would have gone completely insane and ripped the

bastard‟s head off. Suddenly, he admired Tyler‟s restraint.

I leave Thursday.”

backstage a few minutes ago, bawling her eyes out.”

Luc closed his eyes. He‟d thought he couldn‟t feel worse. Wrong.

Knowing he‟d hurt her—again—was like dragging a sharp, rusty blade

through his heart.

Tyler got in his face, clearly not finished with his tirade. “And after we

find her, it‟s open season, asshole. If you cause her another instant of pain,

I‟m going to enjoy ripping you apart with my bare hands.”

Normally, Luc didn‟t take threats well. This . . . He just nodded.

Tyler hesitated, jaw clenched. “Peter was in the guest area around the

stage fifteen minutes ago. He didn‟t leave; he‟s not in the john—but he‟s

MIA. So is Alyssa.”

Fear jolted Luc from his stupor. He bolted toward the door. “We need

to find her.”

Giving him a curt nod, Tyler sprinted out of the room and down the

stairs, Luc on his heels.

The bouncer shook his head. “She‟s checking some of the guest areas

now, to make sure Alyssa isn‟t mingling. We‟ll check her office.”

She would go there, Luc realized. Upset and teary, she‟d want privacy,

a soundproof room. A door with a lock.

Luc had a bad feeling about this.

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Seconds later, they stood at the door of her office. Closed and locked.

Fear clenched Luc‟s heart. He and Tyler both pounded on the door,

shouting her name.

No one answered.

Even in her red stiletto boots, she couldn‟t equal Peter‟s height, but

she wasn‟t about to give him the psychological advantage of letting him

tower over her sitting form. Still, the frat boy was a bruiser, at least six-two,

probably a good two hundred thirty pounds of muscle. Young and drunk

and horny.

And she‟d left her purse with her pepper spray in her bedroom

upstairs.

Calm. Reason with him.

Peter just laughed and started shucking his shirt. He looked at her with

a lascivious violence that made her flesh crawl.

You‟re always letting that bouncer put his hands on you, and I know you‟re

putting out for that chef who‟s been your shadow this week. Now it‟s my

turn.”

Alyssa‟s eyes widened. “You know about Luc?”

Had he been the one writing the notes?

Peter scoffed. “Hell, yes. The way you two look at each other, it‟s

obvious. Besides, I was upstairs, right outside your door, twenty minutes

ago when he was giving it to you good. Baby.” He smiled and unfastened

his jeans. “I‟ll fuck you better.”

Fear and disgust made her stomach turn. But she had to stay calm.

Get herself out of here. She would not be his victim.

snot-nosed frat boys who think they‟re entitled to whatever they want. So

turn around, open the door—”

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He charged her, grabbed her arm, and twisted it behind her back. “I‟m

man enough to make you cream and scream. I don‟t take orders from

women, especially sluts like you. So shut your fucking mouth, open your

pretty thighs, and make yourself useful.”

Alyssa‟s stomach jumped, and adrenaline charged her system. She

wriggled to get free, but Peter tightened his grip on her arm and he

wrenched it up behind her back. Wincing, she stepped up on her tiptoes. If

he forced the appendage up any more, he‟d pull her shoulder from the

socket or break it. Shit!

what‟s under that skirt?”

Using her arm to hold her in place, Peter shoved her forward and

pushed her face onto her desk. Pain exploded across her cheek when she

hit the unyielding surface. Another jab slashed its way across her

midsection, on the right side of her rib cage, as the corner of her desk

stabbed her. She gasped for her next breath.

While she was still reeling from the pain, Peter used the opportunity to

flip her skirt up, expose her thong, and grope her. She shuddered.

worth it.”

He ripped her thong off, and the cold air hit her newly exposed skin.

She shivered.

This was happening. Really happening. God. Oh, God. She had to

stop it. She would not be Peter‟s victim. She had to elbow his ribs or stomp on his instep. Something . . . He had her immobilized with his threat to

break her arm, and she‟d rather let him than submit, but if she was going to

sacrifice the use of a limb in battle, she had to make sure her action

counted.

Peter bent over her body, curling his fist in her hair and smashing her

sore cheek against the desk again. Finally, he released her arm, but kept it

wedged between them with his body. Still, it was an opportunity, and she

needed to use it.

His hand landed on the small of her back; then he ran a finger down

the crack of her ass, lingering on her back entrance. “Ever take a man

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here? Yeah, I‟ll bet you have. Whores like you love it kinky and raw. I‟m

going to fuck you here for sure.”

She heard slurping noises; then Peter was pressing a wet finger into

her ass. She shuddered, trying to block the reality out, but the biting pain

didn‟t allow that. This was getting serious. Fast.

hard ride.” He extracted the finger. “But I gotta see those tits first.”

Alyssa expected him to turn her over on her back, give her an

opportunity to get her arm free, give her legs more range of motion.

Instead, he clenched his fist in the thin cotton at the back of her neck and

ripped the garment down and off. To her horror, he aced one-handed bra

removal. Once he yanked the garment out from under her, her bare, sore

nipples hit the cold desk. She hissed.

He pinned her wrist between their bodies again, and she felt her bra

wrap around it. Then he groped around for the other. Damn, he was going

to bind her with her own clothing. Hell, no. Never!

Not caring if he broke her arm or slipped it from its socket, she

reached back. He had her face turned right, and her left hand was free, so

she couldn‟t see. She‟d have one chance to score on this. Thank God she

kept her fingernails sharp.

She reached back, aiming high and dead center. On the first try, she

grabbed his balls. And squeezed mercilessly.

He grunted and tried to back off, but she held tight, edged off the desk,

and turned to him.

Alyssa stood over his crouched form, anger pounding her. “I‟ll hurt you

first.”

She jammed her heel into his instep. Though he wore tennis shoes,

she figured she‟d made a bull‟s-eye when he howled and began hopping

on one foot. Then, just for fun, she twisted his balls.

He screamed like a little girl. And she smiled.

Suddenly, he reared up and roared, his fist coming at her like a

barreling semi. She feinted out of the way and released him, running for the

door. He was on her before she could take a step, pulling her by the hair to

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face him, then shoving her down again. The back of her skull hit the desk

with an audible crack. Pain exploded through her head, and she gasped.

That wasn‟t enough for Peter. He made sure her head banged the

concrete floor as he dragged her to it. An aching band of abused nerves

throbbed across her skull, in her temples. She felt sick. But then he

grabbed her hand and took her forearm in the other—and jerked. She

heard a snap and felt pain blast down to her hand, radiate through her

wrist. She cried out, and he smiled.

slut you are.”

Roughly, he grabbed her arms and restrained them above her head.

She whimpered against the pain.

Psycho. He was completely mental. And she had no idea how she was

going to get free as he pinned her body to the ground and worked his hips

between her thighs, his hard cock bare between them. Oh, God . . .

Alyssa knew the nightmare she was about to endure.

Despite knowing her office was soundproof and it would do no good,

she screamed.

Peter took his cock in his hand and pushed against her swollen

opening. “That‟s it. I like the screamers. You‟ll scream a lot for me before

I‟m done.”

A moment later, she heard pounding on the door, and Peter stilled.

Shaking his head, he reared back and tried to stab his way into her

body. A moment later, the door burst open.

Tyler and Luc charged Peter like madmen. Her bouncer grabbed him

by the hair and the ass of his jeans and threw him across the room. Luc ran

after him and kicked the frat boy in the ribs, then followed with ferocious

punches that made Peter scream. Tyler joined in, grabbing his hair and

slamming his face into the concrete.

She drifted out for a moment until two sets of feet skidded to a stop

beside her.

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Luc sounded concerned. And angry. She frowned. Why? He didn‟t

really care about her. Then again, he wasn‟t mean. He wouldn‟t like to see

people hurt.

Afraid. And cold. As much as she hated to admit, Alyssa knew she

needed help. Someone she knew cared about her.

Carefully, Tyler gathered her against his warm body. She choked

against the pain when he jostled her wrist, but finally he stilled. Ah, warmth.

his ear. “Police, too. Peter is out cold.”

now. It‟s over.”

memories of Peter hovering over her, overpowering her, forcing his way

inside her. “N-never again.”

Identical looks of shock and horror crossed Tyler‟s and Luc‟s faces as

the edges of her consciousness began to turn black. The truth dawned on

Luc‟s tortured face. She closed her eyes, hating the fact he now

understood her eternal shame.

LUC paced the emergency room‟s waiting area. Three long hours, and

not a word. Over and over in his head, he saw Peter restrain Alyssa‟s

struggling form with his larger body, the promise of violence on his face.

For the hundredth time, Luc chastised himself for treating her so badly and

letting her walk out of the bedroom alone. No matter how angry she‟d been,

how crushed he‟d been, he should have followed her until she was safe. He

hardly needed Tyler‟s glare to tell him that. Instead, Peter had gotten to her

and—

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Luc sank into an uncomfortable green chair and buried his head in his

hands. God, what had he done? Because of the way he‟d behaved, she‟d

run from him—and straight into Peter‟s trap.

In the anxious din of the ER‟s waiting room, the automatic doors

whoosh ed open, and in walked three familiar figures.

thought you could use the support. Jack insisted on tagging along.”

three thirty in the morning.”

Jack shook it. “Alyssa is my friend, too.”

And probably a former lover. Luc couldn‟t let that matter now. Jack

was happily married. Alyssa . . . Luc knew she wanted nothing more to do

with him.

Taking a deep breath, he turned to the third man, Kimber‟s older

brother Hunter. To say the soldier had never been a fan of Luc‟s was a

gross understatement.

Hunter Edgington stared pointedly at Luc‟s outstretched hand until he

dropped it. “Fucked up another woman‟s life, huh?”

Luc sucked in a breath and closed his eyes. Hunter was right and had

never been one to pull his punches.

Deke slapped Hunter on the back. “Come on, buddy. Now‟s not the

time.”

Mercifully, Hunter dropped the subject. “Who wants coffee?”

Jack was first with an “Amen to that.” Deke and Luc both accepted,

and Hunter left them to their conversation.

Luc shook his head.

her alone in her office. He attacked her. We don‟t know if he succeeded in

raping her, too.”

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there find out he hurt their favorite entertainment, there‟ll be hell to pay.”

Maybe that should have comforted Luc some, but it didn‟t. He couldn‟t

shake a question that had been haunting him for hours.

and self-proclaimed Dominant.

Jack sighed as he clearly sifted through his memories. “About ten

years. She started dancing at Sexy Sirens when it was called something

else and owned by this bitch named Marquessa. You should have seen

Alyssa. Even then, she could light up a room. I was still in the army and on

leave when we met. I‟d been helping a buddy track down the drug-dealing

scum who‟d been selling to his little brother in middle school. Apparently,

he liked to drop his money on strippers. When Alyssa heard what I was up

to, she tracked me down and volunteered to help. I knew she was good

people then.”

Yeah, that sounded like something she would do, championing the

underdog, helping where she could. Her life was far from perfect, but she

still found ways and means to assist others. So damn admirable. Why

hadn‟t he focused on that, rather than on her profession and who else

might be warming her bed?

Luc swallowed, wishing he didn‟t have to find a way to get the next

words out. “When we pulled this asshole off her, she was sobbing „not

again.‟ When was she raped previously?”

Jack recoiled. “Raped previously? Not in the last ten years. Alyssa and

I are tight. She would have come to me, and even if she hadn‟t, I would

have found out. I know everyone down there. Someone would have

spilled.”

Horror washed over Luc. “Ten years ago, she would have been, what?

Eighteen? Nineteen?”

Jack grimaced. “Yeah.”

Someone had raped Alyssa as a teenager.

The scene with Peter, her in pain and helpless, played over and over

in his head. Goddamn it.

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Luc felt two inches tall. He‟d treated her like dirt and judged her. All

this time, he‟d been thinking that she didn‟t fit into his future and may not be

good enough to play mother to “his” children . . . Truth was, he was no

good for her.

Maybe Tyler had it right; none of this violence against her had

materialized until he appeared. God knew, he hadn‟t looked past her

façade to really know the woman underneath until it was too late.

looking, asked in a no-nonsense tone.

Tyler shot him a hard look, then nodded. “We brought her in.”

Sadie, Jack, and Deke crowded around. The doctor barely glanced at

the stripper‟s brief silk robe and abundance of makeup.

cracked ribs, and a broken wrist.”

With every word out of the doctor‟s mouth, Luc wanted to thrash Peter

all over again. How did that rich little prick dare think he was entitled to hurt

Alyssa?

Yet Luc wondered how he‟d been different. He hadn‟t hurt her

physically, but he‟d treated her as if her profession meant she had no heart,

no feelings. He‟d trampled all over her. Like Peter had. He was fucking

slime.

we‟ve stabilized her. Nothing life threatening. She will fully recover with

time. She‟s sleeping now. We want to keep her overnight for observation.

She‟ll need a few days of bed rest.” He hesitated. “She‟s refused a rape

kit.”

The doctor cut a stare in his direction. “I tried to talk her into it. The

vaginal area shows considerable signs of penetration and a cursory exam

found traces of semen.”

Oh, shit! Luc cleared his throat. “Could be mine.”

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Luc didn‟t look at Tyler; he knew the bouncer was ready to hit him.

Instead, he just nodded. “About ten this morning and again around eleven

thirty tonight, just before the attack.”

she‟s been raped.” The doctor raked a hand through mussed brown hair. “If

she changes her mind about the kit, I‟m guessing the police will want you to

leave a sample so we can rule out your DNA and see if there are traces of

the suspect‟s.”

Luc didn‟t hesitate. “If she does, I‟ll do whatever I can to help nail this

bastard.”

He won‟t be hurting anyone for a while.”

Luc couldn‟t feel much triumph. A broken nose? That wouldn‟t keep

Peter from coming after Alyssa again. Only putting him behind bars for a

long while would. All those notes the bastard had left her before attacking

her would hopefully help put him away for ten to twenty.

The doctor sent him an apologetic stare. “We gave her a sedative, and

she‟s asleep. Before that, she refused all visitors.”

Of course. She preferred to suffer in silence. And why would she want

to see him?

Tamping down the pain, he turned to Tyler and Sadie. “While she‟s

recovering, can you keep the club going? She‟ll worry herself sick unless

she knows it‟s being cared for.”

Tyler nodded. “Part of my job description.”

her feet by then.” He turned to Jack. “Can you make sure she stays safe for

me?”

The Cajun frowned. “You make it sound as if you‟re leaving.”

Luc laughed bitterly. “No. I‟m the last thing she needs.” He spotted

Kimber‟s brother returning with a tray filled with coffees. “Ask him. He‟ll tell

you.”

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Clapping his cousin on the back, Luc turned and spotted a triage nurse

leaving her post to help a woman in labor. He sneaked in the door just

before it closed, then wandered down the hall. Temporary rooms were set

up in a circle all around the nurses‟ station. A whiteboard in the middle of

the room listed all the patients and their room numbers. Finding Alyssa‟s

room in the corner was easy enough. So was ducking in.

Inside, the thin drape had been drawn. He could see her outline, but

nothing more. She didn‟t want to see him, and he respected that, so he

didn‟t tear it away, as he yearned to. Damn hard. Luc wanted to see for

himself that she was okay, unharmed. But she‟d made her wishes clear.

Now would be his only chance to say good-bye.

Behind the drape, he heard the beep of monitors, the pump of oxygen

into her system. An IV stand abutted the wall, only partially concealed. He

swallowed, wanting to see her, take her hand . . . something.

She wanted nothing to do with him, and it hurt so fucking bad.

Wishing she wasn‟t asleep and would hear him, he sighed, his breath

ruffling the ugly blue drape. “I‟m so damn sorry about so many things. I—

Around you, I turned into someone I didn‟t know how to control, and you

were right to dismiss me.” He grabbed the curtain, forcing himself to keep it

in place, not to rush past it to her bedside and wake her, take her in his

arms. “I‟m sorry that my behavior drove you away, into Peter‟s clutches. So

sorry. You don‟t know how close I am to falling completely in love with you.

Clearly, it‟s better for us all if I leave.”

The moment was upon him. One word; that was all he had to say.

Good-bye. Then he could leave, let her rest easier and eventually get on

with her life.

Luc couldn‟t force the word out. Instead, he clenched his fists to hold in

what felt suspiciously like tears, then left the hospital room for good.

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