It was going to be breathtaking.
Rayne walked slowly down the street and dreamed of her yard and her house and what her life would be like next year. She thought about Garrett and the fact that he now wanted to be not only dating her, but
seriously
dating her. She bit her lip and grinned, feeling warmth fill her heart. She’d never in her life been in love before, but she had to admit it was worth the wait. She was more than happy. She was ecstatic.
Rayne sighed happily and tried to imagine her family sitting on the front porch on rockers, sipping lemonade and laughed softly as a sleek black car sidled up to her.
She glanced down and frowned as the dark tinted window slid down and a large man with a pale, long face leaned out. He smiled at her as he studied her carefully.
“Sorry, I saw you walking down the street and I had to do a double take. Would you happen to be Rayne Nyman? I play the piano myself and I go to as many concerts as possible.”
Rayne immediately relaxed as Jack growled at the man in the car. Just a fan. For a minute there, she’d been worried.
“Yes I’m Rayne. You have pretty good eyes though to recognize me in a t-shirt, shorts and sunglasses,” she said, taking her sunglasses off.
The man smiled. “I do have a good eye for faces. So do you live around here then?”
Rayne nodded. “I do,” she said pausing, knowing it wasn’t smart to give a fan her address.
The man nodded and looked around. “It’s a beautiful neighborhood. My wife’s parents live just down the street.”
Rayne nodded and glanced down at Jack who was still staring at the man and snarling low. Odd.
“I just moved here myself, but I hope to get to know the neighbors soon.”
The man smiled. “Maybe you can help me out? My wife sent me on an errand to bring back dessert. Can you give me any recommendations?”
Rayne nodded her head. “Belinda’s Bakery. They’re amazing. They sell cronuts and the best cupcakes you’ve ever had. I buy them every chance I get.”
The man grinned. “That’s great. Listen, since I’m not familiar with the area, would you mind showing me? I’ll buy you a cupcake in payment,” he said, sounding charming.
Rayne smiled and stepped forward but then stopped thinking better of it. “Uh, I really shouldn’t. Just drive down this road until you hit a stop sign, turn right and head four blocks down and it’ll be on your left.”
The man shrugged in disappointment but smiled. “No problem. It was nice meeting you. I’ll let you get back to your walk.”
Rayne waved the man off and then continued on her walk, staring across the street at the men working hard in her yard and wished now that she had gone with the man. She could have bought everyone a few boxes of cronuts.
She walked down the street and then turned around and walked back slowly. She stopped with a gasp when she saw Garrett’s truck drive up and park at the side of her road. She moved quickly into the shadows of the trees and watched as he hopped out and hurried up the driveway to talk to one of his guys.
Jack howled and she winced, shushing him as she leaned down to pet him. She’d have to stay put. If she started walking down the street, he’d see her for sure and then she’d be in trouble. He’d told her not to come anywhere near her house.
This was not good
. He’d be furious with her.
She watched him move off and walk around the house and decided she better go for it. She stood up and pulled on Jack’s leash as she half ran, half walked down the street. She was so worried about getting far away from her house that she didn’t pay attention to the sound of a car driving up fast until it was right next to her.
Rayne ignored the car until it stopped right beside her and turned her head, surprised to find that it was the same car as before. But this time the man jumped out and ran around the car. Rayne frowned as Jack growled and barked at the man.
The man glanced at Jack before pulling out a gun and aiming it at him. Rayne screamed in shock and threw herself at the man, pushing his arm away and making the man curse loudly. Jack went wild and barked three times before launching himself at the man and latching onto his leg.
The man yelled and kicked at Jack making him let go. Rayne pulled back from the man and turned to run but he grabbed the back of her shirt and yanked her back against his chest. Rayne was panting now with fear and reached for her mace in her pocket. The man yanked her back toward the car and her arms flung out to catch her balance. She screamed again as she realized he was trying to shove her into his car.
Rayne tried to remember all of her self-defense moves, but she was in full panic mode and all she wanted to do was get away. Jack was freaking out now and lunging for the man, but he was using her as a shield and Jack wouldn’t hurt her. The man opened the door to his car as she tried to twist free.
“Stop moving
you little
. . .” the man yelled, not finishing his sentence as she finally twisted free and lunged away from him.
Within seconds though, the man had an arm around her waist and a hand in her hair, yanking her head back as he breathed in her ear. “Try to get away one more time and you’re going to regret it. This can be painless or it can hurt. Your choice. Now get in the car or I’m going to shoot you in the back.
Understand
?”
Rayne nodded her head, as tears leaked out her eyes at the pain of having her hair ripped out. The man sighed. “Good, now we’re going to turn around. But first, call off your dog. Do it, or I’m going to shoot him in the face.”
Rayne held up her hands to Jack. “Calm down, Jack,” she whispered, her throat clogged with fear. “Hush now, Jack.”
The man grinned and turned her around, walking her back to the car. “Easiest job I ever had.”
Rayne caught sight of Garrett’s truck and knew if she got in the car with the man she’d never see Garrett again. This was her last chance. She opened her mouth and screamed as loud as she could. “Garrett! Help me!”
The man rammed his arm against her windpipe, cutting off all sound and choking her as he wrenched the door open.
Rayne used her elbows against the man’s chest and was glad to hear a loud
oomph
. She twisted her body and tried to use her knees against him, but he was ready for her. He pulled back his fist and let it fly into the side of her face, hitting her so hard that she saw bright points of light. She moaned in pain and clutched her face, as he hit her again and again. Pain exploded throughout her head sending her reeling.
The man began dragging her again and she faintly heard the sound of pounding feet. Within seconds, the man’s tight arm around her neck was suddenly gone. She collapsed painfully against the hard sidewalk, tearing up her knees and the palms of her hands. She lifted up her ringing head and saw Garrett with his hand around the man’s neck, practically lifting him off the ground as he looked down at her.
“Rayne? Are you okay?” Garrett demanded, his voice far away and distant sounding.
Rayne closed her eyes for a moment and then slumped to her side as she tried to nod. Her face felt like it was on fire where the man had hit her and she was having a hard time breathing so she lay on her side panting, thankful for the coolness of the sidewalk. She opened her eyes for a moment and watched Garrett punch the man in the face and stomach as if she was far away looking through fog. The man was lifting his hands up, begging Garrett to stop, but he was ignoring the man. The man turned and tried to run away, but Garrett ran after him, tackling him and sending him flying to the ground as he continued to punch him in his side and back.
The sound of sirens cut through her fog and she tried to sit up, but gave up and lay down as Jack licked her face and made snuffling sounds. It could have been seconds or minutes later that she was being gently touched. She blinked her eyes open and stared up at two paramedics who were touching her and moving her face gently.
“Look at that. The whole side of her face is already swollen. Her legs and hands are scraped up. Let’s get going.”
As she was being lifted onto the stretcher she felt someone take her hand. “Sweetheart, I’m here.”
Rayne sighed in relief. Garrett was with her. Of course she’d be fine. She closed her eyes and went to sleep.
Garrett watched Rayne’s face go lax and he followed the men as they lifted her up into the ambulance.
“I’m coming with her,” he said and jumped up with him.
A police officer ran to the back of the ambulance as they were about to shut the doors. “You can’t go with her. We need your statement Sir.”
Garrett shook his head. “No, I’m not leaving her. You can get my statement at the hospital. Call Tate Matafeo. Tell him I caught this guy beating on Rayne and trying to shove her into his car. He’ll know what to do with him.”
The ambulance took off down the road and he was glad Becket had been there to take Jack for Rayne. If Becket hadn’t pulled him off that guy, he didn’t know if he would have stopped. Seeing that man hit Rayne had thrown him into a red fog of rage. But seeing her collapse, helpless on the sidewalk had brought him right back. She needed him.
He stared down at her red, swollen face and ground his teeth. What in the world had she been doing in front of her house? He’d told her to stay away. He shook his head and watched as the paramedics checked her vital signs and started an IV.
“Is she okay? What’s going on? Why did she pass out?” he asked, looking back and forth between the men.
The older of the two glanced at him and shook his head. “We won’t know until we get there. She could have passed out from shock and trauma or she could have a concussion if he hit her hard enough. We’ll be there soon. Just hang tight.”
Garrett leaned his head in his hands and did something he hadn’t done since Iraq. He prayed. He begged God to help Rayne and to protect her and keep her safe. He prayed that she’d be all right and that she’d be able to recover completely. And then he prayed that the man who had done this to her would receive justice.
They arrived at the hospital quickly and Garrett ran out with her as they pushed the stretcher through the doors and into the hands of a waiting doctor. The paramedic grabbed Garrett’s arm and pulled him back.
“Dude, you can’t go with her. The doctors will take it from here. She’ll be fine. Head on over to the waiting room and they’ll come and talk to you as soon as they can.”
Garrett heaved out an irritated breath but nodded his head. “Thanks Man. Thanks for everything you did for her. I appreciate it,” he said, his voice husky with emotion.
The man grinned and slapped him on the back. “You’re welcome. It’s tough being in love, huh?” he said with a smile and walked off.
Garrett blinked in surprise and wondered how in the world that man could take one look at him and just know he was in love with Rayne. He walked over to the chairs he’d sat in just a few days before and sighed. He never wanted to see this waiting room again. He took out his phone and called Becket first.
“She’s here and they’re checking her out. She’s passed out though. It could be a concussion,” he said grimly and rubbed his hands over his eyes. “Could you take the dog back to the house and let Ivy and Cleo know that Rayne is here?”
Becket agreed immediately and he hung up and called Asher. “Hey buddy, I’m here at the hospital. Rayne was just attacked and I caught the guy pounding on her. I’m here at the hospital, so I’m out for the day. Could you head on over to the Nyman’s? I left my truck over there and Becket is heading over to talk to Ivy and Cleo. Could you take over?”
Asher burst out into twenty different questions that made his head hurt. “I don’t know Ash, I just don’t know. But when you’re done, head on over. There’s something else I need to talk to you about.”
Asher said a few more things he promptly forgot and then he hung up. He looked at his newest contact and smiled grimly. He never would have thought that Tate Matafeo would be a contact on his phone, but he couldn’t be more grateful for the man. He tapped the contact and waited for Tate’s voice.
“Garrett, I’ve been expecting you to call. Leave it to you to bang up our suspect so much that he needs to go to the hospital before we can book him.”
Garrett smiled at that and sat back in the hard chair, his back already complaining. “Sorry about that but if you saw the woman you love being punched in the face, you’d understand.”
“Garrett, I have and trust me, it took a while to pull me off the guy. I might be the only man who understands what you just experienced. That’s why I’m giving you a pass. If you see my men bring him in though, stay back or I will arrest you.”
Garrett grinned. “Understood. I’m here waiting to hear how Rayne is doing. She passed out on me and they’re checking her for head trauma.”
Tate paused. “We need to question you and Rayne as soon as possible. I’ll be down there in five minutes. Stay put.”
Garrett agreed and hung up, glad that Becket had the duty of informing Ivy that her sister had been attacked. Ivy looked like she was the tougher of the two sisters but he knew in reality that Ivy was fragile, especially when it came to her sister.
Fifteen minutes passed before Tate showed up. Right behind him were Ivy, Cleo and Becket. Ivy’s face was pale white and Becket had an arm around her waist as he led her to the information desk. The nurse was trying to calm Ivy down as he walked over and clapped Becket on the back.
“Thanks Beck.”
Becket nodded and shook his head. “She’s a wreck,” he said quietly. “I said her sister was hurt and she just crumpled. Rayne better be okay.”
Garrett nodded his head. “I know how she feels.”
Tate tapped him on the shoulder and he turned around. “Time to get your statement. Come over here with me so we can talk in private.”
Tate asked him a few questions about the timing and then he went through it. “I was at the house and talking to a few guys when I heard a woman screaming. I saw two people scuffling behind a car and thought at first it was just a couple fighting, but then she screamed my name so I ran down the hill and across the road in time to see the man punch Rayne in the side of the head. At that point, I reached the guy and grabbed him away from her. I um, maybe grabbed the guy by his throat. And it’s possible I punched the guy once or twice,” Garrett said, wincing at Tate’s expression.
Tate stared at him for a moment. “
Maybe
? Maybe you punched him once or twice. Try around thirty times.”
Garrett cleared his throat and looked away. “Hmm, I won’t confirm or deny that,” he said, pleased with his response.
Tate snorted and wrote something down. “We have a seventy year old lady who saw the whole thing from her living room. Who by the way says you deserve a medal for bravery. You’ve got a fan Garrett.”
Garrett grinned and relaxed a little. “Honestly, I don’t think I hurt the guy that bad. He should be fine to go to jail. Heck, as soon as you can connect him to Graham, the sooner this whole mess will be over and Rayne can get on with her life.”
Tate rubbed a hand over his neck and shook his head. “Yeah, well easier said than done. Graham called a lawyer in as soon as he saw the way things were going. That’s why I never got around to calling Rayne. He’s still down at the station with my partner.”
Garrett nodded and frowned. “That doesn’t sound promising.”
Tate smiled grimly. “It’s not. But we’ll get him. If he hired this guy to attack Rayne, we’ll nail him for it. This guy will crack. The hired help always does. It’s not worth it to them to keep their mouths shut.”
Garrett sighed in relief. “Then this could be good news.” He waved at Asher as he rushed through the doors of the emergency room but grabbed Tate’s arm before he could walk away.
“Listen Tate, I just want you know how grateful I am for everything you’re doing to help Rayne. And I’m sorry about everything before. I was a real jerk over Jane and I shouldn’t have punched you that day in the bakery.”
Tate grinned and punched him lightly in the arm. “It’s all in the past, Garrett. Listen, you should play rugby with us next week. We could use a guy like you. Rob plays and he loves it.”
Garrett grinned and crossed his arms over his chest. “Are you serious?”
Tate smiled and held out his hand. “Absolutely.”
Garrett shook his hand. “I’ll play as long as I don’t have to go up against Kam Matafeo. I’ve met your cousin and I’ve heard from Rob how easily he can break ribs.”
Tate laughed. “He’s a teddy bear.”
Garrett blinked at the outright lie. “Let me bring my buddy Becket and I’ll be there.”
Tate nodded. “We take anyone.”
Garrett watched him walk toward the desk where he began talking to the nurse and knew he would be talking to Rayne as soon as she was able to put two words together. He walked over to Ivy, Cleo, Becket and Asher and was immediately bombarded with a hundred questions.
An hour later, the nurse approached them and spoke to Ivy. “Your sister can see visitors now. She’s banged up, but she’ll be just fine. If you’ll follow me.”
Garrett followed right behind Ivy and when they reached Rayne’s room, he took one side of the bed and Ivy took the other. Rayne was holding an ice pack to her face and smiled faintly when she saw everyone.
“
Rayne
,” Ivy whispered and picked up her hand and cried silently as she held Rayne’s hand to her face.
Rayne looked at him helplessly as she put the ice pack down to run her hand over Ivy’s hair.
“It’s okay, Ivy. Really, it looks worse than it is. I’m okay,” she said in a quiet voice.
Garrett frowned at the bruise on the side of her face and wished he’d hit the guy a few more times.
Rayne looked up and saw his expression and shook her head. “Hey you should see the other guy. I was just hit a few times. The guy who grabbed me had to face Garrett.”
Becket laughed at that. “It took me five minutes to pull Garrett off that guy. I’ve never seen him so determined to pound someone into powder.”
Asher winced. “I box with Garrett down at the gym. I always go home grateful to be alive and that’s with him holding back. I can’t even imagine what Garrett would do to a guy he was seriously mad at.”
Garrett cleared his throat in embarrassment. “
The point is
, I was just grateful I was close by to help Rayne.”
Cleo shook her head. “
The point is
, we got the guy. This nightmare is over and now you two can live your lives without fear. This guy has to be the man who shot Ivy. And if they can tie him to your parents’ death too, then all the better.”
Rayne sighed. “Let’s all pray for a confession.”
Tate knocked on the door and Garrett looked up with a frown. Now that he was with Rayne again, he didn’t want to leave her for even a second but Tate ushered everyone out and now that he and Tate had come to an understanding, he didn’t want to tick the guy off.
They left Rayne alone and Ivy and Cleo and Becket went to find the cafeteria. He grabbed Asher before he could take off after them.
“Hey Ash, let’s go back to the waiting room. We need to talk.”
Asher frowned but followed him back down the hallway and sat down with him. Garrett glanced around but there were very few people there to overhear. He glanced at his brother and sighed.
“I ran into Mom and her boyfriend today.”
Asher sat up straight in his chair and grabbed his arm. “You’re kidding!
Here, in Fircrest?
What was she doing here?”
Garrett looked up and bit his lips for a second before answering. “They were cashing the last check you sent them. A check by the way for a thousand dollars. I thought we’d agreed you’d send her two-fifty?”