Total pages in book: 15
Estimated words: 13338 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 67(@200wpm)___ 53(@250wpm)___ 44(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 13338 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 67(@200wpm)___ 53(@250wpm)___ 44(@300wpm)
Furious, Cassidy moved closer to Peyton and put an arm around her shoulder, trying to free her from the man’s grip. It didn’t work.
“Let go of her arm and take your hands off her,” Cassidy demanded.
“Who the fuck are you?” Russ asked.
“Why does that matter? You’re touching her and threatening her in front of a room full of people. Let go before I make a scene.” Cassidy’s heart rate picked up speed.
She’d always been able to stand up for herself, but that didn’t mean she liked confrontation. Her mouth grew dry and she glanced around to see if Dash, Axel, or the other guys in the band were nearby, but the room had gotten even more crowded since she’d come in.
“Ouch!” Peyton cried out. Cassidy glanced down. Peyton’s skin had turned white where Russ was pressing down and the young girl struggled in his grip.
“Hey!” Cassidy pulled her phone out of her purse.
“What the hell are you doing?” Russ asked, his anger showing as two red splotches on his cheeks.
“Calling the police.” She could scream but then the entire room would erupt into chaos. No way would he allow the cops to show up and arrest him, Cassidy thought and began to dial 9-1—1.
Before she could finish, Russ ripped her phone out of her hand and shoved her against the wall. “Mind your own damn business.”
Next thing she knew, Dash stood in front of the large man, drew his fist back, and slammed Russ in the jaw. Dash must have had good aim, because Russ’s head whipped around and he went down hard.
“Dash!” Cassidy screamed, while a bodyguard who hadn’t been present before rushed forward to subdue the manager, who’d begun to moan as he tried to stand.
Jagger reached for Peyton and pulled her aside, getting her away from the fray, while Axel and Mac grasped Dash’s arms from behind, holding him back so he couldn’t go after Peyton’s manager again.
“Dash?” Cassidy asked, concerned about him.
“I’m okay.” Dash glanced at Axel. “I’m okay.”
At his reassurance, the guys released their grip and Cassidy flew at her husband, wrapping her arms around his neck and holding on tight.
“I’m really fine,” he whispered, his words a promise.
She unwound her arms and looked him in the eye. “You shouldn’t have punched him,” she chided. “How’s your hand?”
“I’m fine,” Dash said again as he shook out his hand. “But he shoved you and nobody touches my wife.”
She didn’t need his caveman mentality, but she couldn’t deny it turned her on. But she shouldn’t be focusing on that right now. “I should talk to Peyton and make sure she’s okay,” Cassidy said.
“I think Jagger’s got it handled.” He tipped his head toward the corner where the guitarist had an arm around Peyton, standing very close, his head touching hers. “Looks like my gut feeling about those two was right,” Dash muttered.
“Oh?” Cassidy raised her eyebrows. “Ooh.”
He chuckled as it took her too long to catch on. They watched, arm in arm, as the police arrived. One burly officer took Russ into custody and another took witness statements, which eventually led them to Cassidy, who had to give a victim statement since she’d been assaulted by Russ.
By the time they made it back to the floor where their suite was located, the sun was rising and they’d had no sleep. Axel stepped out of the elevator first, holding the door open for her, and Dash followed.
“Let me know when you guys want to head to the plane,” Axel said over a yawn.
Cassidy glanced at Dash.
He shrugged. “Nap here or on the plane and get started on the trip home? Let’s vote. Here?” Dash glanced at her and she shook her head, knowing how much he had wanted to leave and return to his own house. “That’s one for leaving.” He hadn’t included himself, and she wondered if he was that tired that he wanted to sleep first. “Ax?”
Her brother shook his head. “Let’s get out of here.”
“And that makes us unanimous.” He glanced at Cassidy, warmth in his eyes. “We’re going home.”
Chapter Five
Dash glanced around the quiet jet. Not long after takeoff, Cassidy had fallen asleep, and Axel crashed not long after. But Dash couldn’t sleep. With company on the plane, he knew he and his wife wouldn’t have time to talk alone. What had happened between them wasn’t something he wanted to chance her brother overhearing.
The condom had broken.
Cassidy could get pregnant. Be pregnant.
He ran a hand through his hair, giving the situation thought. It wasn’t like when he’d been afraid he’d gotten a groupie pregnant. This was Cassidy, and if she’d conceived, he’d be starting his own family. They’d discussed kids early on in their relationship, in a someday sort of way but they both had busy careers and kids hadn’t been a topic of recent conversation.