“That dress was made for you,” Quinn says and I nod as I turn to look at myself in the mirror. She’s right. The dress hugs me in all the right places and the way it flows just a little bit on the bottom makes me feel like a princess without being over the top. The illusion halter neckline gives a hint of sexy but it’s not so much that Noah is going to lose his mind and the lace looks incredible against my skin.
“I think this is the one,” I say, turning back to Megan and she nods. Yeah, it’s way more money than I ever planned on spending but I can’t imagine getting married in anything else. Besides, Noah told Hannah that he wanted me to be happy.
“Wait,” Carly interjects. “Don’t you think you should try a couple more first?”
I turn back to the mirror and shake my head. “No. This is the one. I know it.”
“Look at who she’s marrying,” Hannah adds, smiling. “When Kady knows, she knows.”
I close my eyes as a smile stretches across my face, remembering the first time I ever saw Noah. God, I can’t believe it’s been sixteen years.
“Do we want to try any veils?” Megan asks and I tilt my head to the side as I study myself in the mirror.
“What do you guys think?”
Carly stands and studies my reflection. “I don’t know…”
“It would have to be the same lace, I think,” Quinn adds and I nod as I turn to Megan.
“Do you have anything with the same lace?”
She purses her lips. “I can check but I don’t think so.”
“I think you could get away with no veil in this dress,” Ali says and I turn back to the mirror and try to picture my hair all done up as I walk down the aisle. Hmmm… that may work.
“Yeah, I think you’re right.” I turn to Megan. “We’ll just get the dress.”
“Okay. Why don’t you come back with me?” Megan says. “You can get changed and then we’ll get you rung up, okay?”
I nod, leaving the girls with their champagne as I follow her back to the dressing room. She quickly gets me out of the dress and takes it with her as I pull my clothes back on and check the time on my phone. Noah wanted to go out tonight but the girls and I have a few more stops to make before we’re done. When I’m dressed, I turn to check the room one last time so I don’t forget anything when the doorknob rattles.
“Han?” I ask, opening it. A man charges into the room, slamming me back into the mirror. Pain lances through me as he clamps his hand over my mouth. My eyes widen and my heart jumps into my throat.
“Keep your mouth shut, slut,” he hisses, turning me so my back is pressed to his front as he wraps his other arm around my body, trapping both of my arms in his grip. I struggle against his hold, my chest tight as fear consumes me.
No.
No, no, no.
This can’t be happening again.
He drags me out of the dressing room into the hallway and I pray that one of the girls will see me but they’re lost in conversation. As he starts dragging me to the back door, I imagine never seeing Noah again, never getting to meet my son and being trapped in hell for the rest of my life and it spurs me into action. I lift my foot up for just a second and slam my heel down on his foot as hard as I can. He yelps and the hand on my mouth falls away for a second but I take full opportunity of it.
“Help!”
My voice echoes down the hallway and I pray that one of the girls hears my cry as the man behind me lands a punch to my stomach.
“I told you to shut the fuck up. Mr. Ford won’t be happy if you’re hurt when I deliver you to him but some things might be worth the risk.” He tries to cover my mouth again. I bite his finger so hard that my jaw aches and when he pulls it back, I scream again. And again. And again.
“Fuck,” he hisses, pulling me as hard as he can. I dig my heels into the carpet and fight against him, hoping I can just hold him off long enough for help to arrive. When I look up again, Tate is marching down the hallway with a look in her eyes that spells danger for the man behind me as she points a gun at him.
“Let her go or this bullet is going into you.”
He scoffs. “Just try it, baby. You ain’t gonna kill me.”
“No one said anything about killing you,” she growls as she points the gun at the arm wrapped around me and fires. I feel the force of the shot as it slams into him and he howls in pain, releasing me as he stumbles backward and grips his arm.
“You shot me, you bitch!”
She shrugs, keeping the gun on him as I stumble over to her. “To be fair, I did warn you.”
Bright red blood drips through his fingers, streaking across his hand and down his arm until it drips onto the floor. He looks up at us, fear creeping into his gaze as he slowly walks backward. Oliver probably threatened him if he didn’t bring me back but I can’t say I would be keen to take on Tate either.
“Fuck this.” He turns and runs out of the back door and as soon as he’s gone, I collapse and gasp for air.
“Hey, you’re okay,” Tate whispers, slipping her gun back in its holster and leaning down next to me. “You’re safe and Ali already called Storm. The guys are on their way.”
A sob bubbles out of me and she pulls me to my feet.
“Take a breath, Kady,” she instructs. “You’re okay.”
I nod, sucking in a breath before slowly blowing it out. “I’m okay.”
“There you go.” She leads me back down the hallway to where the other girls are waiting, frantic, as Megan and a large man block them from running toward us.
“Kady!” Hannah yells. “Are you okay?”
I nod as Tate guides me to one of the couches and sits down with me. My hands tremble in my lap and my heart is thundering out of control. The bell above the door rings and I jump, my gaze jerking up. Noah barrels into the room and locks eyes with me for a second before he runs and jumps over a couch to get to me.
Kneeling in front of me, he runs his hands over my body. “Are you okay? Are you hurt, baby? Why is there blood on your shirt?”
“I’m okay,” I whisper, tears filling my eyes again. “Tate saved me.”
Noah turns to Tate and stands as he pulls her into a hug. “Thank you.”
“Of course,” she tells him, patting his back as the rest of club rushes in. Blaze looks at me and gives me a questioning look. I nod as Noah pulls me into his arms.
“Jesus, I don’t know what I would do if I lost you, baby.”
I cling to him, soaking up his warmth as my body fights off the shakes. “I’m okay.”
“I’ve got Rodriguez on his way over,” Blaze says, approaching us and I scowl.
“Rodriguez?”
Noah sighs. “He’s a detective and he works with us.”
I didn’t need anymore proof that this club really has changed but working with a cop seals the deal. It’s something they never would have done back then and it’s a testament to the great work they’re doing now.
“Did this guy say anything to you?” Blaze asks. “Was he working for Oliver?”
I nod. “Yeah, he said Oliver wanted me delivered unharmed.”
“Fuck,” Noah growls.
“Should we postpone the wedding?”