“It’s still early. Do you want to go clubbing?” Benji twirled a strand of my hair around his finger. “Maybe we can find us both a plaything after all.”
“Ha. No, thanks. But ya know, dancing sounds like fun—only if you allow me to buy you a few shots, though.”
A wide grin played across his lips. “Deal.”
“Are you sure you’re okay about Thomas?” I asked.
Before he could answer, a clammy hand slipped around me, covered my mouth, and ripped me away from Benji.
5
My eyes widened in terror while a dark-haired, sturdy guy grabbed Benji’s arms and pinned them behind his back. A shorter blond approached him and immediately swung his fist into Benji’s gut, doubling him over.
I squirmed against the body that confined me, but the man was too strong. Tears stung my eyes as Benji’s cries rang through the alley. My heart pounded wildly against my ribs as I lifted both my legs off the ground and threw my weight forward, sending myself and my captor to the ground. I rolled over and attempted to scramble across the asphalt, but he was too quick and he crawled on top of me. Then he flipped me over on my back and immobilized my wrists over my head.
“Aren’t you a hot little piece of ass?” He palmed my breast through my shirt and ground his hips against me. His knee forcefully parted my legs as a scream ripped from my throat. In seconds, he had my jeans undone and his cold fingers against my lower abdomen.
The pain of sharp pebbles cut into the back of my hands and brought some clarity to my muddled brain.
“You stupid fuck.” I picked my head up off the ground and spit in his face. Most of it landed in his eyes. Thank God I have good aim. My cousins had taught me to hock a hell of a loogie when we were young, but I never figured I would need it as a weapon. Maybe Arkansas had served a small purpose in my life after all.
“Bitch,” he growled, wiping off my saliva with his shirt.
I bucked my hips off the ground, sending him sideways and onto the unforgiving asphalt. My eyes landed on Benji, and bile swam up to my throat. Benji’s eye was quickly swelling shut, and blood poured from what I assumed was a broken nose.
“Benji!” Dammit, someone had to be nearby. “Help!” My desperate cry was only met with strong fingers wrapping around my ankle and tugging me toward the asshole who wanted in my pants. He slammed his hand over my mouth and rolled me over to my back again.
I chastised myself for cutting my nails short. I would have loved to claw the fucker’s eyes out. Squirming, I fought with everything inside me, but the guy still managed to get my pants down past my hips. My nostrils flared with red-hot anger, and I stilled. I mentally surveyed as much about him as I could. I would hunt him down the rest of his life if he raped me. Reddish brown hair, broad shoulders, five o’clock stubble on his round face. Brown T-shirt, black jeans, crooked front teeth.
The sound of his zipper rang in my ears, and I attempted to bite the hand that held my mouth closed. A loud thud caught my attention, and the bastard was pulled off me, his arms flailing as he landed ass first on the ground.
I scrambled to my feet as another guy slammed his fist into the asshole’s face. Not wasting any time, I adjusted and buttoned my jeans, then hurried toward Benji, who was curled into a ball and lying motionless. I jumped on the back of the blond-haired assailant who was kicking Benji over and over in the ribs. I pulled his hair and attempted to claw his face with my short nails, forcing him to stop assaulting my best friend. The dark-haired guy whirled around and pinned me with a hateful glare, but I kept going.
Before I realized what was happening, the dark-headed asshole dropped to the ground. He held on to his side and whined like the little bitch he really was as a booted foot made contact with his gut. He rolled away and scrambled to stand. His fist balled up and he swung wide, clipping the jaw of whoever had joined us. I couldn’t see who my hero was, but if we got out of this alive, he would forever have my gratitude.
Losing my balance, I hopped off the back of number one and stumbled backward. He turned toward me, and for the first time, I saw his face. I’d done some damage, and blood was trickling into his right eye. But I hadn’t done enough.
In one fell swoop, the guy jerked me into a standing position by my blouse, ripping the thin material open and sending the buttons pinging off the ground. “You’ll pay for that, bitch. You and your faggot friend shouldn’t be out in public.”
Sucking in a quick breath, I kicked full force, and my foot connected with his groin. A loud crack split the night, then number one released me and sank to the ground. His eyes widened as he covered his crotch with both hands, and his mouth gaped open like a fish out of water.
I scanned the area for additional attackers, but the only man facing me was Layne Garrison. A groan filled my ears, and I tore my gaze away from Layne. Terror coursed through me and split me wide open as I hurried to Benji, followed closely by Layne.
“I’ll call 9-1-1. Don’t touch him,” he ordered.
I couldn’t miss the soft lilt of Layne’s southern accent. God knew I’d worked to lose mine, but it had taken some work.
“Benji.” I took his hand in mine, ignoring Layne’s orders. “Benji.” A messy lump of emotion clogged my throat. He was barely conscious. “Hang on. The ambulance is on the way.”
“Tensley,” he whispered, his voice cracking. “Okay?”
I nodded. “I’m fine.”
Layne continued the conversation with the operator and provided our location. I silently thanked the heavens someone had shown up to help. Sirens split through the otherwise quiet night. I peered over my shoulder to ensure the three men that had attacked us were still on the ground.
“Are the police coming?” I asked, my gaze connecting with Layne’s smoky-blue eyes.
“Yeah, along with the ambulance.” He quickly tugged off his jacket and tossed it around my shoulders.
I glared at him. Granted he’d just saved us, but I didn’t want or need anything else from him.
“Your shirt.” He pointed to my open blouse, and it was only then that I noticed my lilac push-up bra and cleavage were on full display.
My cheeks flamed red as I let go of Benji’s hand, slid my arms into the sleeves of the jacket, and zipped it. When my attention landed on Layne again, he’d turned away to allow me a moment to cover myself. That wasn’t the Layne I knew, but it didn’t matter. Benji was my number one priority.
A low moan escaped Benji again, and I sat next to him, willing my tears away. He was a mess. Blood had pooled on the ground near his head, and I whispered a prayer that the ambulance would hurry.
“Victoria.”
My head snapped up. “That’s not my name.”
Layne’s brows knitted in confusion, but the police and paramedics arrived at that moment, halting any conversation between us.
I stood on the sidelines, helplessly watching the horrifying situation unfold. The next several minutes were a flurry as the EMTs loaded Benji onto a stretcher and into the back of the ambulance. Although I realized I’d been banged up during the fight, I declined medical care. The last thing I wanted were more strangers’ hands touching me.
Layne was on the other side of the alley, speaking with the police. His body was rigid, and he folded his arms across his chest then dropped them to his sides again. He looked nervous.