Chapter 251: Holly The Superhero

Holly’s POV

I kept stared at him, tears still falling, chest heaving from the realization of what could have happened if he didn't show up when he did.

What if no one came to my rescue? What would have happened to me?

I pulled back a little more, wiping my face with the back of my hand. His arms stayed loose around me, like he was scared I’d bolt if he held too tight.

“Justin,” I said, voice hoarse but steady. “Stop. It’s not your fault.”

He opened his mouth…probably to argue…but I shook my head.

“None of it. Not the accident, not today, not anything. Whatever happened is in the past. We’re moving forward, okay? I tried…God, I tried so hard to find you after everything went down. I called, I texted, I even begged David for your address at some point, but he wouldn’t give me anything.”

His expression turned sour instantly at the mention of David’s name, jaw clenching so hard I heard it. His eyes darkened, and for a second he looked like he wanted to punch something again.

“Forget about David. Let me get you out of here first,” he said, voice low and tight. He stood, offering his hand. “Then we’ll talk properly.”

I took it, letting him pull me up. My legs were still shaky, but his grip was solid. I glanced around the wrecked room…shattered mirror, overturned lamp, blood on the carpet…and my eyes landed on the hidden cameras I’d planted earlier. One was still tucked behind the fake plant on the dresser, another clipped under the bedside table.

“Wait,” I said, tugging his hand. “Let me grab the cameras first.”

Then I spotted the douchebag’s phone on the floor near the bed, screen cracked but still lit up. A slow, sharp smile spread across my face.

“My effort didn’t go to waste at all,” I said, picking it up with the hem of Justin’s undershirt so I wouldn’t leave prints. “With these…the cameras and his phone… I can lock that bastard up for life.”

Justin raised an eyebrow, looking half-impressed, half-worried. “Why the hell were you even with that creep in the first place? Did David make you meet a client here?”

I exhaled, suddenly exhausted. “David isn’t even aware that I’m here. It’s a rather long story. But thank God you’re here now. I’ll tell you everything later. Promise.”

He nodded, then helped me carefully retrieve the tiny cameras, tucking them into his pocket for safekeeping. When we finally stepped out of the room, the hallway was already crawling with hotel security and two uniformed officers.

One of them…a tall woman with kind eyes…approached me gently. “Ma’am, we’re going to need you to come down to the station to make an official report. Whenever you’re ready.”

I nodded. “Let’s go now. I’m ready.”

The ride to the station in Justin’s car was quiet. He never let go of my hand.

When we walked into the lobby of the precinct, there he was…turns out he goes by Mr. Cruz, the “Downtown Destroyer” himself. He was sitting cuffed to a bench, face swollen, lip split, still somehow managing to look smug.

The second he saw me, his eyes lit up like this was a reunion.

“Well, well, look who decided to press charges,” he sneered, voice nasal from the broken nose.

“Shut up, Cruz,” an officer scolded, hitting his arm.

“Relax, officers,” he replied with a grin. “She’s just a hookup I paid good money for. Ask her boyfriend over there—” he jerked his chin at Justin “he probably knows the drill and interrupted so they can scam me. It was all consensual from the start.”

Justin lunged forward, fists clenched, but I squeezed his arm hard and stepped in front of him.

I felt the fear try to crawl back up my throat, but I swallowed it down. I was done being scared of this clown.

“Consensual?” I said, voice clear and sharp. “Funny. Because I have video…of you threatening me, of you ripping my clothes, of you admitting you’ve done this to other women. And guess what? I’m not the only one who’s come forward.”

I held up his phone and the memory cards from the cameras.

Cruz’s bravado cracked. His face went pale under the bruises.

“I’m submitting these as evidence,” I told the officer beside me. “He’s a habitual offender…blackmails women with nudes or tapes, threatens to release them unless they ‘service’ him. There are at least six women, including my colleague Amber. He preys on them, films without consent, then uses the footage to keep them quiet.”

The officer took the evidence carefully, nodding. “We’ve had our eye on Mr. Cruz for a long time. Multiple complaints, but victims were too scared to testify. We’ve been waiting for him to slip. And today, he did. All thanks to you, miss.”

Cruz started sweating. “Wait…no…it wasn’t like that! They agreed to be filmed! It was consensual! I never threatened anyone! It was all—”

“Save it,” the officer cut him off. “You’re going away for a long time for sexual assault, rape and a whole lot of charges. Trust me, when we are done with you, you’re going to wish you never met any woman aside from your mother.”

Cruz exploded…screaming, thrashing in his cuffs, calling everyone names, promising lawsuits, claiming he was being “framed by jealous sluts.” They dragged him away still ranting.

I let out a long, shaky breath. Relief hit me so hard my knees almost gave out.

Justin caught me, pulling me into a tight hug, arms wrapped all the way around me like he’d never let go.

“You absolute superhero,” he murmured into my hair, voice thick. “You’re not even one of his victims and you still went full vigilante. Who does that?”

I laughed weakly against his chest. “Me. The one and the only, Holly Rodriguez.”

“Superwoman without a cape…or a plan,” he teased, pulling back to look at me, eyes soft and proud. “How do you even pull off something this reckless alone? Promise me…next time you decide to take down a serial creep, you involve me. Deal?”

I rolled my eyes, but smiled. “Deal.”

“And Holly… I’m sorry. Again. For everything.”

I shook my head. “I’m not holding anything against you. The accident’s in the past. I don’t blame anyone. Not even David.”

His face hardened instantly. “Don’t say that bastard’s name. I don’t want to hear it.”

“He’s still your brother. You should let whatever you have against him go,” I said softly.

Justin’s smile was bitter. “He’s no brother of mine.”

I panicked. I can’t have them having a misunderstanding because of me. I can’t come between two brothers. “Is it because of me? Did you guys fight because of what happened?”

“No,” he said firmly, brushing a strand of hair from my face. “You have absolutely nothing to do with it. Come on, let me take you home so you can change and rest. You’ve been through hell.”

“I still have to go back to work. It’s just past lunch time,” I said, stubborn as ever.

He sighed, but didn’t argue.

We walked out to his car in the parking lot. He popped the trunk, pulled out a soft leather jacket, and draped it over my shoulders.

“For the record,” he said, smirking as he adjusted it, “your black bra looked fire. Just thought you should know.”

I smacked his shoulder, laughing despite everything. “Shut up, you creep.”

He grinned, and we both laughed…real, light, like something heavy had finally lifted and I was grateful that he was here with me.

He drove me to the office in silence although I had a lot to say to him. When he pulled up, I turned to him before getting out.

“Don’t disappear like that again,” I said quietly. “And pick up when I call, okay?”

He nodded, serious now. “Never again.”

I waved, hugged the jacket tighter around me, and walked back into the building.

When the elevator opened on our floor, Amber was waiting at my desk, pacing, face pale.

The second she saw me, she ran and threw her arms around me.

“Oh my God, Holly,” she whispered, squeezing tight. “I was so scared.”

She pulled back, eyes watery but fierce. “Why the hell would you go to a hotel alone with that freak?”

I shook my head. “I didn’t want to put you in a difficult position. But someone saved me.”

She noticed the leather jacket…way too big for me…and raised an eyebrow. “This someone…is he your boyfriend? The one that drops you off every now and then? She asked curiously.

I smiled a little. “No…a friend.”

Amber exhaled. “The police called. They want me at the station after work for a statement. They told me everything you did…how you set him up, got evidence, spoke for all of us. Holly, you’re like the princess who saved the victims of that bastard.”

She hugged me again. “I filled in for you when Mr. Hunt asked where you were after lunch. Don’t worry. I told him you weren’t feeling good and went to see a doctor.”

Then softer, she added. “Thank you for getting me justice, Holly. Thank you for being brave enough to go to that hotel alone and deal with him single-handedly.”

A deep voice behind us asked, “What bastard? What hotel?”

We both froze.

I turned slowly.

Mr. Hunt was standing there, arms crossed, eyebrows raised, clearly having heard way more than I wanted him to.