Chapter 42: 42

~TESSA~

THE FOLLOWING DAY...

“Bishop Motorcycles, Tessa Morgan speaking... uh-huh, we can book you next Tuesday.... Yes, early morning works.”

I hung up and leaned back, stretching my neck.

Something in the air felt… wrong.

Not loud. Not chaotic. Just off.

The kind of quiet that made your instincts itch.

Ryder hadn’t texted me yet. He came to the office and left early, claiming he had some unfinished business to handle.

I’d assumed he was out sourcing parts or finishing whatever he and his friend had started the night before.

Whatever...

But now, standing behind the front desk, I caught myself scanning the windows every few minutes.

Then I heard it.

The hum of a van engine.

Too long in one place.

I stepped around the counter, peeking through the blinds.

A delivery van... white, plain, with no logo... was parked right up against the curb. Close.

Too close.

What was a delivery guy doing here? I guess of workers had placed an order for something... How was that my business?

But... I couldn't take my eyes off. I was so curious to see what the occupant looked liked.

A man climbed out.

Coveralls. Clipboard.

Except he wasn’t carrying a package.

He walked toward the door with purpose, not hesitation. And his head was down, like he didn’t want the cameras catching his face.

My throat tightened.

The shop bell jingled.

“Can... I help you?” I said, voice firmer than I felt.

He didn’t smile.

Didn’t look around.

Just stared at me. What the heck was going on?

“You Tessa?”

I froze.

Casey, at the back workbench, looked up.

“Why?”

“Got a message,” the guy said. “From someone... let's say... you forgot.”

I backed up one step.

Casey stood.

“Hey, buddy,” he said. “You lost or just stupid?”

The man didn’t even blink. “Back off.”

Casey reached for the wrench on the counter.

That’s when I grabbed the bat behind the desk. The one Ryder kept there. Just in case.

“Get the hell out,” I said.

The man smiled now.

“Marcus says hi.”

And lunged.

~

~RYDER~

The call was short.

Casey’s voice... tight, quite scared.

“Ryder, someone just came in... he’s looking for Tessa... he said Mar—”

Click.

Dead line.

My tires screamed leaving the Harborview lot.

Red lights became suggestions.

Horns became background noise.

I didn’t feel my hands on the handlebars.

Didn’t feel the wind slapping my face.

I just saw her.

And the threat.

My girl was in danger? No way!

I pulled up hard in no time.

Didn’t cut the engine.

Didn’t park.

I ran.

The door was half open.

I heard yelling.

Metal clanging.

Glass shattering.

Inside...

Casey was on the floor, holding his shoulder.

Gus was limping, blood on his jaw.

And Tessa...

Tessa was backed into the corner near the showroom, holding a bat like her life depended on it.

Because it did.

The man was lunging at her again.

I didn’t speak.

Didn’t shout.

I moved.

He didn’t see me until it was too late.

My boot connected with his ribs, knocking him sideways into the counter. He groaned... oud.

But I didn’t stop. "You fool... you dare come near my woman?"

I slammed him face-first into the glass, dragged him down, and shoved my knee into the back of his neck.

I twisted his wrist and dislocated it clean.

He screamed.

I got in close, voice low.

“You touch her again, you won’t walk out of here.”

He whimpered. “Marcus said... ”

“I don’t care what Marcus said.”

I dropped him.

Hard.

He didn’t get up.

I turned to Tessa.

She was shaking. But she wasn’t crying.

Still holding the bat... Still breathing.

Still her.

Oh my dear Tessa.

I crossed the room and took it from her gently.

Then pulled her into my arms.

“I'm here,” I whispered. “I'm here now.”

Behind me, Gus called the cops.

But in that moment, I wasn’t thinking about Marcus.

I was thinking about how close it had been.

Too close... What if they took her away?

I knew I had to do something. Quick!