Page 29 of Maggie’s Match

Becca jerked away from him. “Not everyone.” She followed Rick as he rushed around the room looking for Maggie.

“I’ll check the ladies’ room,” Becca said, and disappeared.

Rick had a sick feeling in his gut. He made his way back out the doors and into the dark parking lot. It was quiet and it didn’t take him long to spot Royce’s massive truck, which sat empty.

He was just about to head inside when he heard a grunt. He turned the corner to an alley alongside the building and stilled when he noticed a couple kissing against the wall.

It took his brain a moment to realize it was Maggie and Royce. His heart quit literally shattered at that moment. He was about to turn around and storm away, but then Maggie slumped and almost fell to the ground.

Royce yanked her up, pinning her to the wall while her head rolled from one side to another.

Rick had never seen a person drugged before, but he’d seen plenty of animals in the same state and knew without a doubt that Maggie was in trouble.

Without thinking, he threw himself at the man as a loud growl emanated from his core.

Chapter Eleven

Maggie was in heaven. She was beyond thrilled that Rick had agreed to her terms. He wouldn’t be taking off again and leaving her broken like he’d done before.

It was funny, she’d never demanded that in their relationship before now. She should have.

When he left to take the phone call, she downed the last of her beer as her mind played over the other rules that she would put forth to him.

She didn’t remember standing up and leaving the bar. Couldn’t recall stepping out into the cool evening air as she had been taken outside. But clearly she had because she found herself outside.

Royce’s first kiss hadn’t even phased her. The pressure of his hands on her, the way he hiked up her skirt and plunged his fingers hard into her after tearing her panties aside did, however, register slightly.

Her groan of complaint was muffled by his lips and his fingers tightening around her neck. She wrapped her fingers around his wrists, trying to pull them away so she could breath, but there was no power behind them. Her foggy mind couldn’t even call out or fight back. Instead, she sank into the darkness.

When she woke, Rick was there, hovering over her, tears rolling down his cheeks and onto her face.

“You’re okay, baby,” he said softly. “I’ve got you.”

She closed her eyes again as tears rolled down her face. Hers mixed with his.

She slept again, a deep, drugged state that she welcomed. Anything to put off the knowledge, the truth of what had happened to her.

The next time she woke, it was to loud yelling in the room.

“I don’t give a shit,” Rick yelled. “If there’s no proof Tillerson drugged her, then there’s none that I did.”

Maggie’s eyes jerked open. “What?” she said loudly.

“Maggie.” Becca’s face appeared before hers. “Honey, it’s time you woke up and told these assholes what happened.”

Then she saw it. Fear. Her cousin’s eyes were red, the tip of her nose red from crying. But her eyes were filled with sheer terror. “They’re trying to arrest Rick.”

“What?” Maggie said loudly. “No, he didn’t…” She tried to sit up. Becca was there to help her. “No, Rick didn’t do anything,” she said firmly.

Then she noticed the two uniformed police officers standing in the small emergency room. One had Rick’s hands held behind his back, while the other stood holding Rick’s shoulders.

“He nearly killed my nephew,” the one holding Rick’s shoulders said.

Then to Maggie’s horror, he balled his hand into a fist and punched Rick in the gut, causing him to double over. The man standing behind Rick jerked him off his feet and slammed him to the ground.

“Stop resisting,” they both screamed at Rick at the same time.

Rick lay there on the ground, groaning, unmoving, while the two officers continued to wrestle him, throwing punches.