Page 58 of Delicious Surrender
Melanie nibbled her bottom lip. “She was going to take water up to the playroom to see what was happening. But she’s been gone a while.”
Cole overheard and stood. They looked at Dimitri’s tableand back at each other. “Cole, you check the playroom. I’ll check downstairs; she might have gone to freshen up.”
They left by the main doors and split up. Gage started down the stairs, unease twisting in his gut. He was almost at the lower level when he heard her scream. His blood curdled as he reached the corridor in time to see Brynne sprinting barefoot toward him. Her hair had come undone, and her eyes were wide and glassy. He grabbed her and pulled her to his chest. “Where is he?”
She spoke into his chest, her arms wrapped around his torso. “In, in the locker room. Bleeding. Nose.” She trembled against him, her breath coming in shallow gasps. He held her tight and patted her back, as much to calm her as himself. He felt capable of murder.
Cole came bounding down the back stairs with two security guards. Dimitri emerged from the women’s locker room, holding a bloody towel to his face. Cole grabbed him by the lapels and pushed him up against the wall. “What kind of animal are you, preying on innocent women?”
The Russian ignored him and turned toward Gage and Brynne. “Malishka, I’m sorry if I frightened you.”
Reining in the urge to smash his face to smithereens, Gage gritted out, “Ivanov, you have crossed the line. I want you out of my club.Now. Your membership is revoked.” He should have trusted his instincts about Dimitri; now he had the opportunity to be rid of him once and for all. His security team and all his rules failed Brynne. He failed her. Garrick and John approached from the back stairs.
John looked at Gage, a heated look passing between them.“Does she want to press charges?”
Brynne turned her head slightly and spoke in a whisper. “I don’t know. No, I don’t think so.”
Gage addressed Garrick. “Show Mr. Ivanov out—collect anyone he brought with him and escort them off the premises.”
Cole left with them, and Gage knew he would help ensure they delivered the three pieces of garbage to the curb.
Brynne loosened her grip and backed away from him. She stared at the marks her mascara had made on his dress shirt and bit her lip. “I’m sorry about your shirt.”
“Come,” he said—and he led her down the hall to his office and gently settled her on the couch. He poured her two fingers of scotch on ice and brought it to her. When she didn’t take a drink, he sat down beside her and put the crystal glass to her lips. “Drink.”
A little fire returned to her eyes. “So bossy.” She took a swig of the scotch and closed her eyes and moaned.
“I cannot help it where you are concerned.” He looked her over and saw red marks on her arm. “Can you tell me what happened?” His voice was deceptively calm.
She took a deep breath and swished the amber liquid round and round. “He…he followed me down here and cornered me in the locker room. I’ve told him repeatedly that I’m not interested and that I have a mistress.” She looked at him for a second, her face heating. “He was in a bad mood when he saw my outfit and it just got worse the more he drank.” She sighed, her breath shuddering. “I don’t normally get shaken up like this, it’s just…” She paused. “He’s unnerved me from day one.”
“Did he hurt you?”
“When I tried to get around him. He grabbed my arm to pull me closer. He was begging for a kiss.” She looked down at her wrist and paused. “I took self-defense classes last year. I knew I couldn’t let him get my other arm, so I tried the twist maneuver, but he was too strong. When he leaned closer to kiss me, I bashed his nose with my forehead.”
Gage was stunned. He lifted her hair and saw the golf ball-size bump on her forehead.
“Jesus fucking Christ,” he snarled. He went to the sideboard for ice and a cloth napkin. He placed the cold pack on her forehead as gently as he could. Brynne sucked in a breath.
“I think we should get you checked out at the hospital.”
She took a gulp of the scotch and shook her head. “I don’t need the hospital. It’s just a bump. I’m fine.” She swallowed another sip and looked at him with a little smile. “I could do with some more of this, though. If I’m not mistaken, it’s the real good stuff.” Giggling, she added, “I’ll be good as new in no time.”
Gage went to his phone and rang the lounge. “Bill, please locate Doc McCaffrey and ask him to come to my office.” He turned and lowered his voice. “Aye. Ivanov and his thugs are gone. Make sure security is in place when you leave the bar.”
15
Fit to be Tied
Gage’s face was as forbidding as she’d ever seen. She had finished the scotch and lay back on the cushion waving the glass. He took it and filled it with water. She tried to lighten the mood. “Hey, he didn’t hurt me. I got away before he could…do anything.”
“I am sorry. This should not have happened.” He repeatedly clenched his fists.
“It’s not your fault. I should have alerted security that I came downstairs. I just wanted to check out the playroom but needed to pee. He caught me by surprise and was pressing me to quit the club so men couldn’t ogle me in outfits like this.” She waved a hand at her costume. “He didn’t really hurt me.” She clenched the glass, trying not to think about what might have happened.
Before Gage could respond, the doctor arrived. He waswearing flowing white robes with a sheikh’s headdress. Brynne wanted to apologize for interrupting his evening, but he was all business and asked her if she had any headache, imbalance, or confusion. After checking her pupils and examining the bump on her head, he suggested they continue the cold compresses and, seeing the glass, added, “Nothing alcoholic to drink, and in a few hours you can take two painkillers before bed. You don’t appear to have a concussion.”
Gage thanked him and walked him to the door. When he turned, his lips were compressed in a solemn line. “Get your things. I’m going to take you home now.”