Beautifully Damaged(117)

Trace's roar echoed through the alley and sent chills down my spine seconds before Dane's hold on me disappeared. I dropped to the ground as I attempted to pull air into my lungs. My back was on fire and my head was throbbing. Suddenly, strong hands wrapped around my upper arms and I flinched before I started wildly throwing punches and it wasn't until I heard Lucien's soft voice that I realized I was among friends and not a foe.

"Ember?"

Tears filled my eyes as I looked up into his worried ones and then I saw Trace, just behind Lucien. He was straddling Dane and just pummeling him in the face, over and over again. The rage I had seen in Trace that night in the gallery parking lot was nothing compared to what was pouring off him as he hammered into Dane's face. If we didn't pull him off Dane, he would have killed him. I saw Rafe trying to do just that but Trace was unreachable.

Lucien gently lifted me to my feet and I gasped at the pain in my back that simple move caused.

"We have to stop him," I whispered. Lucien held me firmly as we made our way to Trace. I reached out and touched Trace's shoulder.

"Trace, he's down."

And just like that Trace's hand stilled as he looked up at me. He dropped Dane and moved to gently wrap me in his arms and still I flinched in pain.

"We need to get you to the hospital, Ember."

My face was buried in his chest as tears burned my eyes. My brain had yet to process the events of the evening and despite the pain shooting down my back all I wanted to do was go home, curl up in bed and have Trace hold me. I mumbled into his chest, "I'm fine, besides you hate hospitals."

His finger touched my chin and lifted my gaze to his and though I could see the rage burning in his eyes when he spoke his voice was whisper-soft and patient, "Ember, love, don't argue."

"Rafe and I will take care of the trash, Trace, you get Ember to the hospital."

The trip to the emergency room had taken hours. I did not have a concussion but I had a bruised kidney. The doctor prescribed pain meds and lots of rest. Trace never left my side. Even when the doctor came to examine me, he refused to leave the room. Considering Trace was still fuming with temper I didn't blame the doctor for not pressing the point.

Trace had called Rolling Acres and explained the situation. Chelsea would be moving in with us but she needed to be watched until we could come for her so she spent the night at the home of one of the administrators. According to Mrs. Peabody, she was very excited about having a sleepover.

Lucien and Rafe dropped an unconscious Dane at the front gates of his family estate. They wanted to drag his ass into the police station but the charges would have been dropped by morning and we would have lost the element of surprise. Lucien didn't go into detail about what he was planning but his wheels were definitely turning on how to take down not just Dane but his entire fucked up family.

Trace and I returned home at close to four in the morning. Once we were locked inside the apartment, Trace pulled me into his arms and just held me. I felt his powerful body shaking and broke down seeing him so undone. I fisted his shirt as I pressed my face in his chest and sobbed. It had been a horrific experience but there was a small part of my mind that acknowledged that this was as close to closure as Trace was going to get. He had been able to save someone he loved and once the rage settled he was going to realize that. His soft voice pulled me from my thoughts.

"I was coming to look for you because I thought you were teasing me by trying to lure me to that dark corner. I had only taken a few steps when I saw your purse and knew. Lucien, Rafe and I split up but I just knew you were in the alley." I lifted my head to his and the look on his face was not one I could discern. He looked both confused and in awe.

"I don't know how I knew that, Ember, but I knew where you were. I'm sorry it took me so long to get to you."

"You came, Trace, you pulled that animal off of me. You saved me."

His body went rigid and I knew he was seeing Dane punching me but it was over. We needed to focus on getting that animal off the streets before he could hurt someone else but we could think about that in the morning.

"Let's go to bed, Trace."

He gently lifted me into his arms and started to our room. "I love you, Ember."

"I love you."

Trace settled me on the bed and helped me to change into my pajamas. I watched as he stripped from his clothes before climbing into the bed and pulling me into his arms. He pulled the covers over us and turned out the light. His hold on me never eased as he held me so closely against him. It was exactly where I wanted to be.

"Goodnight, Trace."

"Don't think of it, Ember. I'm here sweetheart so rest easy and have sweet dreams."