Billionaire Bachelors 10 ; Holiday Treasure(14)

Tanner was stunned. After several long moments, he rose to his feet and went through the mall to the changing area. He needed to get as far from this place as he possibly could.

This Christmas couldn't come and go fast enough.


Chapter Ten

Unable to shake the image of the boy with so much pain etched in his features, Tanner decided to trudge back to the apartment building instead of taking a cab. He tried to blank his mind during the fifteen-minute walk, but the boy's face refused to leave his vision. What he needed, obviously, was a good night of sleep. Halloween was long gone, and he refused to be haunted.

As he pulled open the ridiculously heavy front door, he found himself looking at the building through new eyes. A couple of kids were playing in the hallway, laughing as they chased marbles on the ragged floors.




 

 

Just yesterday, he'd growled the words noise pollution to himself as he passed other children in the building. Now the laughter almost cheered him. Almost, but not quite. These people considered this their home, their place of safety, but he'd done everything in his power to take them away from it. He never looked at individuals, just the whole of a situation.

Was it profitable? What could it do for him?

But, hey, he was a businessman, trying to make a lot of money for a lot of individuals. That didn't make him a monster. He was just living the American dream. Wasn't that what everyone wanted?

So he wasn't the bad guy here. Businesses weren't charities, and it would be insane to start thinking that way. But this punishment was taking its toll on him. He had to get out of here before he had a meltdown, or became empathetic. He didn't know which would be worse.

Coming around the corner, he heard raised voices and went on instant alert. What in the hell was going on now? This place was just a barrel of fun each time he stepped into it. One minute he saw children playing, the next someone shouting. What would be next? Dancing monkeys?

Instead, he saw two men pinning Kyla between them, her face panicked, and fury rose within him.

"Stop!" she cried just before one of the men leaned in and mashed his lips against hers.

The man right in front of her leaned back only slightly to ogle her again. "Come on, baby. I saw the way you were looking at me in the mall."

He held her arms pinned behind her back and ground his h*ps against her. His accomplice laughed, and both of her assailants had their hands all over her.

"Please stop," she cried.

"Not until we're finished. Get her key, Mike."

Why hadn't anyone come out to help?

Tanner moved swiftly forward, and before the accomplice knew what was happening, Tanner grabbed his shoulder, spun him around, and slammed his fist against his eye. One down; one to go.

The main attacker instantly released Kyla, then reached into his pocket and pulled out a knife. "Ah, ya think you're gonna be a hero today, do ya?" the man taunted.

Tanner said nothing, but he looked unflinchingly at the weapon the man was swinging around. Kyla had backed away and was also watching the flashing blade.

"I got no problem spilling your blood," the man said, and he lunged forward.

Tanner stepped to the left, then kicked the man's knees, making him scream in pain, drop to the ground and lose his grip on his knife, all in a moment's time. One more swift kick to the guy's head and the ass**le was moaning on the hallway floor.

Tanner kept his eyes firmly on both of the men. "Call the police," he told Kyla brusquely. 

With trembling fingers, she pulled out her key and wrenched her apartment door open, then rushed inside to grab her phone. Tanner waited for the police to arrive.

Kyla didn't reappear immediately, probably terrified that they'd try to attack again. The officers showed up soon and hauled the men out to their police car, then came back in and knocked on Kyla's door, to interview her about the assault. When Tanner saw her again, he noticed the bruise forming on her cheek. For the second time that day, his stomach clenched.

How could any man hit a woman? He might not have treated all his dates with the utmost respect, but he'd certainly never abused them. The women he dated knew the score, knew he would wine and dine them. He didn't expect sex, but if that's how the evening ended - and it always did - it was mutually pleasurable.

He was repelled by the thought of what those men had done and had been trying to do. Freaking animals. No. No. Those humans were far worse than most animals. It sickened him.

"Come on," he told Kyla when they found themselves standing alone in the hallway, the dirtbags gone in the back of a police cruiser.

She looked at him warily when he held out his hand. He didn't want to scare her further, so he gave her his most trustworthy smile and waited. Finally, she wrapped her fingers in his and let him lead her into his apartment. After sitting her down at his dining table, he got a washcloth and put some ice in it.