Perv(75)

And then Mason ran to the front door. He could see it was open. Dammit.

As he got closer, he noticed it was actually broken off the hinges. Jenna hadn’t opened it. Someone had busted it down. He heard her scream. “Get off me. I’m not going anywhere with you bastards. Get the fuck out of my apartment.”

Rider grabbed Mason’s arm as they reached the open door. “Let me.”

“Like fuck,” he growled.

A deep male voice rang out. “I’m sorry it has to be this way, Jenna, but my hands are tied.”

“Tied with what? My parents’ goddamn money?”

“Come with us nicely, or we’ll be forced to restrain you.”

Mason reached the door to her bedroom at the same moment as Rider. “What the hell is going on? Get your fucking hands off her.” He pushed into the room, swinging first. Questions later.

One man had Jenna by the wrists and was holding her face down across the bed.

Mason saw flames as his fist hit the bastard in the jaw.

The tall man in the gray suit released Jenna and fell backward, landing on his ass. He was no match for Mason.

The other guy in the darker suit stepped back a pace, lifting his hands. “I don’t know who the hell you are, asshole, but we have the paperwork to pick up Ms. Mathews.” He actually held up a folder and waved it.

“Pick her up for what?” Rider asked, reaching for the file.

“Her parents had her committed.”

“What?” Mason screamed. “You’re fucking shitting me.” He grabbed the asshole he’d knocked to the ground by the front of his starched white shirt and hauled him to standing. He got right in his face. “You can’t drag somebody off to the psych ward without cause. Have you ever met Jenna? If anyone should be taken to the loony bin, it’s her parents.” His voice didn’t lower as he kept shouting.

The other man spoke behind him. “Actually, we can. Apparently they presented enough evidence for a judge to make this ruling for her own safety. An emergency injunction.”

Mason shoved the first guy back down on his ass and stepped toward the second squatter, short man. Rider was still looking at the papers and shaking his head.

“Just following the judge’s orders, sir. I suggest you get out of our way and let us do our job.” The man took two paces back toward the wall as he spoke. Coward.

“Not a chance in fucking hell, asshole. You’ll not be taking Jenna anywhere today or any other day. Get out.” He pointed to the door and narrowed his gaze at the man he’d yet to punch like his friend. He’d take any provocation he needed to ensure the guy had an equally black eye.

The man looked at Rider, his gaze sliding up and down. “You’re a cop. Tell his dude to back down.” He pointed at the paperwork. “It’s all there. You can see for yourself. If Ms. Mathews wants to contest her commitment, she’ll have to take it up with the medical staff at the hospital.”

Now Mason was moving to beyond fucking pissed. Not because there was any chance these assholes were taking Jenna anywhere, but because he was tired of them being in his face.

Jenna crawled up on the bed and scooted to the far corner, her face a stream of tears. She didn’t say a word as she curled her legs up tight.

Mason turned to her. “You okay, baby?”

She nodded stiffly.

“I’m afraid there isn’t anything you can do, sir,” repeated the man in the darker suit. “It’s done. At least for today. Tomorrow you can go to the courthouse and see about getting her released.”

Rider held up a hand. “Not so fast.” He held up the paperwork. “It doesn’t mention anywhere here that you have the right to break and enter.”

“Just doing what’s necessary to get the job done,” said the asshole behind Mason as he stood and smoothed his suit coat. He touched his jaw and cringed. He looked toward Rider next. “Please arrest this man for assault.”

Mason’s fury rose to a new height. The only thing that kept him from swinging again was Rider’s laughter. “I don’t think so.” Rider pulled a set of cuffs from his back pocket, and before either man knew what was happening, he slapped them on the fat man in the darker suit, yanking his weak hands behind his back as the guy grunted and struggled.

“You can’t do that. We’re here to do a job.”

Sirens wailed, making Mason wonder how he hadn’t noticed them before that moment. He heard the screech of tires outside less than a second from registering the police sirens.

Rider left the first man and stepped toward the second. “This is what I see. Illegal force and entry with intent to assault a woman in her bed.”