“Abby—”
“Let go.” She tried to break his hold on her, but he tightened his grip. She pressed the round circle on her panic button and prayed it did what it was supposed to do. This was the first time she’d used it, and it was because her boyfriend had apparently lost his mind.
“Calm down,” he pleaded. He sounded desperate. Good.
Abby’s ring tone echoed off the walls in the next room. Her phone was in the bathroom. She’d forgotten the phone was the reason she was here in the first place. “Get. Off. Me.” Again, she tried to pull free but couldn’t. Her heartbeat picked up, and in that moment, Abby was genuinely frightened. She’d never seen this side of Sean, but the look on his face was sickeningly familiar, except she associated it with her father not her boyfriend. She’d seen it many times during her childhood when her parents argued. Her dad knew how to make things ugly, and she didn’t blame her mom for throwing him out. He was a mean son of a bitch who drank too much and took his anger out on whoever was closest.
One of her first memories was of her mother bleeding on the kitchen floor, and her father yelling about his food being cold. Only once did he go after Abby. After that, her mother kicked him out.
Leaving her father was the only motherly act she remembered Vivien committing. At the time, Abby had felt hopeful, as if her mom might love her after all. It didn’t take long to realize she was simply protecting an investment, not a child she loved.
She never thought she’d ever be in a position like this. Sean cheated, but he had never been violent before. Abby made herself a promise a long time ago that she’d never let a man lay a hand on her, and God forbid it did happen, she wouldn’t stay with him. No way.
“We are going to sit down and talk.” He sounded incredibly sober, his voice clear, concise, and no longer heavy with alcohol. “You’re not going anywhere.”
Her phone stopped ringing.
“That’s probably Ron or Danny, so why don’t you let go of me?”
“Fuck them,” he said in a quiet, controlled voice.
“They’re gonna look for me.”
Her phone started to ring again, and Abby tried one more time to wiggle out of his grasp.
“Not going to happen.”
He squeezed harder, and the look in his eyes made Abby realize she didn’t really know Sean or what he was capable of doing. The Sean she knew was the one who would jam for hours; he joked around and flirted with everyone. This wasn’t that Sean. With all their problems, he never lost his temper. He’d dismiss her and ignore her, sure. But never this.
From the hallway, a loud bang sounded. Oh, thank God. She heard Danny calling her name. Sean gripped her arm even tighter and started pulling her deeper into the room. He applied more pressure to his hold. Her arm burned, and her fingers tingled from the lack of blood flow. Nothing she did made a difference, and she felt helpless and out of control. Without warning, the tears she’d been holding back began to fall.
“Fuck you.” She used her free hand to push against Sean’s chest. She wanted away from him. Now. “Danny!”
The main door to her suite opened with such force that it bounced off the wall and almost slammed back into Danny. He blocked it with his forearm, without slowing his charge toward Sean. Ron, Sophie, and hotel security were right behind him.
“Sean. Off. Now.” Danny’s tone was cold and hard.
Sean released Abby’s arm, and Danny motioned for her to move behind him. She sagged against the wall and gulped for air. Her heart was beating so hard that she thought she might pass out. Danny grabbed Sean by his shirt.
“I’m sure she told you to get off her. I think you should’ve listened,” Danny said, the timbre in his voice wasn’t something Abby was used to hearing, but she wasn’t scared. He was protecting her, and she knew she was safe with him.
“Fuck you,” Sean over-emphasized both words.
Danny pushed Sean against the wall with so much power Abby felt it shake.
“Fuck me? You’re a piece of shit. I should beat the fuck out of you for touching her.”
Sean pushed away from the wall and glared at him. The two stood nearly eye-to-eye. “I’d like to see you try, pretty boy,” Sean taunted. “Why don’t you get your own piece of ass and leave my bitch alone.”
Danny threw Sean onto the floor and punched him so hard his head thumped against the hardwood.
Ron grabbed Danny’s fist mid-punch. “D! Stop it. That’s enough, man.” Sean lay on the floor, dazed, with blood dripping from his nose.
“Not. Worth. It. Come on.” Ron kept his eyes on Danny, and after several long seconds, Danny got to his feet while Ron continued to act as a shield between him and Sean.
“Get up, asshole.” Ron motioned at Sean.
Sean struggled to his feet and started toward Abby. Ron blocked his path. “The exit is that way.” He waited until Sean walked to the door. Ron followed, ensuring he didn’t go near Sophie. She stood quietly in the corner, looking as shocked as Abby felt.
“This isn’t over, Abby! You can’t avoid me,” Sean yelled.
“Yeah, yeah. Keep walking asshole.” Ron followed him until the hotel security took over and led him out of the room.
“There’s no hiding from me. I’ll fucking find you. You’re mine, Abby!” Sean’s threats rang loud in Abby’s head. She exhaled hard, releasing all the tension that held her upright, as she slipped down the wall to the floor. With a sob, she lowered her head to her knees, wrapped her arms around her legs, and continued to cry. It’d been a long, crazy night.
“Nucci, hotel management wants to know how to proceed. They want to call it in.” Ron’s words brought Abby back to the here and now. Police? No way.
“No! They can’t do that. My mother will go insane. Just let him go, please,” she begged.
“Abby…” Danny started.
“Please. If he gets arrested, everything will get worse. She’ll make my life hell.” She looked between Danny and Ron. No one really knew how bad her mother could get. They didn’t understand.
“Abby.” Danny placed a hand on her shoulder, and she flinched. She didn’t want to be touched right now. Danny retracted his hand.
“It’s okay. We’ll deal with this in-house,” he conceded.
She exhaled. “Thank you.”
“Let me help you up.”
She stared at him. Sean was still out there, and she didn’t want to see him. Not now and not ever again. How could she ever be alone with him again?
“Abby.” He sat down next to her but didn’t try to touch her again. Instead, he simply assured her that Sean had left. “I won’t let him near you. Don’t worry.”
She looked back at him, bone tired and too scared to move.
“He’s gone. Did he hurt you?” Something in his inflection made her feel as if he would hunt Sean down if she asked it of him.
“I’m fine. I…” She started crying again, and Danny moved closer. This time she let him.
“What happened?” he asked, his eyes filled with warmth and concern.
She searched for something to say but came up blank. She took a deep breath and stuttered as she exhaled.
“Why don’t you come sit inside?” Danny gestured toward the room where she’d found Sean. The thought of returning there made her shudder.
“No. I don’t want to stay here.”
“Okay, then let’s get you back to our floor.”
“I can’t stay there, either. He has a key.”
“Don’t worry about him. I promise he won’t get anywhere near you. You can stay in our suite.” He stood and offered her his hand.
She took it, grateful for the warmth and strength in his touch, and she let him help her to her feet. She inspected her arm where Sean had grabbed her; it was red, and she could clearly see the impression of his hand on her arm. Bruises were beginning to form.
“Let me see.” Danny examined it. Abby saw the muscles in his jaw clench. “I need to get you back upstairs,” he mumbled to
himself.
“Sophie?”
“I’m right here.”
“I’m sorry.” Tears slid down her face.
“Shh, I’m happy you’re okay.” Sophie wiped the tears from Abby’s face. “I’m going to talk to the hotel manager and smooth things over.”
“But…”
“I won’t be long, and I’ll ask hotel security to escort me upstairs. Go with Danny and get some rest.”
“Come on,” he said and led her out of the dressing room. “Ron, will you take care of Abby’s room, please?”
“Will do.”
Abby relaxed a little, glad that she didn’t have to go back to her room alone. Danny was here to protect her and finally she was done with Sean. She didn’t let herself think about what her mother would say or what this meant for the rest of the tour. All she wanted was to go to sleep. Danny and Abby walked back to the elevator in silence. She leaned into him, and he pulled her closer. She turned into him, hiding her dazed smile of pride.
Clearly, she was in shock. And scared as hell, but she finally did it. She stood up for herself. There was nothing anyone could say to her that would make her take Sean back. When the elevator doors opened, Danny stepped out, but Abby hesitated. Her fleeting moment of elation was gone when faced with walking onto their floor.
“He’s not here, Abby.” Danny motioned with his head toward the open door. She trusted him completely but was still frightened. Danny opened the door to his suite and guided Abby to the sofa and encouraged her to sit. “I’ll get you some water.”
Danny’s suite mirrored Abby’s. There was a large sunken living room with a brown U-shaped sectional, a set of glass-and-metal end tables on both sides, and a matching coffee table in the center of the room. A large flat screen television hung on the wall opposite the window that looked out onto the Vegas strip. Photographs from local artists hung from the beige walls. In the far left corner was a full bar with a mini-fridge.
“Abby, please talk. You’re worrying me. What happened?” He handed her the water, and she took a long drink.
“I walked in on Sean fucking some groupie.” She took another sip of water and then placed it back on the table. After a moment, she stood and silently walked over to the balcony then opened the door. Danny watched but gave her the moment she needed.
“I never thought we were a forever thing, so I don’t know why I’m shocked.” She looked out at the Vegas Strip, staring mindlessly at the lights and thinking about how she’d let herself be controlled for so long. How could she have misjudged Sean so badly? “Guess I was wrong, huh?” She looked over at Danny. “Anyway, I told him we’re over and to get out, but he wouldn’t. He tried to sweet talk me, and I wouldn’t listen. Then he basically said that I wouldn’t break up with him, and when I didn’t back down, he grabbed me.” She looked down at her arm; the angry red indents had faded to a mottled purple, and she could feel the bruise throb in time with her heartbeat.
“Fuck, let me call for some ice.”
“Don’t bother. It’s so late I don’t think I’ll be awake long enough for someone to show before I pass out for the night.”
“At least let me get you something cool to put on it.” Danny went to the mini-fridge. She returned to the sofa and collapsed onto it again. She kicked off her sandals, curled her legs onto the sofa, and made herself comfortable. “Here.” Danny returned with a can of soda and a towel. He wrapped the soda in the towel and handed it to her.
“Thanks,” Abby mumbled back as she held the cold drink to her bruise.
The main door opened, and she looked up to see Ron walking in.
“Update,” Danny said simply.
“I sent the dirtbag packing, and his shit is being removed from your room, Abby.” He closed the door behind him. Abby relaxed into the corner of the sofa.
“Thanks, man.” Danny gave him a nod of approval.
“Sure. We shouldn’t have any more issues from him tonight,” Ron assured.
“Thank you.” Abby managed to give Ron a small smile of appreciation.
“No problem. Your stuff was sort of everywhere, so I didn’t touch it.”
“I can pack later.” Abby said.
“Well, I’m going to sleep.” Ron waved goodnight.
“Night. Thanks again, Ron,” Danny said.
“Go to bed,” Abby said once Ron had left. “If you don’t mind, I’ll sleep right here.” She placed the can of soda and towel on the coffee table. “I’ll need a blanket. Do you think there’s one in a closet?” She moved the small throw pillow from behind her back to the arm of the couch.
“Not happening. I’ll stay out here.”
“I can’t kick you out of your room. I’ll be fine on the couch.”
“Get up. Let’s go.” Danny motioned with his head for her to follow him.
“But—”
“I can handle the sofa for a few hours. Follow me.” Danny guided her toward his bedroom. Once inside, he opened his suitcase. “Here, take this.” He threw her a T-shirt. She looked at it for a moment and then at Danny.
“You sure? I know this isn’t how you wanted to spend your night.”
“Go to bed, Abby.” Without further discussion, he left her alone in his room.
* * *
“No!” Abby woke with a start, turned the side table light on, and looked around the room. She was alone, and even though the room looked familiar, none of her things were in it. Instantly, images of Sean flooded her memory, and she felt trapped. The room felt too big, and the bed too cold.
She sat up and tried to slow her heartbeat, but she kept replaying the last few hours over and over in her mind. She couldn’t make it stop. Abby closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths, willing her emotions to settle. She did this for several minutes, but it didn’t help. Going back to sleep didn’t seem likely, so she got up. She pulled the blanket off the bed and wrapped it tightly around herself before she entered the living room.
Danny slept soundly on the couch. She quietly walked to the bar and grabbed a small bottle of vodka. She downed half in one swig. She leaned against the bar and took a moment to think about what happened. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t quite wrap her head around it. She picked at the label on the bottle and thought about how she’d always loved Las Vegas. It always felt so grand, full of life and excitement as if anything could happen here. Tonight, all she felt was the emotional coldness of the city. The butterflies she always got when she visited were silent for the first time. In their place she felt fear and loss.
She downed the rest of the vodka, placed the bottle in the trash, and then padded over to where Danny slept on the sofa. He looked pretty comfortable despite the fact that Abby had stolen his bed. She felt bad, but with his military background, he’d probably slept in places that were much worse. He looked peaceful, too. Abby had a hard time believing he was thirty.
Abby sat on an overstuffed chair and watched him sleep. His breathing was deep and even. Her gaze roamed over his face, his rugged, hard looks were relaxed and soft in sleep. A blanket rested half-on, half-off Danny, exposing his toned upper body. Danny had just the right amount of hair on his chest and deliciously sculpted abs. A fluttering as if she were stepping on stage for the first time started in Abby’s stomach, but she quickly dismissed it. Danny was her bodyguard and an overall good guy. She didn’t want to ruin the friendship they’d established over the last year. Not to mention, they had another four months on this tour, and it would be difficult enough to replace Sean, even with the two-week break coming up. She didn’t need any more complications, no matter how sexy Danny looked while he was sleeping.
Reluctantly, she started back to the bedroom, but didn’t get far before she changed her mind. She turned around and went back to the chair. Facing that big, cold bed alone with only her thoughts wasn’t something she wanted to do right now. Instead she curled up on the chair with her gaze focused on Danny. The thought of him protecting her was the last thing she pictured as she drifted
off to sleep.
The sun rose, and the rays seeped through the windows of the hotel suite. The brightness woke Danny before his alarm. He grabbed his phone to check the time a moment before his alarm starting blaring.
“Fuck.” He pressed snooze and stretched lazily. From the corner of his eye, he saw someone in the chair across from him. His body and mind were in action, assessing the threat, before he realized that is was Abby. At some point while he’d slept, she’d moved from the bedroom to the chair. She was wrapped in the blanket from his bed, snoring lightly. Her head was tilted to the side, resting on a small accent pillow, and her feet hung over the edge. She looked utterly adorable, and Danny hesitated to wake her. After last night, she needed the rest, and he had work to do before they were scheduled to be on the bus. He’d let her sleep a while longer.
He decided to deal with Vivien first and dialed her number as he walked into the bedroom.
“Mr. Nucci,” she answered. He wanted to roll his eyes every time she called him “Mr. Nucci.” Everyone in Abby’s entourage was informal except her. Danny tried to avoid dealing with Vivien. She and Abby had a complicated relationship that he tried to stay out of. It wasn’t his business, and as long as it didn’t affect Abby’s safety, he didn’t need to weigh in. Abby had hinted at a troubled home life when she was younger, but she’d never really shared that part of her life with him.
“Vivien, I’m not sure if you’re aware of what happened last night, but—”
“I’m well aware of my daughter’s impulsiveness.”
Danny held his tongue. Vivien hated to hear about problems. She just wanted them to go away.
“I think we need to discuss this situation.”
“What’s there to discuss? Abigail knows what’s expected of her.”
“That’s between you and Abby. I’m here to keep her safe, and last night she was assaulted. That warrants a conversation.”
Finding Us Page 3
