Slowly lifting my head, I looked around the room and saw my cell phone on the floor under my desk. It must have fallen from my pocket.
Gritting my teeth, I worked my way to the cell phone. By the time I was able to reach it, I was gasping for air and sobbing from the pain.
Slowly I maneuvered and dialed Roark’s number. I pressed the speaker button and placed the phone on the floor. I collapsed onto the floor and sobbed as I listened to it ring.
“Roark here?”
At the sound of his voice, my sobs grew in volume and force. I couldn’t stop the tears or the sounds coming from my mouth in order to speak.
“Kendra? Is that you?” I heard noises on the other end of the line.
“It’s her,” another voice responded.
“Kendra… sweetheart, what’s wrong? Talk to me.” I couldn’t speak, my words were stuck in my throat. “Hold on. I’ll be there in ten minutes, max.”
I could hear Roark snapping out orders before the phone call ended. The only thing I could do was lay on the cold cement floor of the garage and sob as I waited for help to arrive.
312
Roark
Banshee yelled something at me as I ran down the hallway towards the front door. I couldn’t make it out because of my growling, snarling, and cursing. As soon as I stepped foot outside the clubhouse, I shifted into my snow leopard form and raced off.
Several of the brothers shifted and followed behind me. My adrenaline rushed through my veins intensifying my strength and agility. I could hear them behind me, but they weren’t catching up to me anytime soon.
I leaped over shrubs, fallen branches, and other things throughout the forest as I made my way to Kendra. There was only one place she could be – her shop. If she wasn’t there, I was going to tear the world apart searching for her and I’d kill any fucker who got in my way.
When I arrived at Kendra’s shop, my heart sunk in my chest. The windows were broken. The front door was off the hinges and missing. It looked like a tornado had hit the shop.
Quickly, I shifted and ran inside the building.
“Kendra!” I called out as I sniffed the air for her scent. It didn’t take me long to find her. She was curled up in a ball, underneath the front counter. Hearing her cry shattered my heart.
“Roark,” she sobbed.
I dropped to my knees and pulled her into my arms. She whimpered as I moved her. I pulled away slowly and looked down at her. Someone had roughed her up. Her lip was busted and there was blood trickling from her nose.
“Kendra, who did this to you?” I growled. She startled in reply and began to cry harder. “Baby, I’m sorry. I’m not mad at you. Please, don’t cry.”
I rubbed her back and held her on my lap. The brothers and Banshee came into the shop.
“Holy fuck,” Banshee cursed. “This place is trashed.”
“Shut it, Banshee!” I instantly regretted shouting at Banshee because Kendra cried harder. Banshee and the others came around the corner to where we were.
“Kendra, are you okay?” Banshee dropped down beside me. She rubbed Kendra’s back. “Hey. It’s okay. Roark’s here. He won’t let anyone near you.”
Hearing Banshee talk to Kendra so sweet and tenderly made me smile. Banshee was a hard-ass, so to see her show care toward my mate meant the world to me.
Mate.
There was so much Kendra and I needed to discuss once she was healed up and business was taken care of. No way in hell was I ever going to let her be alone again. If I couldn’t be with her, Banshee or one of the brothers would.
“Let’s get you back to the clubhouse and cleaned up,” I whispered then stood with Kendra in my arms. “Someone call the clubhouse. I want a car brought here for us to ride back in.”
“I’m on it, Prez,” one of the new prospects called out. Jimmy. I think his name was Jimmy. Hell, right now I was a wreck and lucky to know my own damn name. “They’ll be here in less than ten, Prez.”
“Good,” I nodded and looked down at Kendra. Her face was buried in my jacket. She wasn’t crying as hard but the tears were still flowing. “Sweetheart, I swear to you, no one will ever hurt you again. Ever.”
“This is all my fault,” Kendra said. Her voice cracked with each word. She was trying so hard to keep her composure.
“None of this is your fault, Kendra. None of it,” I assured her then kissed the top of her head.
“Want me to gather some information?” Banshee whispered low enough to where Kendra couldn’t hear. I looked at Banshee and nodded. “Can I take a few of the brothers with me?” I nodded again, and she smirked.
Whoever Banshee ended up tracking down would be lucky, if they had a swift death. No one fucked with family and Kendra was family.
“They’re here,” someone called out. Kendra stuck her head up. Her body trembled and she began to cry hysterically.
“No! No! Don’t let them hurt me!” she screamed and fought to get out of my arms.
“Kendra, relax. You’re safe,” I held her tightly against me and kissed her forehead. “Relax. You’re safe, sweetheart. Please.”
She finally stopped fighting to get out of my arms, but she didn’t stop crying hysterically. The guys who had smacked her around had done more than physically hurt her. They had mentally damaged her.
“Change in plans, Banshee. Take Kendra back to the clubhouse,” I said firmly and went to hand Kendra to Banshee. Banshee may be small but she was strong.
“No!” Kendra pleaded. Her nails dug into my jacket and she refused to let go of me.
