With Mitch gone, Leo was content to hang out with Kelsey and Rod. They signed a few autographs and chatted with some of the bar patrons. Then Rod suggested they head out and stop by to visit Dylan.
"Oh, wait. I left my phone on our table. I'll meet you at the car." Kelsey dashed back inside the building.
Rod shook his hand and gave him a half-hug. "Good job in there."
"Thanks for being on my side."
"See you at my house." The goalie waved over his shoulder and headed to the opposite side of the parking lot.
Leo turned in the direction of his car. Five figures lurched from the shadows, surrounding him. His gaze whipped from one to the next, sizing up the threat by body type. Boxer build, full back build, wrestler, wrestler, and wrestler. The last one wielded a wooden baseball bat.
Shit.
The kid, probably college-aged, slapped the butt of the bat against his palm. "Remember me? The caller who you told to go and finish his homework. I told you'd I'd show up."
Unease tingled along Leo's skin. He couldn't keep an eye on all of them with the way they'd fanned out. "Well, you showed up. Not too smart with the cameras they have recording parking lot activity, but hey, I'll give you props for making the effort."
The kid's gaze darted to the cameras. He licked his lip and then squared his shoulders. "You think you can take out Fraser and get away with it?"
"I think Dylan and I worked together well when he was here, so I'm not sure why you're not angrier at Bertuzzi. He's the one who knocked Dylan out."
"We want to see how tough you really are." Something hard, like a fist, punched in the back of his head. He jerked forward and grabbed onto one of the guys. The four others jumped in, kicking and punching him. He fought back as best he could, but there were too many and the strikes were coming in from all sides. He struck out blindly, slamming his fist into the face of the ringleader.
Then someone sweep-kicked at the back of his legs, knocking him down.
He landed hard on the ground. Tried to scramble to his feet, but a hard boot kicked him in the solar plexus, knocking the breath out of him. It pressed harder to keep him down. The kid raised the bat in the air.
Dread set in. The only thing he could do was curl his arms around his head to protect himself.
"Hey!" Rod's yell echoed across the parking lot. "Hey! What are you doing?"
He ran full speed at the group and shoved the guy who had his boot pressed to Leo's chest. The guy fell and the bat clattered to the ground and rolled away.
Just as quick, the other three guys jumped in, attacking Leo while Rod fended off the other guy.
Leo managed to get to his feet.
A second punch connected to the back of his head.
And then he heard Kelsey's scream.
KELSEY SCREAMED FOR help. Instinct pushed her toward the fray. Leo needed her. She had to help him.
She jumped onto the back of the guy who had punched Leo's head, trying to pull him away. He twisted. "What the—get the fuck off me."
"You get off of him first." She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him into a headlock. He rammed his back, and her, into the building's brick exterior. Her head and her back hit the wall hard. The impact caused her to lose her hold and the air to rush out of her lungs.
A parking light caught Rod's face as he traded punches with one of the assholes beating up Leo. Five on two wasn't a fair fight at all.
Gasping, she fought through the disorientation swimming through her mind and dove back in. She pushed between Leo and two hulking men who looked like college-age wrestlers. Leo blocked one punch, but two came at him the same time. Kelsey slammed her fist into the second arm, knocking it from its course. On her right side, an elbow came up high, crashing into her cheek. Pain ignited and spread out, burning where the guy's elbow had dragged along her skin. Another blow landed across her ribs and sent her sprawling to the ground. She landed on the cement step at the bar's entrance.
The bar's doors burst open. People spilled out around her. She screamed again for help and tried to protect her head as more people rushed through the door.
Sirens wailed, growing closer with every second.
Someone helped her stand. Holding her side, she stumbled toward Leo.
Bar patrons restrained three of the attackers. The other two wrestled away and one called over his shoulder as he ran, "I know what hotel you're staying in, Brennan. I'll be back to finish the job!"
Fear struck her heart. She needed Leo to be safe.
He touched his hand to the back of his head, then inspected his fingers. No doubt checking for blood. A chill waved over her skin. His beautiful face was already swelling and discoloring and blood gushed from his lip. He winced as he breathed. His coat was torn, his jeans ripped. He met her gaze, and his eyes and mouth rounded. He limped to her.
She swallowed hard, biting her lip as tears stung her eyes. His strong fingers brushed her hair away from her face. She gripped his hand, willing healing into his body. "Are you okay?"
"Are you?" He kept touching her face. "When I saw you pop up in there next to me, my heart stopped."
The police arrived and took their statements. Kelsey relayed her story and a description of the attackers who had run away, noting that Mitch had called one of them a regular caller on
