"Get in the car," I growled at her, but she didn't move. The woman started screaming again, "No, stop, please," I heard and I shook Alle off me and took off down the alley way. It was dark and the perfect place the commit a crime, if it wasn't for us walking by.

I crept down the alley way as quietly as possible. I didn't want to scare him off because you don't hurt women, plain and simple. As I got closer, I could see the man had her pushed against the wall and his arm was pressing against her throat and her hair covered her face, but I could just make out the color, and my blood ran cold realizing it was her.

I kept quiet and stormed to him. He was to focused on her and didn't even see me coming. I grabbed the back of his jacket and jerked him off her and threw him to the ground. She stood there frozen to the wall. I was torn as I wanted to slit his throat and leave him to bleed out in the alley way, but I didn't want to scare her. So, I pressed my boot into his throat and pressed down until he started fighting.

"If I ever see you near her again, I will kill you, don't fucking try me," I growled and pressed even harder for just a second before letting him go and he got up and ran so fast like the scared little bitch he was. He could hurt a woman but when someone his own size or bigger he fucking runs.

I turned to see my beauty standing against the wall shaking. I stalk over to her, and she closes her eyes. "Please don't hurt me," she cried.

"Never Bella," I whispered and brought my hand up to her face and cradled it just as her eyes rolled back in her head and she started to tumble to the ground. I quickly reached out and grabbed her and lifted her into my arms and walked back out to the sidewalk where the other two were waiting. She was freezing cold.

"Alle my jacket," I demanded when I got to them.

"No, I'm cold," she scoffed and it made me want to wrap my hands around her throat. I know I just said you don’t hurt women, but she is awful.

"And she is unconscious and was just attacked. NOW," I yelled and it finally got through her head, and she shrugged it off and handed it to me.

Jay moved to open the back door of the car and carefully laid her across the back seat and then shut the door when I got out.

"Make sure that she gets back to her hotel safely and then take the night off."

"Of course, sir," he said and turned to Alle who was glaring at me.

I moved towards the driver's seat when Alle figured things out. "Tyson, what about me? You are going to leave me for some unconscious chick."

"Ya, Jay will make sure that you make it to your hotel and please don't call me, ever."

I got into the car and sped towards my apartment and debated about calling our staff doctor but decided against it. She didn't seem hurt, just scared and went into flight or fight mode.

When I pulled into my private parking garage I parked and got her out and took her up to my room where I undressed her and put her into one of my shirts and covered her up and let her sleep.

Tess's POV

I woke up bright and early. I had an earlier shift than I had been working. I didn't really want the afternoon shift, but I didn't have a choice. I had to work. I had my phone interview for the hospital in a few hours, and I wanted to get a run in first. I hadn't been on a run since the day before my wedding. Running gave me a sense of freedom and helped me clear my head and right now it was so needed.

I wanted to run along the boardwalk and maybe the beach but it was too far from where I was staying so I drove down to the boardwalk and found a place to park and got out and stretched out my body and then put my earbuds in, turned on my favorite playlist and took off running.

The only people that were out here were also running or a few opening up their business. It was great and I had worked up the best sweat ever and the burn in my muscles was something that I hadn't felt in what felt like a long time.

A few hours later I hung up from my phone from the interview, and it went better than expected and they offered me the job, with a sign on bonus after three months of employment and at six months and at year. They were desperate for people, and I was desperate for a job in what I wanted to do, so I agreed. Maybe it was a red flag but obviously I wasn’t good at spotting those.

I dialed my mom's number and was so excited to tell her the good news. This is all I ever wanted in life. I used to play doctor as a kid with my dolls. I would make up illnesses or injuries and had to nurse them back to health and now they weren't going to be made up but they would be real, and I still got to nurse them back to health.

"Hey sweetie."

"Mom, I got it. They offered me the job after the interview was over."

"That's amazing. I'm so proud of you and I knew that you could do it. When do you start?"

"I have to go fill out paperwork and do a drug test and when that comes back all clear I will start."

"Good you can stop waiting tables."

"I can but for now I have to go and do that. I have the afternoon shift, so I will call you later. Love you."

I hung up feeling guilty that I moved so far and left her, but I know that she understands. I quickly got ready for my shift and headed to the restaurant.

It was official, the afternoon shift sucked. We had like three different groups of people and I spent the afternoon rolling silverware. Around six it started to pick up which was great because I had been bored and was going to fall asleep.

"Tess, can you work till close?" my manager asked. I had only worked a few shifts, and this was the second time I had been asked to cover someone.

"Yes."

"Great, thanks."

I rolled my eyes and went back to work, and I learned that I will never complain about it being slow. It got so busy and we were down more than just one person. I ran my ass off all night, but the tips poured in and with the huge tip that was left to me from the group of ten men the other night and tonight I had enough for a down payment on the apartment I liked.

Thinking of those men made me think of the dark-eyed man that left me the biggest tip of my life and God I wanted more than a tip from him and I had thought maybe he had as well, but he hadn't come back in here. Trust me I looked for him every night.

When we finally slowed way down, I told my manager that I was leaving since I had been here all day. He just waved me off and I walked out the door putting my tips into my purse and grabbing my keys. When I hit the unlock button on my car there was a man standing there.

It may have been dark, but I knew who that was. Parker. He was Jack's little fucking minion. He wanted to be a part of his friend group so badly that he would do whatever Jack wanted, and I knew he had a history of a temper. I quickly turned around and headed right back towards the restaurant. I could hear his footsteps coming closer and faster. I started running and when I got to the door it was locked. I fumbled with my purse for my keys, but it was no good. He was right there. I dropped my keys and took off running.

"Tess, I just want to talk with you," he yelled after me and I knew better than that.

I jumped through some bushes and ran behind buildings. My heart felt like it was going to explode in my chest and lungs burned as I kept going but he was closing in. I skidded to a stop and turned down an alley and started running down it. The street was on the other end, and I just needed to make it out there and I could find help, but my foot caught a big rock, and I went flying through the air.

I landed on my hands scraping them and my knees tearing my pants and it gave Parker enough time to close in on me. He grabbed my hair, jerking me to a standing position. My legs were weak, and I wanted to scream for help, but he quickly slapped his hand over my mouth. I tried to bite him, but it was no good, I couldn't get a hold of anything with my teeth.

He shoved me against the wall of the building, knocking the air from my lungs and he let out a laugh that sounded like the devil mixed with a chihuahua. It was high pitched with an evil tone to it. It was hard to explain but I knew this man was going to hurt me.

He pushed his arm against my throat with his forearm, not hard enough to cut off my oxygen but he was definitely making it hard to breathe. He leaned in really close to my ear, making me want to vomit. I didn't like being in this position. I tried to bring my leg up and knee him in the balls but that didn't work either and all he did was press harder on my throat.

"Jack, told me to get the message across whatever way I deemed necessary," he said as he ripped the front of my button-down shirt open.

"HELP," I screamed.

"Shut the fuck up or I will shut you up."

"Someone please HELP," I screamed.

"Either pay the money or take Jack back, otherwise he is going to ruin your life."

"STOP," I yelled again and I could see his intentions in his eyes. They weren't good.

He was suddenly jerked away from me and thrown on the ground. I gasped for air as my eyes bugged out of my head watching the man that I've been daydreaming about for two days now save my life.

I watched as he put his giant boot on Parker's throat and pressed down. Parker struggled under his boot and tried to push it off but then the man spoke and it was that same deep tone that was so captative and authoritative.

"If I ever see you near her again, I will kill you, don't fucking try me," he growled and while I should be scared shitless that this man was dangerous because it was evident in his movements and his voice.

When he finally let Parker go, he jumped to his feet and ran off so fast, and the dream boat turned and stalked over to me and placed his warm hand on my face so gently and his eyes didn't hold the same murderous look they did a minute ago. Now they were soft and caring.

I closed my eyes, willing my brain to function because everything started spinning and I knew I had gone into flight or fight mode and I had no more fight left in me. "Please don't hurt me," I whispered.