Cake Love: All Things Payne(96)

He has the f*cking nerve to just smirk at me, so I grab the shit-bag by the pants and toss him aside. Out of the corner of my eye I see Morgana scurry away toward the door. Suddenly I feel several hands grab my arms and someone is punching me. They drag me down the hall and I can see Morgana turn and go back into the room and kick the jerk, still curled up on the floor. This makes me smile, only a little as one of the guys punched me in the face and it hurts to move my lips.

I won't bore you with the details, but the usual happened in this sort of scenario: I got punched a bit, threw up (due to a good stomach punch) on the sidewalk outside the club where the men deposited me, and listened to them scream at me to stay away from the club. Little do they know I could buy the club and make their lives a living hell. Maybe I will do that on Monday, I need something to do anyway.

Suddenly I feel warmth on my neck and I look up to see Morgana wrapping her scarf around me. She looks beautiful and I can't help but smile as she puts her arms around me. I nuzzle into her neck, ignoring the stabs of pain from my torso as I move, and realize this is what I need. She's the soft, warm living thing I want to rub my cheek on.





Chapter 23 - THE Sleepover ...

So I am still pinned down by Jackson as Mr. Payne storms into the room. Before Jackson can do anything Henrik is lifting him up by his belt loop and tossing him aside into the coffee table. As fast as I can I scoot off the couch and into the doorway to notice two very large men, John from earlier and the man I saw at the bottom of the stairs, barrel down the hall.

It all happens so fast. I watch as the two men pull Mr. Payne off Jackson and give him a punch in the face and stomach before dragging him away. Glancing back I see Jackson curled up in a ball so I yell at him from the doorway.

"I told you no means no, but you didn't listen, did you." Yelling at him isn’t enough so I run in and kick him.

Then I dash down the hall in the direction that Henrik and the two men took, for fear Jackson might get back up. I make it to the bar when I see Aria. She is waving me over and pushing my coat and purse at me.

"Oh god, Morgana, are you okay?"

"Yeah, Aria, just a little shook up. Thanks for trying to set me up with a rapist by the way!"

She flinches at my sarcastic line.

"I had no idea. When he dragged you off like that I got nervous and talked to Kelly one of the waitresses here and she told me he has a habit of taking what he wants no matter what. God, I have worked here for a year, how did I not know that?" She nervously looks at her hands as if they hold the answer before continuing, "Anyway, I grabbed your phone and found Mr. Payne's number. I would have called your father or brother but they live too far away."

"Fuck. I can't believe he came. He hates me. I better go and see if he's all right. Thanks for calling someone, Aria."

She gives me a sad smile and nods as I walk out the door. I notice Henrik on the curb lying on his side. I scurry over to help him up. Noticing he has no coat I quickly take off my scarf and sit beside him on the sidewalk to wrap him in the little scrap of warmth I can offer. I wonder where his coat is as he just has a cashmere sweater keeping him warm against the bitter winter cold of Chicago.

I hold him for a while until I feel him relax a bit.

"Let me help you to your car and I will drive you to the hospital."

"No I don't need a hospital. Just some bruises and cuts, they'll heal. I didn't bring a car, just ran here."

I look around and realize we are at least fifteen blocks away from his neighborhood. While that is a short drive it would be at least a ten minute run. Perhaps he is used to running but I can't imagine without a coat in this weather?

"Let me grab a taxi."

I hail one down in no time as they swarm the bars at night waiting for a drunken fare. When we get inside I place his head in my lap and ask him his address again as I don't remember it off hand. He just moans in response so I finally give the driver my address.

After paying the cab I get him out and do my best to open the door and that's when I smell it. He's been drinking. For a man who has rules and does not drink (except the holiday party – which still makes no sense to me) I seem to catch him quite often drunk. The driver must have noticed my struggle because he helps me into my building all the way to my apartment. We make it to my bedroom and place him on my bed. I give the driver an extra ten for the help.

"Did he hurt you?"

Henrik mumbles to me as I walk back into the bedroom from seeing the driver out.

"No. Thank you for coming to help. I am quite surprised you did."

He is curled up on his side as I make my way to face him. Henrik smiles and looks up at me while squinting.

"I'm surprised too but as much as I never wanted to see you again I couldn't let anyone hurt you. In fact, if those two guys had not shown up I would probably be facing murder charges right now."

"But if you did that, it would just make it easier for me to take your job," I joke but he's not laughing. His smile disappears and he turns his gaze onto my clock.

"It was a joke, Henrik. Not a very good one, but still a joke. I don't want your job ... well not if I have to hurt you to get it."

His eyes snap back to my face and he winces as he adjusts his position.

"But you admitted that you knew Bechmann was showing up so you could get me in trouble."