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Please?
62 Lynn Hagen
As much as Alan wanted to tear the stranger apart, piece by little
piece, Sasha needed care and he needed to be somewhere away from
the man that attacked him. Alan could always come back later after
Sasha was somewhere safe.
He scooped Sasha into his arms and stood to his feet.
Alan glared at the man standing smugly across the room. He knew
threatening the man would do no good. Someone like this leech
standing in front of him needed hands-on instruction to understand the
rage Alan was feeling inside. I ll be back for you.
Touch me and I ll sue you, the man replied as he gave Alan
what looked to be a glare. The man sucked at it. Alan remembered the
guy. He was a cashier. Alan stored that information away as he
carried Sasha from the room.
What s going on? A dark-haired man was standing in front of
an office, his keys dangling in his hand as he looked from Sasha to
Alan. Who are you, and why do you have my employees in your
arms?
He s my boss, Ken, Sasha whispered as he tucked his face
further into Alan s chest.
Alan narrowed his eyes at Ken. He didn t appreciate anyone
questioning him about Sasha. Because one of your other employees
thought it would be fun to hurt my mate and assault him.
Ken s questioning glare turned into anger right before Alan s
eyes. His fingers curled around the keys as he stepped closer, his
voice a growl. Who hurt Sasha?
What s his name, Sasha?
Troy.
Troy, Alan said out loud. He was attacking Sasha when I
entered the lunchroom.
Ken nodded, turning on his heels and unlocking his office door.
Alan began to walk toward the exit when Ken stepped back out of his
office and stopped him. I m calling the cops. Don t go anywhere.
Alan s Anger 63
Why? I haven t done a damn thing wrong, even though I wanted
to rip Troy apart with my bare hands.
Ken looked stunned, but shook his head. The cops are for Troy,
but I ll keep your confession to myself.
Alan had never had a cop on his side. Usually they were
questioning him like he was the criminal. Would they do the same
now? Alan didn t want to stick around for any harassing, but he knew
that if he let Troy go unpunished, Alan would seek revenge. And he
really wasn t trying to go back to prison. He had a mate to take care
of. Going to prison wasn t conducive to keeping Sasha safe.
Although he really did not want to talk to the cops. His time in
prison was still too fresh in his mind, and nothing but anger welled up
when he thought about cops.
They re on their way. Bring Sasha into my office. I don t want a
confrontation with Troy while Sasha is anywhere near him.
Alan stepped into Ken s office, and the feeling of suffocation
swamped him. His apartment was tiny, but Alan knew he could walk
out of it at any time. Knowing he would be stuck in this cramped
space and talking to cops was making him panic. He could feel his
heart begin to race as his nerves coiled into hard steel.
What s wrong? Sasha asked as he curled tighter into Alan s
arms. Why are you shaking?
I don t like small offices or cops.
We can leave. We don t have to stay, Alan.
Alan appreciated the gesture more than he could ever voice, but
this wasn t about him. Sasha needed Troy punished for what he had
done. Glancing down at his mate to see the bruises only reminded
Alan what had to be done.
No, if the cops don t take care of Troy, I will. I d rather have the
law handle this. He just hoped that they didn t bring Troy his way.
Alan wasn t so sure he could restrain himself. He was fighting now
just to keep his bear from becoming unleashed. Seeing his mate
bruised and frightened was making Alan, and his bear, go crazy.
64 Lynn Hagen
The cops are here, Ken said as he stuck his head into the office
door. One of them is talking to Troy. The other is right here. Ken
moved back, allowing the police officer to enter the already-cramped
space.
Which one of you was assaulted? the cop asked.
Sasha, Alan answered for his mate. He did most of the talking,
but Sasha had to write down what had happened that led up to Alan
finding them. As Alan listened to his mate as Sasha mentally voiced
what happened as he wrote it down, Alan felt sick to his stomach.
Troy had been making passes and becoming aggressive, and Sasha
hadn t said a word to him. Alan felt like he had failed his mate.
Okay, I have your oral statement and his written statement, the
cop said.
What s going to happen to Troy? Alan asked as he scooped
Sasha back into his arms. He didn t care what anyone thought. Sasha
was his mate and needed him.
We re arresting him for aggravated assault. He had a box cutter
in his pocket, and there is blood on it.
But he didn t use a box cutter on Sasha, Alan pointed out.
And that s why he s being booked. We need to have the cutter
sent down to the lab to see if it s his blood. He claims he cut himself
at work.
And Sasha? Alan asked.
I have his written statement. The prosecutor will be picking the
case up from here.
Alan glanced toward the office door when he saw Troy being
taken away in cuffs. He had never been so glad that the law finally
worked in his and Sasha s favor. But that still didn t stop the low
growl from escaping his lips.
The police officer turned toward Alan, a brow rising slowly. Ken
smiled nervously as he ushered the cop from his office.
Can we go home now?
Alan s Anger 65
Alan leaned forward and kissed Sasha gently on his cheek. Yeah,
we can get out of here.
You will be coming back, right? Ken asked as he met Alan and
Sasha at the door. Troy has been fired. You don t have to worry
about him anymore. I just wish I knew beforehand that he was
harassing you.
Tell him I ll be back.
Hell, no!
Alan, tell him, Sasha said more firmly, his lips thinning, which
in Alan s opinion looked damn painful. He didn t want his mate
hurting any more than he should.
Fine. Alan glanced up at Ken who looked a bit worried. Sasha
will be back. And then he leaned closer to Ken. And I ll be keeping
an eye on him.
Ken nodded, his jaw clenched as he glanced down at Sasha and
then back up at Alan, resolution strong in his eyes. And so will I.
66 Lynn Hagen
Epilogue
Alan and Sasha stood in the empty one-bedroom apartment,
looking around as Herb, the landlord, stood by the door. There is a
bathroom, one bedroom, and a pretty nice-size kitchen. It s three
times the size of the efficiency you now rent, Alan.
What do you think? Sasha asked Alan.
There sure is a lot more room, Alan said out loud as he glanced
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