Page 93 of Miss Treated

I could’ve wept with relief. He remembered what I’d said to him at the party. “Yes.”

“This is none of your business,” Joel started.

Leo wasn’t hearing it. “It’s definitely our business.”

Both he and Gabe flanked me on either side as if they were my personal bodyguards.

Joel swallowed hard. “I’m her fiancé. She’s the love of my life. My partner. And Kelsey has been sick.”

“Perhaps you’re the one who should go with Dr. Brooks because you’re delusional. You never wanted a partner; you wanted a cheerleader. And when you couldn’t get into the same school I did, couldn’t pass the same test I did, didn’t get the same recognition I did, you sought to tear me down to stroke your own ego. You dismissed me and my feelings for years. And you know what? It’s my time to dismiss you. Goodbye, Joel. Go fuck yourself.”

I turned to leave, hoping to get far away from here, but Joel lunged toward me. Big mistake. Leo had him against the wall in a flash, his forearm pressed against his windpipe.

“Who are you guys?” Joel sputtered with the little breath Dominic’s brother was allowing him.

Gabe didn’t miss a beat. “We’re Kelsey’s future brothers-in-law.”

It was difficult not to find hope in his statement.

“You want to put the syringe away, Doc, before I use it on you,” Leo threatened, letting Joel crumple to the ground as he turned toward the doctor.

Dr. Brooks wisely capped the needle and put it into his coat.

“What did you do to the big guy?” Gabe asked, apparently only now noticing the large man dressed in scrubs who was on his knees frantically wiping at his eyes in pain.

“Pepper-sprayed him. He was trying to grab me.”

The front desk clerk ran over, looking all of nineteen. “Um, should I still call the police? I wasn’t sure.”

Gabe raised a brow. “Two men down in your lobby trying to kidnap a woman? What do you think?”

I couldn’t help it. I burst out laughing. As did Leo. Had to be the letdown from all the adrenaline. My eye caught the flash of a Bronco pulling up next to the door. I didn’t hesitate but ran out to greet Dominic with a tackle hug.

“Whoa. What’s going on? Are you okay?” Nic leaned back to cup my face.

I’d never been so happy to see him. “Better now that you’re here.”

“I would’ve been here sooner, but I was driving up to LA to find you. Then I got your voicemail. When I heard you say your mom was here, I sent my brothers over just to ensure everything was okay.”

“Thank goodness you did.” My eyes widened when I saw yet more of the cavalry had arrived. Chance was striding toward us from the parking lot. “Did you call my brother as well?”

Dominic turned and saw his approach. “No. I didn’t.”

Chance came up, concern in his expression. “Are you all right?”

“I’m okay. But I almost wasn’t.” I led him inside the lobby to where Gabe had my mother, the doctor, and the large man with red eyes on a couch. Leo was towering over Joel, who remained on his knees, sputtering for breath. I gave my brother the twenty-second rundown of recent events. “This is Dominic, and those are his brothers, Gabriel and Leonardo Chambers. They’re—”

“Gerard’s sons,” he interjected.

Dominic held out his hand while Leo and Gabriel settled for nods. They were still guarding their captives.

Chance’s expression was ominous. I touched his arm. “Before you consider doing anything rash when it comes to Joel or my mother, I want to remind you they’re not worth the possible consequences, and you have a family to consider.”

He blew out a breath, clearly thinking of Tory and Penelope. “You’re right.”

“The police are on their way,” Gabe provided.

I stepped over to where Joel was still on the ground with Leo daring him to move a muscle. Looking down, I saw him for the pathetic man he was. Anticipating my brother was about to deliver a very serious threat, I did it for him.