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"Sully, we have this," Pierce says in a low voice. "Give her a minute."

"We were leaving," Violet whispers, her voice dazed. "Three men. Masks o-on their faces. I had the deposit. Ty told them to take it and go but⁠—"

She lifts a hand to her V-neck shirt, feeling for the necklace with a tiny wave I now know was a graduation gift from her parents. She rubs it absently.

For the first time, I noticed her shirt is ripped and hangs loose down her arm, revealing her bra. I see finger bruises and scrapes on her neck, arms and wrists, and one eye is blackening. Her lip is bloody and puffy. "Ah, baby."

"Sul, out of the way," Pierce says while Bellamy and Hudson continue working on Ty, who is obviously the more injured of the two.

"Ty tried to f-fight them. G-get the g-guy off me. Vaughn came b-back. They ran away when…when they heard him."

I shift down to give Elena some room, but I won't leave Violet.

I hear Pierce asking Violet questions and try to quell the rage boiling inside me. Whoever had done this had hurt her. They'd touched her and⁠—

A small bloody hand grasps mine, and I lift my gaze, locking eyes with Violet. She wears her pain in the pinched expression and furrowed eyebrows, but it's the haze of fear in her eyes that reminds me of the fact that I have to hold myself together for her sake. I can explode or collapse in private, but until then, my girl needs me to be her rock. I force a weak smile. "You're safe now. I'm here. I'm not going anywhere."

I help get Violet moved to a gurney once Pierce's assessment is done. Nothing appears broken. Concussed. Scrapes and bruises. One cut needs a couple of stitches.

My sister's image forms in my mind once again, and MacGyver's words come back. I know things could have been worse with Violet, but I hate that she's hurting and I'm helpless.

She's alive.

That's all that matters. She's alive.

I didn't roll up to find her shot. I didn't have to hold her while she took her last breath.

I hold Violet's hand in mine as they prepare to load her into an ambulance.

A meaty grip lands on my shoulder, and I turn to see Gabe there in street clothes.

"You're off duty as of now."

I nod my thanks, but before I can move, Vaughn Mercer appears. He looks wrecked. "What happened?" I demand.

"I was parked down the street. I got my bike while they headed out the back. I rode past to make sure they made it okay and saw Violet getting slammed face first into the building while Ty fought off two more."

"Sully, you coming?" Pierce calls.

"Go. I'll find you at the hospital as soon as possible," Vaughn says.

I climb aboard, bending and shifting to sit facing Violet. I take her hand in mine again, lifting it to my lips to kiss. Her eyes flutter open, and I manage another smile. "You're safe. I got you."

Her head rolls toward me, and I wipe away the tear that leaks from the corner of her eye.

It's the only one she lets fall.

And I vow then and there, no one will ever hurt her again.

Chapter 26

Violet

* * *

It takes hours before all the tests are completed and I'm moved to a regular hospital room for observation. By then, my mood has greatly diminished, and I hate myself for being such a bad patient.

I want to go home. I want my bed. I want my pillow.