Alec Read online

  I had, unfortunately.

  “I saw a woman in the bar slip something in his drink and about ten minutes later he charged out here and was sick. I couldn’t follow him fast enough to see everything that happened, but his pulse is fast and thready.”

  “Let’s get him to the hospital.”

  I stood next to them as they rolled Alec’s big body onto the stretcher and began tying him down and covering him with blankets. I asked the guys, “Will you get his blood work done and check for possible drugs? Or do you think he’ll need his stomach pumped?”

  The paramedics looked at me with a puzzled expression. “Have you been through this before?”

  I shook my head, my teeth chattering together since I hadn’t gone in to get my jumper. “No, I’m pre-med at Cambridge.”

  They pushed Alec towards the ambulance and began rolling him up the ramp. “The police will need a statement on what went on tonight. Do you want to come with us now? Or make your own way there later? ”

  I wasn’t sticking around here for more photos and paparazzi. The hospital would be safer.

  “I’ll come with you now.”

  I followed them and jumped into the back of the van. I slid onto the perch and put a hand out to rest on Alec’s arm. I felt so bloody guilty at the moment. I thought I’d seen the girls slip something in his drink, but had been across the room at the time and hadn’t really been sure. I hadn’t wanted to accuse someone of something they didn’t do, so I’d dismissed the thought as my eyes playing tricks on me. When he’d started whirling and carrying on like a drunken sailor, I knew I’d made a mistake.

  A big mistake.

  He hadn’t had that much to drink. A couple of beers and two whisky shots for a guy that big was nothing. Well, certainly not enough to have him slurring and bumping into things like he’d drunk the whole bottle, so I’d run after them to help him. Those girls did not have good intentions for the Right Time star, and I wasn’t letting them get away with it on my watch.

  When I’d gotten outside the poor guy was on the ground, sick and passed out, and one of the chicks was screaming that he’d hit her. Another had his ripped shirt in her grip.

  That was going to cause an absolute shit-storm of bad publicity.

  “Is he going to be ok, do you think?”

  The paramedics were attaching an oxygen mask and a heart monitor to him. What the hell had those two girls slipped him?

  “His blood pressure is really low, and his pulse is ninety-two. Looks like Rohypnol, but we should know more once we’re at the hospital and run some tests.”

  I sent up a prayer and squeezed his arm tighter.

  A bloody roofie! Since when did men get date rape drugged?

  Only an hour ago I’d been forcing myself not to swoon at Alec’s feet. He was the only member of Right Time that I found attractive, but I knew better than to fall for a playboy’s charm. Now he was unconscious in an ambulance and the paramedics were talking numbers that I knew full well spelled trouble.

  I shook off the thought and closed my eyes. Almost there.

  The next hour was a blur of questions, doctors, and stress. My head ached, my feet throbbed, and I could barely keep my eyes open despite the adrenaline pumping through my system which was making my heart race.

  “Excuse me, are you the woman who brought Alec Masterson in?”

  I turned away from the vending machine I’d been staring at to see an older man in a suit staring at me. It was two o’clock in the morning. Who wore a suit at this time at night?

  “Yes, that’s me.” My voice sounded a bit weird, but I wasn’t surprised.

  He reached out a hand, and I shook it on autopilot as another bigger man stepped up behind him. A bodyguard by the looks of him.

  “I’m Phillip, Right Time’s manager. Could you tell me exactly what happened tonight?”

  I rubbed a hand over my face and let the moan of exasperation escape me. “I’ve told that story twenty times already tonight.”

  Every doctor, nurse, or policeman I spoke with wanted to know everything I did. I knew nothing but what I thought I’d seen, and even those memories were starting to blur with fatigue.

  Phillip’s hand took my elbow and guided me over to a chair. I let him direct me because I was just too tired to argue. I couldn’t feel my legs properly anymore.

  “I can imagine, but I really want to be able to minimize the effect this is going to have on Alec’s reputation, so if you could tell me everything you remember, I would be so appreciative.”

  I took a long breath and then let it out again. “There were three girls hitting on Alec at the bar, and while one of them pulled him over to kiss him, the other touched his drink. When I saw it, I wondered if she may have slipped something in, but I was on the opposite side of the room so I told myself I was being paranoid. But within a couple of minutes he was swaying and jerking around. He made his way outside with the three girls grabbing at him and taking lots of photos.”

  The bodyguard type standing over us said something in a foreign language under his breath that sounded a lot like a curse.

  “I followed them outside as fast as I could to try to help him, but I missed a minute or so, so when I got there he was vomiting on the ground and one of the blonde chicks was saying he hit her. Another was holding his ripped shirt. I’m not sure exactly what happened, but I don’t think he would have meant any of what he was doing. He could barely stand, let alone coordinate his arms.”

  A muscle in Phillip’s jaw tightened and flickered, anger flashing through his dark eyes.

  “That’s not good at all. I suppose lots of photos were taken?”

  I nodded and leaned back in the uncomfortable plastic hospital chairs. “Yes, most definitely. I called for the security guards, made them hold people back and waited for the ambulance. I didn’t want to move him, but that unfortunately meant that people milled around taking photos of him lying on the ground, passed out in his own vomit. Joy of the digital age, they’re no doubt trending on social media by now.”

  Phillip looked directly at me. “Do you have any photos?”

  I straightened up and glared at him. “Are you bloody kidding me? I don’t even have my jumper, let alone my phone! I’ve spent the whole night looking after your playboy charge, not that I expect a thank you! But you could at least not insult me.”

  I kept glaring at him until he finally chuckled. “I am so glad Alec had you on his side tonight. Please go home and get some rest. Our head of security, Jas, will take you.”

  That sounded like a bloody fantastic idea.

  I pushed myself to my feet and nodded, even though my head felt like it was barely connected to my shoulders. “That sounds great, but my bag is at the bar still. It has my house keys and phone.”

  “That will be no problem. Jas can take you wherever you need to go. Here’s my card. Please call me anytime if you think of anything else.”

  I began shuffling my feet towards the exit, the call of my bed and sleep like a siren in the night. I turned back around and called to Phillip again. “Will you let me know how Alec pulls up? I think they pumped his stomach in the end, so hopefully the drug gets out of his system quickly.”

  Phillip cocked his head at me and then nodded. “I will. How can I reach you?”

  He pulled out a smart phone, and I recited my number to him. My eyes were getting really heavy.

  “Jas, take her home before she falls down.”

  I let the big guy usher me into a waiting black car and got driven to the bar for my things, and then home to my tiny apartment. If it hadn’t been such a stressful night, I might have enjoyed being chauffeured around. But as it was, I barely got out my thank you as I pulled myself up the steps, let myself into my building and fell into my apartment.

  ****

  Alec

  Oh fuck, my head hurts. And oh God, what is with my throat? It feels like they stuck a hot poker down my neck.

  I reached up a hand to my head in an attempt to stop
the anvil going bang, bang, bang against my skull.

  “Rough night?” Phillip’s sarcastic tone made my headache worse.

  A groan left my lips as I opened my eyes. “Yeah, much rougher than it was meant to be. What time is it?’

  “It’s one PM. You’ve been out of it for twelve hours, which is about what the doctors predicted, which is a good sign.”

  I sat up straighter in bed, my bladder busting. “I’ve gotta piss. Do you know when I can go home?”

  Phillip moved out of the way, and I swung my legs off the bed and stood up. “Fuck…” Lights flashed before my eyes, and I fell back onto the mattress and grabbed for the sheets, trying to anchor myself. “What the hell did those girls slip me?”

  “A roofie … you’ve really done a good job of landing yourself in the shit this time, Alec.”

  I rolled my eyes and pulled myself up off the bed. Be damned if I was using a pan or whatever they called that thing they stick up your dick. I weaved a little, but made it to the bathroom and lifted my damn ugly hospital gown to piss.

  I returned to where Phillip stood holding out his phone.

  “What’s up?”

  “Check it out, Alec.”

  I grabbed Phillip’s phone and stared at the screen. What was the big deal?

  “Oh … holy shit!”

  Picture after picture of my disgusting self, assaulted my eyes. “How the hell did these pictures even get online? Of course, those bloody girls.”

  I fell onto the rock hard hospital bed, my mind whirling with the implications of what those headlines would mean for me, and the band.

  “They’re calling me a druggy, a drunk, and…” I scrolled through the top ten stories on Google. A gasp ripped its way through my vocal chords. “A woman beater?”

  I stared at Phillip, my sluggish brain struggling to process all this new information. “I’ve never hit a woman in my life! I’d never do that! I mean … look at me.” I indicated all the muscles I’d accumulated since that fateful night I’d been beaten up on a train and I’d been unable to protect either myself or my girlfriend at the time. “I’ve worked my ass off to become a protector. I’d never…”

  Hurt anyone. Especially not a woman.

  “I know, Alec. I know.” Phillip heaved a huge sigh and took his phone back.

  Phillip knew my back story and had had me investigated to confirm it when I’d first joined the band.

  Knock. Knock. Knock.

  “Am I interrupting?” A sweet, hesitant voice entered the room, and I jumped.

  “Joanne?”

  I grabbed the white cotton blanket and threw it over my lap as the gorgeous brunette that shafted me last night stepped into the room.

  “Jas brought me back to see you. How are you?”

  “Huh? Why would you know Jas? Did I miss something?”

  A small smile lifted Joanne’s lips, and Phillip pulled a chair out for her next to the bed.

  “What did I miss? The last thing I remember was you turning me down.”

  Joanne looked away, pink slashing across her high cheekbones.

  I looked back at Phillip and raised my eyebrows. Was someone going to explain what was going on?

  Phillip cleared his throat. “You won’t remember this of course, but Joanne was the one that found you outside in your own vomit, protected you while she waited for the ambulance, then came to the hospital with you and waited until we got here. She probably saved your life last night.”

  I couldn’t believe it.

  I stared at the girl, who was now looking down into her lap at her fingernails.

  “You helped me?” No one had ever really helped me like that before. “Why?”

  Her head snapped up, and her blue eyes flashed fire at me.

  “Because you needed help, that’s why. What else?”

  I was suspicious of her motives. Why would she help me? What did she get out of it?

  I turned on Phillip. “What have you cooked up, Phillip? I feel like I’m in the middle of a bad joke.”

  Joanne jumped to her feet and glared at me. “What’s wrong with you? We’re trying to help you out of this situation you got yourself into, and you’re being totally ungrateful.”

  “Well, why are you here?”

  “Because they asked me, and I…” her eyes slid away, “feel a bit responsible for last night. I saw those girls do something weird, but wasn’t quick enough to realize what exactly until it was too late.”

  I knew it.

  “So you let me get drugged and now you feel guilty? I knew there was something behind all this.”

  I stood up and swallowed hard, nausea rising and falling in my belly like mercury in a thermometer on a hot day.

  “I’m going home. I’ll figure this all out myself. Are there some clothes around here?”

  I couldn’t trust anyone to help me. I had to look after myself. I’d learnt that in high school when some guys had beaten me up on the train. I’d been looking after myself ever since.

  I began looking around for my clothes and groaned at the sweat breaking out all over my body, heat flowing through me like molten lava.

  “Alec Masterson.” A male voice entered our private room just as the stars in the darkness began to twinkle and the night clouded in.

  Chapter Three

  Joanne

  “Catch him, catch him!” I screamed at the men in the room as I dove towards Alec, grabbing his arm and holding on tight as he keeled over.

  He was bloody huge, and way too heavy for me to hold up.

  The doctor and Phillip helped me, and we turned Alec around so he could lie back down on the bed and rest. Fortunately, the stupid lump came to pretty quickly.

  “Whoa, what happened?”

  I placed my hand on his chest and pressed down, glaring at him like I would a five year old.

  “You passed out. Again. Would you stop being such a stubborn arse and just rest?”

  I tried to ignore the heat of his chest beneath my palm and the deep desire settling in my gut. Fuck, he was hot, too hot. His brown eyes were prettier than any man’s I’d ever seen, and the look of vulnerability I could see in them now I was so close made me want to melt into a puddle of goo on the floor.

  “Ok.” He quieted down, and I went to step away but he grabbed for my waist and held tight.

  He didn’t say anything, but he obviously got the point and stayed put, turning towards the men who had come to help.

  I perched my butt on the bed and moved further into Alec’s grip. It was a little strange, but it also felt right, like I should be there with him, which was stupid. I barely knew the guy.

  “What’s the deal, doc? Can I go home soon?”

  My stomach was wiggling and my breath was hitching in my throat.

  “Alec, you were given a pretty nasty version of what most people call a roofie. With good hydration and rest, you’ll be feeling better in about seven days.”

  He groaned loudly behind me. “I’m not staying in here for a week.”

  Phillip stepped up next to the doctor. “It may not be a bad idea, Alec. It would keep you safe and out of reach at least. The paparazzi are already swarming your house, your band-mates, and the major hotels in the city.”

  Whoa, already? Those poor boys! Last thing they needed to happen on their down time is having the bloody media camped on their doorsteps.

  “I do not want to stay in here for a week. I’ll find somewhere to crash where they won’t find me.”

  “Like where?”

  Phillip looked directly at me, and I swallowed hard. “What?”

  “No one knows you’ve helped us.”

  True, but...

  “Umm, my place is pretty tiny, but he could probably crash there for a week. I’ll be at school or work most of the time anyway.”

  My heart leapt in my chest as Alec’s hand squeezed my hip.

  “You don’t have to do that, Joanne. I can find somewhere else.”

  His tone was annoying me now
. I groaned and twisted to glare once again at the man in bed. “It’s Jo, ok? No one calls me Joanne, and I hate it when they do.”

  He grinned at me just like he had that first time in the bar last night. All sparkly eyes and white shiny teeth.

  I looked away because my nipples were aching and my clit throbbed.

  God, I want him so bad.

  “Ah … I think I better head home for a bit. You have my address, Phillip.” I pushed away from the bed and headed towards the exit, my palms sweaty and my chest aching.

  A squeal rose from my belly and escaped as I pushed through the steel door and rushed out the front of the private hospital.

  Flashes exploded in my face and I covered my eyes, and just as quick as they’d come, they’d gone.

  “Bugger.”

  I made my way to my car and got out my phone, typing in a quick message to Phillip to tell him the journalists were out the front of the hospital. They hadn’t been there when I arrived only twenty minutes ago. Shit, they were fast.

  I turned the car on and squeaked again as I drove out of the car park. The hottest member of the biggest boy-band in the world was coming to stay at my tiny apartment.

  “Holy-moly…”

  It was too surreal to be true, but then again, who would have ever thought Law could be gay and Dillon would marry a woman he got pregnant while on tour? These boys had proven to the world how different they were, and I knew I’d regret not seeing where this adventure led.

  ****

  Alec

  Sneaking out of the hospital had not been easy, but we’d found an emergency exit and gunned it to the parking lot. Jas had been waiting with a car, and we’d gotten away pretty smoothly.

  “I just hope no one finds me at Jo’s place.”

  “We’ll move you if they do.”

  I pushed myself back in the seat. My body was still weak and I ached all over, but I could finally breathe now that I was out of the hospital. There was something vaguely creepy about a hospital room—even in the absurdly expensive one I’d been staying in.

  “I don’t mean for me. I’ve been dealing with this shit for ages now. Jo hasn’t asked for it and doesn’t deserve it.”

  Jas snorted from the front seat.