Another of Hunter’s crew hauled Sam away, but I didn’t bother to note who. I simply focused back on Shay, keeping my voice low. “He’s gone. You’re safe. You know I won’t let anything happen to you.” But I had. At the very least, Sam had cornered her. Maybe worse.

Her eyes moved. Not in the jumpy fluttering movements they had since I arrived, but as if she were trying to focus. I rubbed my thumbs across her cheeks. “That’s it. Look at me.”

Hazel orbs shifted in my direction. “Brody?”

“There you go. I’ve got you.”

“What?” She jerked, looking around.

“He’s gone,” I bit out. “What happened?”

“I—I’m sorry.” She looked from me to Hunter and back again.

“You don’t have a damn thing to be sorry for,” Hunter said, taking a step closer. “Did he touch you?”

She shook her head. “He backed me up against the shed when I told him I didn’t want to go out with him. He wouldn’t let me go. I tried to knee him in the balls, and he slammed my head against the door.”

Hot rage slid through my veins at the image Shay painted. But I forced my hands to remain gentle as I moved them to the back of her head, feeling for injuries. As my fingers glanced over a rising bump, she winced. “Sorry. I just need to make sure you’re not bleeding.”

She nodded slowly, and I pulled my fingers away. No blood. “How bad does it hurt?” I asked.

“I’m okay. Just need some Tylenol.”

“Should I call the sheriff? EMTs?” Hunter asked.

“No!” Shay cut in immediately. “No, I’m fine. Really.” She gripped my forearm. “Please. No cops.”

My jaw worked. The sheriff or the EMTs would mean paperwork. A public trail that someone could easily find in a basic internet search and follow. “Okay. No cops. But maybe we should take you to the doctor just to make sure you’re all right.” At least doctors were protected by confidentiality.

“If I don’t feel better tomorrow, I’ll go.”

I wanted to take her now, but I didn’t want to push, either. “Then you have to stay in the main house tonight. I’ll wake you up every couple of hours just in case you have a concussion.”

Shay pursed her lips but nodded. “Okay.”

Hunter intently watched the back and forth between us as if trying to figure out what the hell was going on. “I’m so sorry, Shay. This never should’ve happened. He’s a flirt, but we’ve never had an issue like this, I swear. He’s gone now, and he won’t be coming back.”

“Thank you,” she croaked. “But I don’t want you to lose someone you need.”