“It’s just me, baby. We’re going to get you out of here,” I whisper, pulling her behind the desk when footsteps start heading our way, then I force her under it. “Stay,” I order quietly. Her fear-filled eyes meet mine as she nods. After pushing the rolling chair in front of her, I move to the door and I steal a glance around the corner, finding Nico with his gun raised and pointed at Troy who is standing with his hands above his head.

“Look. I didn’t do anything, this was all a mistake,” Troy says.

If I knew I wouldn’t be arrested and have to spend time away from Willow, I’d put a bullet between his eyes. Stepping out into the hall with my gun out in front of me I point it at the guy.

“How is she?” Nico asks as he quickly glances my way.

“Alive.” I tell him and he nods then orders Troy to his knees.

“Please,” Troy begs, looking between Nico and me. “Let me explain things.”

“You can explain to the judge.” Nico tosses me a pair of cuffs and I catch them midair.

Going to Troy, I shove him between the shoulders forcing him to fall face first into the tile floor, then I put a knee in his back and slip the cuffs on him.

“I think he killed Carly.” I hear Willow whisper and my head jerks back. Seeing her up gives me relief, but I’m still terrified by the amount of blood on her face, in her hair and down the front of the dress she has on.

“I—” She wraps her arms around her middle and shakes her head. “I found some notes that someone left Carly, that she had put in her chest.” Her eyes go to him, and she shivers. “I think he killed her.”

“She doesn’t know shit,” Troy yells.

Willow flinches.

I push his face into the cold ground.

“We’ll get that sorted out, Mouse. Please just go wait for me to come to you.” I whisper, my throat tight. I can’t stand having her this close to him after he put his hands on her.

“You take her out,” Nico says, and I look at him. “Get her to the ambulance, I’ll deal with him.”

With a jerk of my chin, I push away from Troy, then hand Nico my gun, watching him place it in the back of his jeans before I prowl toward Willow and scoop her up into my arms. I hold her against my chest and walk with her to the door, then use my shoulder to push it open. As I step out into the cold air, chaos erupts. Then Miles and Tucker jog toward me yelling orders for everyone to stand down.

“You couldn’t fucking help yourself,” Miles growls, touching his hand to Willow’s face, turning it first one way then the other.

“Nico’s inside, he has Troy detained,” I tell them, and Tucker curses before turning around and heading back toward the building.