Something isn’t right.

That is the first thing that popped into Lynx’s mind when he was doing work, making him freeze. He has always been an instinctual person and it comes with perks. It also comes with its flaws, but he doesn’t worry so much about that at this point.

But something tells him that he needs to check on Cory. Rising to his feet, he makes his way out of his office, noticing the thick tension in the room and how people are acting a bit frantic. Lynx sees Vex standing there, his arms folded across his chest, and he is looking very smug along with Lynx’s ex fuck buddy, Kai.

What is going on here?

As if they know that Lynx is here, both of them look up and the guilty expression on their faces is enough to raise the alarm bells in his mind. He knows due to personal and professional reasons, these two do not like Cory and wouldn’t care if anything happened to them.

“What is going on?” Lynx asks them, knowing he is pissed off already, “where is he?”

He doesn’t need to tell them who he is referring to.

“He is tending to a VIP section.” Vex murmurs, tilting his chin up as he thinks he is going to be able to defy his own boss, “he is doing his duty, sir. It’s getting a little rough, but he can handle-“

Before Vex could finish that sentence, Lynx’s fist connected with his face, making Vex slam against the wall. Lynx didn’t care, barreling past them because he knew now precisely what situation Vex had put Cory in. Lynx should have known that Vex would be a terrible piece of shit because he has the hots for Kai who only wants Lynx’s attention. 

Lynx isn’t giving it to anybody though.

Only one.

Finding the right section, his men are following close behind, knowing what is going to come next. Finding the right room, Lynx barges through the doors, livid that they were locked. The room is filled with men who suddenly stop laughing, Lynx’s eyes roaming around as he is trying to spot Cory.

When he sees one of the men on top of an obviously struggling person, Lynx moves into action. Moving forward, he grabs the man by the back of his neck and forcibly rips him off of Cory. Lynx freezes though when he sees Cory’s bruising cheek, busted lip, and the bruises on his arms, exposed belly, thighs, and neck. 

A fury wells inside of Lynx, making him snap. 

Throwing the piece of shit against the wall, he doesn’t stop. Every hit that connected to the man’s face made Lynx feel good, holding nothing back. He doesn’t want to stop, practically seeing red as all he can think about is how Cory shivered with fear and the tears were welling in his eyes.

Before Lynx could hit the bastard again, someone latches onto his arm, “please, stop!”

Lynx freezes, his head snapping up and he realizes that Cory is holding onto him. Lynx might have shook Cory off to finish the job but by the way that Cory is shivering and holding on, Lynx couldn’t bring himself to do it.

Lynx drops the unconscious bastard, exhaling slowly as he quickly rises to his feet. Quite easily, he picks Cory up, cradling Cory’s small frame in his arms before he marches out of there. As he passes by Vex, he comes to a halt, staring down the bastard who was going to let this happen to the one person that Lynx cares about.

“Take that bastard to the dungeon if you want to get out of this alive.” Lynx growls, letting Vex know not to test him.

Before Vex could say or do anything, Lynx is already walking off, holding Cory as close as possible. He hates feeling Cory’s trembling frame, his stomach churning in knots because he feels helpless. He didn’t know that something like this would happen because everyone knows that Cory is Lynx’s and to touch him would be a death sentence.

Heading into his office, he locks the door behind him before carrying Cory over to the couch. Although Cory didn’t want to let go, Lynx made him so he could get everything to clean Cory up. As he wiped away the blood and grime, the bruises on Cory’s body made him sick to his stomach.

“I’m so sorry.” Lynx apologizes softly, feeling like he had failed, “that should have never happened.”

Cory sniffles, a sight that does something to Lynx’s heart although he wouldn’t admit it.

After cleaning Cory up, Lynx helps Cory out of the tattered clothes, leaving him in nothing but a pair of lacy underwear that leaves nothing to the imagination. Ignoring the desire building inside of him, Lynx removes his own shirt, helping put it on Cory that way Cory would feel a bit more comfortable.

Lynx has to ignore the fact that he notices how Cory is looking over his toned upper body and it is pretty obvious that he likes what he sees. Worried that he might end up pushing it too much, Lynx rises to his feet to leave and deal with a bastard, but Cory reaches out, snatching Lynx’s hand before he can even move.

“Stay with me.” Cory whispers in that soft tone that does something to Lynx’s heart.

Lynx should say no, knowing already that this sort of predicament can lead to things that Lynx can’t do. But because the couch is big enough, Lynx pushes everything aside and crawls onto the couch with Cory. 

Pulling Cory close, Cory nuzzles his way into Lynx’s chest, feeling safe and content. Lynx allows this, just keeping his arms around Cory, knowing precisely what he is going to do to the fucker the minute he is out of here.