Total pages in book: 16
Estimated words: 14994 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 75(@200wpm)___ 60(@250wpm)___ 50(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 14994 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 75(@200wpm)___ 60(@250wpm)___ 50(@300wpm)
“I’ve got her,” Damien said, leaning in and lifting me out of the car.
“I want a shower,” I croaked.
Damien quickly walked to his room, and he stripped me before stepping in with me. The shower floor turned red, but Damien didn’t even flinch. He just washed my hair and thoroughly bathed me before backing me up against the shower wall, his lips covering mine.
“No one will fucking touch you again,” he growled.
Tears streamed down my cheeks as I rose on my toes to mold our lips together again. I didn’t want to think anymore.
I just wanted Damien to make me forget that this fucking nightmare had ever happened.
7
I watched as Damien moved around his kitchen, making me a cup of hot chocolate. He wasn’t wearing a shirt, and his back was tense, the muscles sort of bunched together. Miles was sitting at the bar nursing a dark-colored drink, his mouth set in a grim line.
He hadn’t left after Damien and I had gotten here. Something bad was happening; of that, I was sure.
“What I’m about to tell you,” Damien said after he set the steaming mug of hot chocolate down in front of me, “can’t be told to anyone else, Hayley. I can’t stress that enough.”
Swallowing thickly, I nodded my head. He blew out a soft breath and took the seat across from me. “I’m a leader of an organized crime group,” he started. My blood chilled. “I hate being called a gang—don’t feel like it’s the right term. I work with very few people—only five, to be exact. I don’t allow people into my inner circle easily.”
I wrapped my hands around the hot mug, using it to ground myself.
I had gotten caught up with a fucking criminal.
“What kind of . . . work do you do?” I finally asked, thankful that my voice didn’t tremble.
“We run guns and drugs,” Damien explained. “Sometimes, I take on contract hits.”
My hands tightened around the cup. My fingers were hot—burning—but I didn’t know what else to do.
“Hits?” I squeaked.
Miles cleared his throat. “Kill people for money, Hayley,” Miles explained.
I kept my eyes focused on Damien. “Is that why you came home bloody that time?”
Damien nodded, his eyes staying solidly connected with mine. “Yes. That’s why.”
I looked down at my hot chocolate. I knew he’d hurt someone—possibly killed someone that night. But yet, I was still here. I hadn’t even tried to give myself the chance to run. I’d willingly fallen into him.
Sure, I used the excuse that if he had to chase me, shit would be worse, but somehow in my gut, I knew Damien would never truly hurt me.
Sure, he might be a grade-A asshole most days, but in my gut, I knew I was safe with Damien. I had to be pretty fucked in the head.
“Darlin’,” I slowly looked up at Damien. He reached across the table and pried my hands off the mug of hot chocolate, frowning when he felt how warm they were, “I’ll never hurt you,” he swore. “I’ll always take care of you. But I’m not a good guy. I need you to understand that.”
I blew out a soft breath and shook my head. “I never thought for one second that you were a good guy, Damien.”
He shot me a rare grin that melted my heart. He gently squeezed my fingers. “Come on. You need some sleep, and honest to fuck, so do I.”
He got up, and with my hand in his and a nod thrown Miles’s way, he led me out of the kitchen to his room where we actually went to sleep, my head resting on his bare chest, his arms wrapped tightly around me.
When I woke up the next morning, Damien was stepping into the bedroom. Sweat was glistening on his skin, and he had a towel draped around his neck.
He looked fucking delicious.
“You’re up early,” he noted.
I looked at the alarm clock on his nightstand and sighed. “I have class.”
He instantly shook his head. “No. You’re not going to class today.”
I gaped at him. “What? Why?” I demanded. I needed to go to class today. I had a fucking exam! If I missed that exam, I would fail. It would destroy my GPA.
He shot me an annoyed look. “It’s too dangerous, Hayley. Whoever was shooting at us saw you. No doubt about that in my mind. Wouldn’t take them long to find you in class where I can’t fucking protect you.” His blue eyes glittered dangerously as he turned to face me from the bathroom, the towel now discarded. “You were kidnapped once. I barely saved you in time. I won’t be taking second chances.”
“But—”
“Conversation over,” he told me, striding further into the bathroom.
I jumped out of bed. “Like hell it is!” I snapped at his back. He swung back around to face me. “I have an exam today, Damien!”