Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 38835 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 194(@200wpm)___ 155(@250wpm)___ 129(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38835 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 194(@200wpm)___ 155(@250wpm)___ 129(@300wpm)
Her eyes snapped open, wide on mine in the mirror. Her fear tore at my heart, the shredding pain far more intense than the lingering throb in my head.
“Good girl,” I growled, struggling to gentle my voice. “Eyes on me.”
It seemed to take an eternity to reach the safe haven of Duarte’s home, but in reality, I managed the journey in minutes. No one seemed to pursue us; I hoped I’d killed all of the bastards who’d ambushed our SUV. There hadn’t been many of them in the van. That’d been their fucking mistake to think they could take me on with only three men.
I swerved when I reached the high rise, making sure that the side door was aligned with the front entrance—Evelyn would be shielded by the van when I got her out of the vehicle.
Four armed men burst out of the bulletproof glass doors, their guns drawn. I held up my hands in a show of surrender, waiting three seconds for them to recognize me. Their weapons lowered as they registered that I was a friend, not a threat.
As soon as my life was no longer in immediate danger, I rushed to Evelyn.
“Cover us,” I barked at the men as I rounded the van to wrench open the sliding door.
Evelyn fumbled at her seatbelt, keen to get into the safety of my waiting arms. Instinctively, she sought my protection. Even as fear clung to my heart with black claws, my chest warmed at the knowledge that she trusted me so implicitly. The desperation that tightened her lovely eyes soothed the beast in me.
That desperation was for me.
She managed to get free of the seatbelt and flung herself against my chest. I gathered her up in my arms and rushed her into the building, not slowing even when the bulletproof door closed behind us.
“Call the doctor,” I snapped at the men who flanked us. “And make sure no one followed us.”
“What’s happening?” one of the guards demanded as another called for backup in rapid-fire Spanish.
“Los Zetas,” I growled in response, punching the button for the elevator. In the seconds it took for the damn thing to arrive, I bit out, “They ambushed us on our way to the airport. Call Duarte and tell him what happened.”
“He’ll want to talk to you.”
“I need the doctor first,” I countered sharply as I stepped into the elevator. “Evelyn was hurt.”
“I’m okay,” she said in a shaky whisper as the silver doors slid closed, cutting us off from the guards and their questions. “You’re the one who’s bleeding, Massimo.”
Her eyes were dark with panic, and she brushed her fingers over my cheek. Red painted her porcelain skin.
Shit. My brow continued to throb, but lingering adrenaline kept the discomfort from becoming a distraction.
I hated the fear that pinched her delicate features, hated the sight of blood marring her perfection.
Better my blood than hers. I would gladly bleed for her; I’d willingly shed a lot more blood if it meant she was unharmed.
We reached the safety of the suite, and I rushed her into the bedroom before carefully laying her down on the bed, ensuring that her back was propped against the pillows.
My hands roved over her body, barely touching her as I assessed her for injuries. I suppressed the impulse to tear off her pale blue, lightweight sundress to check her over.
I took a breath and reminded myself that the doctor would be here soon, and he would be more capable of assessing her health. In my feral mood, I might accidentally jar any injuries.
“They hurt you.” My voice was so gravelly with residual rage that it was barely human.
They’d tried to take her from me. They’d died far too quickly.
I became aware that blood had splattered my fists and forearms—the blood of my enemies. My chest swelled with savage satisfaction at the evidence of their deaths. They would never touch her again.
I took another breath, somewhat soothed at the sight of the gore that marked my skin. The brief concern that it might upset Evelyn melted away when I registered that her anxious gaze was fully focused on my face.
“Where is the doctor?” she demanded breathlessly. “How long will it take for him to see you?”
“I’m fine, dolcezza.” I tried to soothe her, stroking her hair back from her cheek. Her face was so pale that her fine dusting of freckles stood out in sharp relief.
“You’re not fine!” Her voice took on a higher pitch than usual, and her eyes gleamed with unshed tears. “You weren’t moving. All that blood…” Her terrified gaze raked over my face. “I thought you were…”
She trailed off, her throat working as though she couldn’t bring herself to finish the sentence.
I shushed her gently, placing my hand over her heart so that she could feel my presence. Calm settled over me. Fear for her wellbeing still fluttered at the back of my mind, but she needed me to be her rock right now. The sight of my concern would only upset her more.