Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 118780 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 594(@200wpm)___ 475(@250wpm)___ 396(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 118780 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 594(@200wpm)___ 475(@250wpm)___ 396(@300wpm)
“One slice and you’ll watch him bleed out.”
A tremor takes over, my hands unsteady with the gun.
Black spots fill my vision as the predicament comes to light.
If Ford dies, I’ll never recover.
Right then, the room quakes. An explosion knocks me down and gunshots ring out.
Kent rocks back, a kaleidoscope of red bursting on his chest before he collapses. The third man is next, crumbling in a heap to the floor. Shouts boom, men flood the room, but all I can see is Ford being lowered to the ground.
A hand lands on my arm, and I let out another blood-curdling scream.
Max’s face comes into view, his kind eyes silencing me. “It’s okay, Rowan. We’re here.”
Max is here! Ford mentioned he was in town for a few days. He’s here to save us. Which means all the guys are here.
“You’re safe.”
“Ford! Talon… they’re hurt badly. Please help them.”
“We have them.” He soothes his hand over my head. “Give me the gun, sweetheart.”
I shove it at him carelessly, my skin searing.
“Are you hurt?”
I shake my head.
“Why do you have a bruising eye?”
“Kent slapped me, but that was it.”
The kindness in his eyes goes ferocious, and he glances over his shoulder. “Get me some ice.”
There’s movement behind him, but I’m drawn to Ace handing Ford his gun. Ford cocks his arm, raises the weapon…
Max ducks into my line of sight as the shot blasts.
If Kent wasn’t already dead, he is now.
“Get me to Ford,” I plead, clawing to get up.
“Give it a minute, honey. Let Ace take care of him.”
“He needs me.”
“Yes, sweetheart, he does. It’ll just be a minute.” The softness of his voice is little consolation to the gravity of the situation.
To my horror, a long, dramatic wail escapes, and I dissolve into him. He holds me tight, soothingly rubbing my back as all the fight and fear seep out. I’m jostled to the side, and the tears come in an avalanche when Ford’s body folds around mine.
“Baby, it’s over.” He plants small kisses along my temple.
I turn into him and peer up at his face. His beautiful face, wiped clean of blood but covered in bruises and cuts.
“He was going to kill you.”
“Take a lot more than that motherfucker to knock me off.”
“The knife… the weapons… all…”
“Shh, let it go.”
The tears won’t stop falling faster and clouding my vision until I’m gasping for breath.
“We need a medic,” Ford yells, and a man in a Hayes Security jacket appears at our side.
“Ma’am, I need to check you out.”
“No.” I cling to Ford. “I’m fine. My fiancé needs medical attention.”
Ford’s lip curves at one side, splitting the skin where he was beaten. I wipe away the dribble of blood, cupping his jaw tenderly.
“Fuck, Hollywood, you got all the fun.”
I whirl my head to the side, where Talon is being assisted into the room by Major. The tears come again, seeing him in the light.
They didn’t only beat the shit out of him, they tortured him. Small burn marks cover his chest and shoulders. Like Ford, they have wiped his face clean, but the damage is visible.
Major helps him to us. He stares down at the man I shot, who is groaning.
In a flash, Talon’s boot comes down on his chest and the man shrieks in torture.
“I should have killed him,” I whisper to no one in particular.
Ford’s hold tightens, and Talon’s eyes come to mine. Respect and pride bore into me.
“Bad asses don’t cry, Hollywood.”
The tears keep streaming, but I can’t stop the grin that spreads across my lips.
35
FORD
I wake and immediately know the bed is empty. My eyes slowly crack open and the throbbing starts.
“Shit,” I grumble, swinging my feet to the floor.
Dizziness takes over and pain radiates from my skull to my toes. I sway as a wave of nausea hits.
The blinds are closed, but my internal alarm tells me it’s way past daylight.
“Want some help?”
Ace’s dark shadow steps closer.
“How long have I been out?”
“Few hours.”
“Why are you here?”
“You and Talon will be lucky to take a piss alone for a month.”
“That bad?”
“Didn’t think she had it in her, but Rowan has grit.”
I crack a grin, instantly regretting it.
“Man, maybe you should have stayed in the hospital.”
“They kept Talon; they didn’t need me, too.”
“Obstinate ass.”
“Any word?”
“He’s still out. Mark and April got to the hospital about five a.m.”
This was right after we left.
James, Robbie, and the Hayes Security team had their own medical crew, who assessed us at the house. They declared Rowan fine. I disagreed, the yellow and purple bruise setting around her eye and cheek.
They transferred us to the hospital in high-tech medic vehicles.
My wounds were cleaned, sutured, and glued in transport. Staff was waiting for us at the ER entrance, whisking Talon to the Orthopedic Surgeon and Pulmonary Specialist who were ready.
They stabilized his lung, got him out of pain, then set his arm.