Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 98207 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 491(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 327(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98207 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 491(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 327(@300wpm)
“What’s going on?” I finally cave in and ask.
Before he can answer, Conor opens the front door. He ushers in a girl who someone obviously used as a punching bag, and a nervous tremor runs up my spine when I get a good look at her. It takes me a minute, but I recognize her as Mack’s friend. Scarlett.
Before I even get a chance to offer her some help and ask who the hell I’ve got to murder, Rory is at her side. His hands are twitching, and it’s obvious he wants to touch her, but he keeps himself in check. Barely.
“The doc is on his way,” he tells her. “Sasha can get you some clothes. Tell me what you need. A shower? Pain killers? Name it, sweetheart.”
She waves her hand at him dismissively and tries to smirk, but it’s obvious that it’s painful for her to even attempt it.
“Jaysus,” Rory mutters. “I’m going to torture the motherfuckers who did this to you.”
Scarlett tilts her chin up and puts on a brave face. She might be fooling the guys, but I recognize the exhaustion in her eyes. It’s the same expression I wore on my face every day that I had to deal with Blaine.
“Just go, Rory,” she tells him. “I’ll be fine. Or maybe not. I guess whatever you decide being that you took the choice from me.”
“It’s for your protection,” he tells her in a soft voice.
His fingers brush over her arm and she shrugs him off, her eyes meeting mine.
“Would you mind giving me a hand?” she asks. “I need to get out of these clothes. And a shower does sound good.”
“Of course.”
I walk over and join her and Rory frowns when I lead her away from him. He’s wearing a helpless expression on his face, but it doesn’t last long. It’s quickly replaced by determination. It doesn’t surprise me in the least. These guys live by a code, and I don’t feel the slightest bit sorry for whoever’s about to befall their wrath tonight.
I help Scarlett into the bathroom and out of her mangled dress. Her entire body is covered in bruises, and there are some deep cuts across her arms and chest. I know it’s a stupid question, but it’s the first one out of my mouth anyway.
“Jesus, honey, are you okay?”
She tries to shrug, but winces again. “I’ve been through worse.”
“God,” I mutter as I walk to the shower and turn it on for her. “I’d kill them myself if I could.”
“Looks like we’ve got a few Irishmen on the job already,” Scarlett quips. “Although I suspect they have ulterior motives.”
“What do you mean?”
She blinks at me, and doesn’t even try to bullshit me, which is nice for a change. “It’s you they’re after, dollface.”
“What?”
I reach for the counter to keep my balance. “How do you know that?”
“Because I was in your old apartment,” she says. “And they were grilling me about you.”
“Oh my god.” I throw a hand over my mouth and barely make it to the toilet before I vomit.
Scarlett just watches like she sees this sort of thing every day. She’s so blunt that I don’t really know what to make of her.
“Sorry,” I groan.
“Pregnant?” she asks.
My eyes widen, and she shakes her head. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to tell anyone. Just like I wouldn’t tell those dickheads anything about you. Not that I know anything, anyway.”
“I didn’t know how bad it was,” I admit. “I just thought I had to stay off the streets and out of the club and I’d be okay. But now they’re torturing people, because of me?”
“It’s not because of you,” she tells me. “But you already know that. Doll, the quicker you learn that women are nothing but pawns in this male dominated world, the better off you’ll be.”
“Trust me,” I tell her as I wipe my face. “I’m already very much aware of that.”
Chapter Thirty-Five
Sasha
By the time Ronan gets home, Scarlett is passed out on the sofa. I was admittedly drifting off too, unable to fight the exhaustion of the night any longer. But Rory was even more antsy than usual. Especially after he heard Scarlett tell the doc she needed a plan B pill.
Ronan walks right up to me and barely acknowledges Rory, except to say, “I saved one for you.”
Rory is up and out of the door like his pants are on fire, and I tell myself I don’t even want to know.
Ronan collapses beside me on the sofa and pulls me into his lap. He’s got Jameson on his breath as he kisses my face and smooths his large palms over my hair. Pretty soon, he’s made short work of my shorts and tee shirt, and he’s carrying me down the hall to his bedroom.
He fucks me like crazy into the bed and then collapses beside me when we’ve both finished. My hair falls over his chest and he plays with it, his gaze quiet and thoughtful.