Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 96742 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96742 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
“You fucking whore,” he shouts. I try to crawl away, but he grabs my ankle and drags me back as my fingertips dig into the concrete, meaningless groans leaking from my mouth.
I’m going to die right now.
The thug points a gun at my face and he looks like he wants to use it.
I’m going to die, and there’s nothing I can do it stop it. I open my mouth and raise my hands, but what can I say? The thug stares hate at me, hate and loathing. He despises me for no reason at all. There’s nothing rational in those eyes. Nothing that will respond to my pleading.
Another car pulls up. The thug looks up and his face pales. “Oh, fucking shit,” he says, backing away.
Tires scream and the doors open.
I blink rapidly as Evander runs over, and the thug tries to raise his gun, but Evander knocks his hand aside and punches him hard in the face. The thug goes down and Evander’s on him, kneeing him in the side, wrenching the weapon from his hand.
Christopher peels out, his car fishtailing as he speeds away.
“Camille,” Evander growls as Lycus holds down the thug, a gun pressed to the big guy’s face, and more soldiers pour out from the diner. They gather around looking shocked as Evander pulls me into his arms. “Camille, how bad are you hurt?”
“I’m okay,” I say, staring into his face. “I’m okay.” Fat tears roll down my cheeks, mingling with the blood from my scalp.
Chapter 30
Evander
She looks so small in that enormous bed as Dr. Kalivas checks her over. The Greek doctor is an old friend of the Kazan family, but I can’t stop myself from hovering closely, making sure Camille is completely safe.
“She’ll be okay,” the old doctor says and gives me a tired smile. “All she needs is rest.”
“Are you sure? There’s no head injury? No concussion?”
“No, nothing like that, only minor lacerations. She’ll bruise, but I’ve patched the minor cuts. She’ll be okay.”
Relief floods me. “Thank you, doctor.”
He nods and leaves the room. Lycus will pay him on the way out.
For now, I have eyes only for Camille.
She smiles at me, sitting up straight in bed, her hands folded in her lap. “I’ll be honest, I thought the wedding certificate signing would be the most eventful part of today.”
I laugh softly then sit on the edge of the bed. I put my hand on her leg as I stare into her eyes, my stomach a churning mess of desire and anxiety. “The doctor says you’re okay.”
“He’s right, Evander, I’m fine.” Her smile is controlled. There’s something behind that expression, something she’s hiding. “You don’t need to worry.”
“I am worried, asteraki mu.” My fingers dig into her flesh as my jaw tightens. “My own men tried to hurt you.”
“You didn’t know. You couldn’t have seen that would happen.”
“But I did,” I say through my teeth, barely restraining the rage that coils in my heart. “There’s a reason I wanted to marry you as soon as possible. While you’re not my wife, my enemies might see you as fair game. Today proved my point.”
“Will it stop though? Once we’ve signed some papers?”
I slowly nod. “It will because I am going to root out the traitors and kill them.”
Her eyes widen. “Evander—”
“I don’t want to hear any softness. There will be no mercy for anyone that touched you.”
“You already have the guy that did it.”
“Hector.” I spit the name like sour milk. “He will suffer, I promise you that.”
“Evander.” She leans forward and puts a hand on my cheek. I stare into her eyes, willing her to understand how important this is. I told her I’d keep her safe, but I already broke that promise. If I can’t get revenge for my own woman, my fiancée, my wife, how the fuck can I be trusted to manage the entire Kazan crime syndicate?
“There’s too much at stake now, asteraki mu. I made my decision when I brought you into my life. I will not tolerate dissent in my own ranks. I cannot afford weakness.”
“Do what you have to do.” She chews her lip, looking uncomfortable. “But don’t do it for me. I don’t want any blood on my hands.”
“There’s no blood on you. Only on me. Always on me.”
Her hand slips away as she leans back against the headboard. “I saw Christopher. In the car that got away.”
I let out a rough grunt. “Why did you wait to tell me?”
“You didn’t exactly give me a chance to tell you my side of the story. One second, I’m almost getting killed, and the next you’re barking orders and dragging me back to the house.”
“Why was he there?”
“The guy—Hector—he said he wanted to send me back where I belong. I think he was giving me back to Christopher.”
The implication makes my blood boil. My own soldier was working against our family, directly helping an enemy Capo, all under my own fucking nose.