Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 75144 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75144 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
“Thank you,” I hear Dad say. “I owe you.”
With wide eyes and terror still coursing through my veins, I backpeddle while staring up at the man dressed in black. He crouches down by me, and wrapping an arm around my waist, he yanks me to his body as he rises to his feet.
Then Dad’s words register, and realizing he sent this man to save me, makes a relieved sob burst over my lips.
Gripping hold of my rescuer’s shoulders, I feel the strength in his body as he begins to run toward the window. I’m nothing but a rag doll pressed to his chest, and too late, I realize what he plans to do.
Throwing my arms around his neck, I shriek, “Nooooo!” Then the word turns into a scream when he leaps out of the office and into the cold night air.
God!!!!
The wind whips around us, and I make the mistake of opening my eyes and glancing down.
Oh shitttttt!
Seeing the ground rush toward us has my stomach spinning and my mouth growing dry. My eyes widen even more, and another shriek tears loose from me before the wind rips it away.
Suddenly, we slow down drastically, and the second my feet touch Mother Earth, he lets go of me, and I crumble to the ground. Another relieved sob bursts from me while I sit stunned out of my mind on the hard ground.
Completely breathless, I tip my head back and stare up at the high rise before watching as my rescuer unlatches the rope from the harness he’s wearing. He quickly takes off the harness, then grabbing my arm, he hauls me back to my feet.
My mind struggles to comprehend everything that’s happened since I opened my eyes in the office.
For a moment, my rescuer’s eyes burn up and down my body, and it’s only then I become aware of every inch of exposed skin and the tattered lace of my dress.
His eyes lock on my bare feet, and the next moment, he grabs hold of my hips, and for the second time today, I’m hauled over a shoulder.
When he starts to run away from the building, I’m jostled like crazy. Everywhere I was beaten begins to pulse with pain, and my head spins as dizziness threatens to overwhelm me.
After a few torturous minutes, I’m tugged away from his shoulder, and when my feet touch gravel, my body collapses against his muscled one.
The scent of his cologne hits my face. Something fresh, laced with spices and woods, blends with his sweat. It’s easily the most enticing scent I’ve ever smelled, and I’ll never forget it.
He moves, his chest pressing into me as he opens a car door, and I notice the top of my head doesn’t even reach his jaw.
He’s tall, strong, and… mysterious, dangerous, courageous. God, the list is endless. He’s super-human.
I’m shoved into a passenger seat before the door’s slammed shut. As my eyes follow his dark figure around the front of the car, I wonder who he is.
He yanks the driver’s door open, and as he slides behind the steering wheel, I feel a weird sense of safety.
I feel completely safe with this stranger.
When he starts the engine, my head falls back against the headrest. I stare at the visible part of his face, his eyebrows dark blond and his eyes piercing blue.
Like ice.
My eyelashes begin to grow too heavy to keep open, and as they slowly close, I see tiny lines peeking from beneath the bandana.
“Thank you,” I manage to whisper right before I lose consciousness.
Chapter 3
DOMINIK
Following Devlin through the foyer of his mansion, which is situated on the outskirts of Dublin, movement catches my eye. I notice his younger daughter standing at the top of the staircase, her eyes tracking us.
Unlike her older sister, she has ginger hair.
My thoughts turn to Grace, who was immediately taken to the hospital after I delivered her to her father last night.
I haven’t bothered asking how she’s doing. I did my part in saving the woman, and now it’s time for Devlin to do his part.
We walk into his office, and when he gestures at a chair, I unbutton my suit jacket and take a seat.
“I know I’ve already said it, but thank you for saving Grace. Luckily, nothing is broken, and she’s in her bedroom recovering,” he gives me the unnecessary information as he sits down behind the desk. His eyes lock with mine before he continues, “The bratva is becoming a problem we can’t ignore.”
“I know,” I mutter. I relax back in the brown leather armchair, and for a long moment, I stare at my business associate.
We’re in the same line of business, and instead of working against each other, we’ve learned to co-exist. He controls the market for small arms and machine guns while I deal in explosives.
When he called to let me know the bratva took one of his daughters, I didn’t have much of a choice but to help. Luckily, I was in London for a deal with a new client, or else I wouldn’t have made it in time.