Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 73724 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 369(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73724 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 369(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
When the last motherfucker falls, I trudge through the blood and bodies to get to where Ronnie is lying on a filthy single bed.
Slinging the machine gun over my shoulder, I use a tattered sheet and wrap it around her body. Lifting my baby sister's lifeless body into my arms, I turn to leave when more men pour into the room.
With Ronnie in my arms, I can’t get to my gun quick enough. They’ll kill me before I manage to set her down.
One of them lets out a whistle while he looks at the dead bodies, then he asks, “You did all of this on your own?”
When I only stare at him, he slowly lifts his arms in a sign of peace. “We’ve come for one of our women who were taken.” His eyes touch on Ronnie. “Yours?”
I nod.
His features tighten, and his eyes tear up. “I’m sorry for your loss.” He shakes his head. “That’s brutal, man.”
I know.
He stares at me for a moment, then asks, “What are you going to do?”
I shake my head, unable to force a word past the pain that’s devouring me alive.
“My name is Santiago. You’re welcome to come with me. I have a safe place nearby.”
“Knight?”
The sound of Cassia’s voice drags me out of the darkness, and I shake my head lightly.
When I take in our surroundings, it’s to notice I’ve stopped the golf cart outside the hospital.
Shit, I zoned out while driving.
Turning my head, I look at Cassia and see a worried expression on her way too pale face.
“Are you okay?” she asks.
Climbing out of the cart, I nod. I walk around the front and reach the passenger side as she gets out. I bend my knees and scoop her into my arms.
“I can walk,” she argues with a weak voice.
“No, you can’t,” I mutter. “You took four bullets, in case you forgot.”
I expect her to argue more, but instead, I feel the side of her head press against my shoulder. Glancing down, it’s to see the stubborn woman has passed out again.
“You’re too proud for your own good,” I grumble under my breath.
Jasmine, the nurse, is the first to notice us, her eyes widening as she exclaims, “Is she okay?”
“Of course not.” I stalk to Cassia’s room and place her on the neat bed. When the nurse comes rushing into the room to hook Cassia up to an IV again, I leave to get a blanket from the storage room.
I grab the first one I lay eyes on, spin around, and head back to Cassia. Entering the hospital room, it’s to see the nurse getting ready to insert the IV into the inside of Cassia’s forearm. The woman only shoved up the fabric of the jacket.
“Wait,” I snap harshly.
Jasmine freezes, her eyes flying to me and fear ghosting over her features.
I pull Cassia up into a sitting position and take off the jacket before I gently lay her down again.
“Now you can put in the IV,” I mutter while I move to the foot of the bed. I pull the zippers down on her boots and take them off before setting them on the floor.
The instant Jasmine is done putting in the IV, she checks Cassia’s vitals. While she makes notes on the chart at the foot of the bed, I adjust the sheet over Cassia. When I drape the blanket over her and tuck it in at her sides, her eyes open.
Not noticing Cassia has regained consciousness, Jasmine leaves the room.
I check her forearm to make sure the IV was inserted correctly, then meet Cassia’s eyes.
She gives me a questioning look, which I ignore. I walk to the window that looks out into the hallway and glance into the room where Eleni used to lie. The bed has been made up with fresh sheets.
“Why won’t you leave?” she asks.
“I already answered you.”
I lift a hand and rub the pads of my fingers over the scruff on my jaw.
“Okay,” she murmurs. A few seconds later, she asks, “Why do you want to protect me?”
A frown forms on my forehead.
I don’t really know. There’s a weird pull that keeps me by her side, and I know I’ll regret it if I walk away and she’s killed.
Or maybe it’s because I finally have the chance to save someone.
I’ve quickly learned that Cassia is one hell of a determined woman, and I know I have to give her an answer.
Letting out a sigh, I turn around and walk to the side of the bed. I lock eyes with her and stare until her irises start to darken.
“Do you know your eyes turn dark when you’re scared?”
She frowns and glances away.
“You fool everyone else with the badass act, but I see right through it. You’re fucking terrified and in over your head.”
Her gaze snaps back to mine, anger tightening her features.