Total pages in book: 52
Estimated words: 49968 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49968 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
I rushed toward him, kicking him directly in the face when he looked up, shocked. He fell backward onto the dirty floor of the garage. Roman and Terry dragged him away, making sure he didn’t get up. Bending over Vi, I was horrified to see her injuries. Her clothes were torn, bruising already appearing on her legs and arms. Dark fingerprints were embedded into the delicate skin of her throat. When I lifted her head, there was blood on my fingers. Red painted my vision, matching her injuries. She cried out softly when I lifted her. Roman already had a car waiting, and he knew what I meant when I told him Morton was mine. Roman could have some time with him first, but I got the pleasure of seeing his life drain from his eyes. He would pay for every bruise, every mark on Vi’s skin.
At the hospital, I found it hard to release her from my arms. She had been in and out on the journey, whimpering in pain at times, her anguish feeding my anger. Her blood seeped through my fingers and ran down my arm. But I kept my temper. My fury was not directed at her, but at myself and Morton. I said things I hadn’t meant to keep her away from me, and the thought of her dying, thinking I didn’t care, was eating at me. I had been a total asshole, and I knew without a doubt Vi would tell me my words hurt her more than what Morton had done to her. I regretted every word that had come from my mouth earlier. Every single one was a lie, shouted to cover up my fear of loving her.
I swore I would rectify that as soon as she woke up.
Dr. Sims rushed her into an exam room, and I stood in the hall, lost and in agony.
I had never experienced fear like this. My chest felt like it was being crushed by the pain. I couldn’t bear the thought of the terror she must have felt, being attacked. The pain she went through. The pain she was going to go through to heal. But she wasn’t going to go through it on her own.
I had let her down once, and I wasn’t going to do it again.
And I was going to make sure the man who hurt her would never have the chance to do it again. Come morning, she would be safe with me, and he would no longer exist.
Until then, he would wish he were dead.
I would make sure of it.
VI
I woke up, the room around me dim and unfamiliar. My head throbbed, my body ached, and my throat felt as if it was on fire. I lifted my head, the pain making me whimper. A man in the corner came forward, and I was confused, the face not the one I expected to see.
“Roman?” I managed to get out of my painful throat.
He frowned and nodded, lifting the water glass to my lips. It hurt to swallow, but I got some of the cool liquid down. He studied me, shaking his head and pressing the call button. I was so bewildered—feeling dazed and unsure. And the pain was overwhelming. A white-coated man came in, introducing himself as Dr. Sims. He asked me some questions. My name. The date. The time of day. I was a little fuzzy on that one, but I guessed night. He pointed to Roman and asked me to identify him. “Roman the Warrior,” I whispered. Aldo often called him that, saying he was constantly at war with something or someone, always fighting for what he wanted or believed in.
It sort of suited him.
Roman grunted, and Dr. Sims smiled. “Close enough.”
He explained my injuries, but I had trouble following him. I heard the words concussion and trauma. Contusions and bruising. Pain meds and rest. I could only nod. His voice drifted off, and I realized I had dozed. I blinked, meeting Roman’s steady green gaze.
I didn’t understand why he was here. Where was Aldo? My heartbeat picked up. Had he left me? Or, worse, was he hurt?
I grabbed at Roman’s arm. “Aldo,” was all I could say.
I had heard employees talk about Roman. Cold. Removed. Stern. Disciplined. Scary. All were words used to describe him. But his gaze was kind as he patted my hand. “Aldo is fine. The doctor didn’t expect you to wake up for a few more hours. Aldo, ah, had some unfinished business to take care of. He left me with you to make sure you were watched over and, in case you woke up, saw a friendly face.” He grinned widely, showing off his teeth, trying to be silly. “Is that friendly enough?”
I had to smile at his attempt. Comedy was not his forte.