Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 79052 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79052 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
“Raven, baby, it’s me. I got you. You’re safe,” I repeated over and over. I ran my hands over her, horrified at how cold she was. “Baby, open your eyes.”
I hauled her farther up and over my knees. I could hear shouting, shots being fired, running feet, and Marcus glanced behind him. “Go help him,” I yelled. “Don’t let him get away.”
I ran my hand over her head, fury mounting even higher at her injuries.
Raven’s eyes blinked open, the green hazy and filled with pain.
“I got you, baby. I’m here.”
A smile tugged on her lips. “I-I knew—you’d—come,” she mumbled, her voice low and raw.
I examined the chains holding her. “Search his pockets for keys,” I ordered into my earpiece.
I heard more commotion upstairs, gunshots, then silence.
“I’ll have you out in a few minutes, Raven. You’re safe now.”
“Andy?” she asked.
“Dead, I think.”
She shuddered, and I shrugged out of my coat, draping it around her and carefully tugging her close again.
“I’m taking you home, baby. You’re safe now,” I said, talking into her ear. “Everything is going to be fine now.” She made a small noise in the back of her throat.
I straightened and froze. A red dot was visible in the middle of her forehead. I followed the light. Andy was in the door, a gun in his hands, the laser sight pointed directly at Raven.
“She isn’t going anywhere. Neither are you.”
I observed him dispassionately, refusing to let him see my fear. “I beg to differ.”
“You’ll be begging, all right. I took out your friend fast, but you, I’m going to enjoy killing. You made me suffer, so I’ll let you suffer.” An evil grin spread over his face. “And she can watch.”
I narrowed my eyes, studying him. Without a disguise, I could see him fully. He was younger than his other personas. His hair was unkempt, his build slim. He was furious, his eyes crazed. He’d been shot, the blood running down his arm. His hands weren’t steady.
“Then aim your gun at me, asshole,” I replied.
“Move away from her, or I will kill her.”
“No, you won’t,” I said. “You’re obsessed with her. You won’t kill her.”
His laugh was high-pitched and grating. “I’ll be the one to decide that. I doubt you’ll risk it,” he said. He cocked the gun. “Now, move.”
I looked down. Raven’s eyelids were closed but not shut completely. I knew better than to think Julian and Marcus were dead. I simply needed to buy some time.
“Think you’re a big shot, aiming that gun at a defenseless woman?” I sneered. “You lazy, worthless piece of shit? Playing games, hiding under masks, and pretending to be different people? You call yourself a man?” I indicated Raven. “This is how you get a woman? Kidnap her? Brainwash her?” I shook my head. “She will never love you. No matter what you do.”
The tremor in his hands increased, and I knew he was losing both blood and patience. He swung the gun in my direction, the laser pointed at my heart. “Shut up.”
“Go on,” I urged. “Do it. You don’t have the balls.”
It happened all at once. He braced himself to shoot. I shifted just as Raven moved. She rolled and grabbed my gun from the ground beside her, aiming it blindly and pulling the trigger. Shock registered on Andy’s face as the bullet struck his knee. His arms flew up, his gun falling. He pirouetted, an ungraceful arc that spun him. Another gunshot sounded, and he fell to the ground, blood spurting from his chest. Raven collapsed onto the ground, my gun falling from her hand. Julian rushed in, Marcus on his heels.
“Keys,” I yelled. “I need keys.”
Marcus dug in Andy’s pockets, then hurried over, knelt beside me, and we lifted Raven’s hands, unlocking the metal cuffs. Red welts bloomed on her skin, the bruising already starting. Her neck matched, and her head and face showed signs of trauma. I was ill at the sight of her injuries. She stared blankly at the ceiling, not reacting.
“Egan, get here,” I snapped into the mic. “Drive right through the fence.”
“On my way.”
I met Marcus’s gaze as I lifted Raven back into my arms, wanting her off the cold ground.
“How is she going to get over this?” I murmured.
“With time and love,” he assured me. “She will.”
I shut my eyes as I gathered her close. “I have you, baby. You’re safe now.”
She didn’t respond.
There was a loud crash outside, and Egan appeared. He had blankets in his arms, and he hurried over, helping me wrap Raven in them. She was motionless, but from across the room, I heard Andy gasping for air, a couple of low moans escaping his mouth. I made a decision and carefully handed Raven to Egan. “Get her out of here. Take Julian. He’s been hit.”
“It’s a flesh wound,” Julian protested. “Barely a scratch. Fucker walloped me with a fry pan then took a potshot as I was weaving around. That hurts way worse than my arm. He was a lousy shot.”