Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 78264 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78264 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
I’ll give the money to Abigail to do with what she wants. It will allow her to move out from under her father’s control.
Taoka nods, and swallowing the bitter pill that’s his pride, he says, “I apologize for my soldiers’ careless acts. I never sanctioned the attack.”
I nod and rise to my feet. “Transfer the funds to St. Monarch’s.”
Considering the meeting over with, I stalk out of the office and head to my suite so I can shower.
Stepping into my room, I rush through the tedious routine so I can get back to the infirmary. Taking into account all the shit that went down today, I’m surprised to find the infirmary quiet. I assume Aurora has been tended to and that she’s resting.
Stopping outside the room where Abigail is, I softly knock on the door.
It only takes a moment before Alek opens. He nods for me to come in, then whispers, “She just passed out.”
My eyes lock on Abigail, where she’s lying on the bed in a fetal position, her arms tightly wrapped around her middle.
Christ, my heart.
With the blood cleaned off her face, I can see all her bruises. Her right eye is painfully swollen, a butterfly bandage over a cut beneath her eyebrow.
Her jaw is every fucking shade of the rainbow, and her bottom lip is split open.
“Jesus Christ,” I mutter. I turn my head to look at Alek. “Thank you for killing the fuckers.”
He just nods.
Wanting to avoid future misunderstandings, I say, “She’s mine.”
He nods again. “I know.” He glances at Abigail. “You’ll have to be patient with her. She’s traumatized and will need time.” His eyes come back to mine. “A lot of time. Don’t push her.”
Suspicious that something else happened to Abigail, my eyes narrow on Alek. “What aren’t you telling me?”
He shakes his head. “Just be patient with Abbie.” Sighing, he adds, “And I’m not going to turn my back on her.”
I don’t know much about Alek, only that he’s unhinged and a bratva enforcer.
He lets out another sigh, then mutters, “Stop planning ways to kill me. I’m just her friend. I saved Abbie, so naturally, she feels safe with me. That’s all it is.”
He better mean it, or he’ll lose his fucking dick.
My eyes turn back to Abigail, and I step closer until I’m next to the bed. Lifting a hand, I gently brush my fingers over her messy hair.
She lets out a whimper, curling into a smaller ball, and it fucking cracks my heart right down the middle.
My stomach drops, and my fucking soul shrivels as my eyes snap to Alek. Before I can ask if the unspeakable was done to her, he shakes his head.
Thank God.
I glance back at Abigail, my eyes drifting over every inch of her. She’s still wearing the same clothes, the blood on her shirt dry.
Walking to the door, I whisper, “I’ll get her clean clothes.”
The corner of Alek’s mouth lifts. “And I’ll stand here and guard her.”
We stare at each other for a moment before I nod and leave the room.
Grabbing a universal keycard from the security control room, I head to Abigail’s suite and let myself in. Her soft scent instantly envelops me, and I take a moment to stare at the paintings on display by the windows.
I’ll make sure you get to paint to your heart’s content, moya dusha.
It’s the second time I’ve called her my soul, and I only realize it now.
Is that what this woman is to me?
I want her happy, and I’ll kill to keep her safe.
My heartbeat speeds up, and my mouth grows dry.
I’ve fallen hopelessly in love with Abigail Sartori.
Christ, the woman who used to be the bane of my existence with her flirtatious and carefree nature, has taken my heart prisoner.
When the fuck did it happen?
I’m at her mercy now, and having no control over whether she'll love me back is unsettling.
Chapter 20
Abbie
Alek arranged with the doctor to start me on antibiotics in case I got a disease from the rapist's infested dick. At least I have a contraceptive implant, so I know I won’t get pregnant.
I heard Alek threatening the doctor with his life if he told anyone I was raped.
Who would’ve thought the crazy guy I saw as a creep would become my protector?
It’s the only thing I’m thankful for right now.
Standing in the shower, the hot water pelts my skin. The wounds on my face burn, and my body’s scrubbed raw from my attempts to rid my skin of the feel of the rapist.
But no amount of scrubbing can remove the feel of him inside me.
I stare at the tiled wall, my breaths shallow and my heart only a whisper.
Did it really happen to me?
Suddenly, I’m bombarded with vile memories – I hear the bastard’s grunts, and wrapping my arms around myself, I shut my eyes tightly as a whimper shudders from me.