Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 154595 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 773(@200wpm)___ 618(@250wpm)___ 515(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 154595 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 773(@200wpm)___ 618(@250wpm)___ 515(@300wpm)
Oh. Fuck.
Maeve, should have kept your big mouth shut.
He drew something out of his pocket, flicking it open to reveal a knife.
Was that . . .
“Is that my switchblade?” she asked.
“Yep. The same one you stabbed me with. Do you know how much that hurt, Little Birdie? Maybe I should show you.” He moved toward her, raising his hand.
Oh, God.
He was going to stab her in the leg.
She closed her eyes, flinching back.
“Stop! Get away from her!”
She gasped. She knew that voice. Opening her eyes, she peered around James to find Gray standing in the doorway.
“Get away from her now.”
To her shock, James let out a yell and ran toward Gray. She screamed, but Gray quickly raised his gun and shot the other man.
Her scream was broken off in shock as several other men rushed into the room. She was shaking.
The room was spinning.
Don’t faint.
“Maeve! Baby, stay with me. You’re all right.” Gray crouched in front of her.
She gasped for breath, staring at him, trying to convince herself he was real.
“You’re all right. I’m here.” He looked over at the other men. “Someone get her out of these ropes. And look for a key for these cuffs.”
Her breath sawed in and out of her lungs.
“It’s all right. I’m here, baby. I’m here.”
The next few minutes were a blur. All she could do was stare at Gray. His face was filled with fury, but his voice was low and calm as he talked to her,.
Finally, they had her free. Someone even managed to uncuff her. And then she was in his arms.
Thank God.
Gray ran his hands over her. Fear was riding him hard. If she was injured, he would never forgive himself. “Baby, are you injured anywhere?”
“W-what?”
“Are you injured?” She didn’t seem to be in any pain, but her wrists were both bruised and there was a red mark on her cheek and throat.
“I’m not . . . I’m all right.”
“You need to get checked out by the Surgeon.”
“What? No!”
“It’s all right. He’s a doctor. He’s waiting at the house.”
Awareness filled her face. “Is Dahlia all right? Triple-T? Ilya? Are they okay?”
“They’ll be okay.” He picked her up in his arms. “Ilya sustained the most injuries, he’s at the hospital. But Robert has minor injuries and Dahlia just has a few scratches.”
She shuddered out a breath, then turned her head toward James. He gently turned her face back into his chest. “Don’t look at the blood. Let’s get you out of here.”
“But is he . . . is he . . .”
“He’s dead, baby girl,” he told her. “He can’t hurt you anymore.”
He hated that she’d seen him shot down. That she’d been kidnapped, terrified, and hurt.
That he’d let this happen.
“I should have been with you.” He carried her out of the cabin and toward one of their cars.
“It’s not your fault. It was him. James. He worked with Immy as one of Jenner’s assistants. I can’t believe it was him. And that he was the same guy I gave cookies too.”
He climbed into the backseat of a car with her in his lap. Mikhail shut the door behind them.
“What are you talking about, baby? What cookies?”
“He lived downstairs from me. I took him cookies. But I never really saw his face. How didn’t I recognize him, though? He was following me all this time. Maybe ever since I left Jenner’s house.”
“What?”
“And he . . . he said that the Deity gave me to him. But how? The Deity is dead.”
She was shaking so hard that it was terrifying him.
“Don’t think about it now, baby. Just know that you’re safe. He’s dead. No one will hurt you.”
He just held her tight as they were driven back to Markovich’s place. He’d figure all of this out later, once he was certain that she well.
“I’m here. Daddy is here. You’re safe and this time, I’ll keep you that way.”
44
Gray sat by her bedside and watched her sleep.
The Surgeon had checked her over, against her wishes. Gray had overruled her. He’d had to use his stern voice on her. Which had made him feel like an asshole when she’d gotten upset.
But he had to make sure she was all right.
Luckily, the Surgeon had said that other than some bruises and being in shock that she was well.
No wonder she was in shock.
She’d been kidnapped.
She’d watched a man get shot and killed.
Fuck. He had failed her so bad. She should have been safe.
He’d had to call Sampson and tell him what had happened. The other man had exploded and Gray couldn’t blame him.
He’d failed her. He wasn’t sure he’d ever get over that.
Once he’d gotten her home and checked over, she’d told him some more details. Like what James said about how he’d tracked her.
Gray had performed some minor surgery on Squish. However, he’d waited until the Surgeon sedated her.