Total pages in book: 144
Estimated words: 133531 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 668(@200wpm)___ 534(@250wpm)___ 445(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133531 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 668(@200wpm)___ 534(@250wpm)___ 445(@300wpm)
“Why haven’t those wounds healed properly?”
Javier sat back and for the first time looked upset. “He should have died. He almost did. It was my fault.” He shook his head and shoved both hands through his hair in agitation. “We were on an assignment, and we knew we were going to see some bad shit. It was just that we didn’t know it was going to be like that. I have leftover triggers from childhood. We all do. It isn’t an excuse, although Gideon says it is. In any case, I blacked out. I just went after the people who did that shit to the kids. Hacked them to pieces and left them lying on the ground like garbage.”
Rory heard the raw pain in his voice. She wanted to stop him, knowing he saw the images in his mind. He was probably never going to get them out. Gideon had seen them as well.
“I must have gone right out in the open where a dozen men were firing at me. Gideon threw his body in front of mine. He took me down, protecting me with his own body until the others drove them off.”
Javier’s eyes had gone liquid. His voice rasped as he looked down at his feet. “We barely managed to get Gideon to a safe enough place for the docs to work on him. We were lucky enough to have two surgeons with us; otherwise, he wouldn’t have stood a chance. He’s tough, and we have the best when it comes to doctors.”
He sat up straight, looking as if the past few moments hadn’t occurred. Flashing her a small grin, he shrugged. “Gideon doesn’t like staying put. He’s a man of action. Now that he’s got you, he’ll have a reason to want to be home.”
She wasn’t so sure about Gideon having her, but for one second, she allowed herself to bask in the idea of it. “Thank you for coming to my rescue, Javier. I really appreciate it. Please ask Gideon to let me know when he’s strong enough for visitors, and I’ll come by to see him.”
She stood up, determined to send him on his way. She also rounded the chair. She didn’t want him to pretend he wanted to hug her. At least she knew Javier was human now, but she also knew he wasn’t the hugging type. He was the type to pickpocket though, and she had the envelope she was going to tell Gideon about but wasn’t going to let Javier take from her. If Harvey showed up looking for it and she had to tell him it was stolen from her because she’d told someone about it, he’d probably kill her.
Javier flashed another grin. She noted none of the most recent smiles actually reached his eyes. He was back to being his dangerous self. “I’ll wait down here until you’re inside your room and safe. You can text me when you’re there.”
“I don’t have your number.”
“I’ll give it to you.” He proceeded to do so.
She gave him a little wave and took the elevator. At least she knew Gideon was going to be fine. She had no idea he’d been hurt so bad. He’d downplayed the seriousness of his wounds. She should have known. Gideon. She whispered his name. What am I going to do with you?
Unlocking the door to her apartment, she texted Javier that she was safe and he was off duty.
9
Someone got into my things too,” Janice announced. “While I was at work last night. They trashed my apartment. I called the cops, and they still haven’t shown up. I went to spend the night in Pam’s apartment after taking detailed pictures, but her place had been broken into as well. They hit three of our apartments last night. Rory’s, Pam’s and mine.”
“They got mine too,” Cindy said, her voice stiff. “I spent the night at my parents’. I took the boys to visit with them. It’s a long way, so I always stay over. Everything was destroyed. I found the mess this morning when I came home. I called the police as well.”
“I did too,” Pam said.
Rory took a sip of her coffee. She hadn’t gone to bed. She wasn’t about to wake up Sally or Lydia in the middle of the night and ask for a place to sleep, so she’d stayed in the sitting room. She’d been afraid to close her eyes. “I called in a report too. Only Sally and Lydia were spared, probably because the two of you were home last night.”
“What?” Lydia demanded. “This was supposed to be one of the safer apartment buildings. I hope you complain to the owners. And why didn’t the police send someone? They got here fast enough to interrogate all of us when they found Ret in the garbage chute.”