Total pages in book: 132
Estimated words: 120472 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 602(@200wpm)___ 482(@250wpm)___ 402(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120472 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 602(@200wpm)___ 482(@250wpm)___ 402(@300wpm)
“YOU DID THIS TO ME,” I yell, the tears stinging my eyes as I try to sit up. “You’re standing here demanding that I trust you unconditionally, trust you with my body when you’ve done nothing but destroy it. You hurt me, Levi. You were supposed to be the good one. You destroyed me. How am I supposed to trust you when you couldn’t do the same for me?”
“I’m sorry,” he says with devastation written across his face, the two very words the brothers once promised me they’d never say. “If I could take it all back, I swear to you, I would.”
“I told you,” I say, my voice breaking. “I told you so many times, but you wouldn’t listen. Every single time. You refused to believe that you two could have missed something, that the poor kidnapped chick could have been telling the truth. Instead, you chose to doubt me despite every single sign telling you that you were wrong. You chose to believe that I would try to hurt Marcus, that I’m somehow out to get you, and now your mistake has cost you more than you could ever know.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Roman questions, his eyes narrowed, cautiously watching me as Levi falls to his knees at the end of my bed, his forehead dropping to the hard mattress.
I clench my jaw, the anger swirling deep in my gut as I take in the two men who look like complete strangers, not the men I’ve come to know. “It means that while I wasn’t out to get you before, you can guarantee that after what you’ve done to me, I sure as hell am now. You need to watch your backs. I will make this right, and when I do, you two are going to stand there and take it like fucking soldiers.”
Roman’s eyes drop away just as Marcus’ body goes limp beside me. I suck in a gasp and turn his way. “Marcus?” I demand, shaking his arm, panic tearing through me like a bullet out of its chamber. “Marcus? Fuck. Wake up.”
“He just passed out,” Roman mutters. “He’s fine, he’ll come to soon, but you might not if you don’t allow us to patch you up.”
I shake my head, clutching the edge of the surgical bed to try and sit up. “If you guys are so good at what you do, then you shouldn’t have an issue talking me through it. You assholes will never lay a hand on me again, not even if it means saving my life. Is that clear?”
Levi’s shoulders sag even more as Roman looks back at me, regret heavy in his gaze. “You have internal stitches that need to be fixed, Shayne. Don’t be a righteous fool because you want to prove a point. Know your limits. I know you want to stick it to us but doing this is only hurting yourself more.”
“Get fucked, Roman,” I snap, seething at him with every ounce of energy left in my body, hating that after everything I’ve done to keep myself alive, he still doubts just how far I’ll go. “I said I can do it.”
Roman glances back at Marcus, tossing up his options and I don’t doubt he’s considering knocking me out and doing it himself, but he wouldn’t dare, not now and especially not when Marcus would tear him a new asshole afterward. He’s in enough hot water as it is, and judging by the way Levi rests on his knees, Roman’s got absolutely no one to back him up.
Roman sighs and walks across the room before hashing in a code to a locked cabinet and pulling out enough first aid supplies to fill a hospital. He looks back at Levi, catching his eye before indicating to their passed-out brother. “Move him. She’s gonna need all the space she can get.”
Levi nods and gets up, his head still hanging low as he moves in beside the surgical bed and reaches for his brother. I instinctively flinch and he pauses, meeting my stare with a broken one of his own. “I’m sorry,” he murmurs, holding my gaze for a moment too long. I’m forced to look away, and as if assuming his half-assed apology was supposed to fix everything, he sighs and pulls Marcus into his strong arms, his devastation showing bright and clear.
I watch as Levi strides out of the small room with Marcus, walking out of here with my only security blanket and carrying him as effortlessly as though he was holding a newborn baby. With Marcus out of my way, I slowly shuffle back to the center of the bed and keep my eye on Roman as he gathers everything I’ll need to put myself back together.
He places everything on the edge of the bed, being careful not to brush his skin over mine. “Are you sure?” he questions, glancing up to meet my terrified stare.