Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 134725 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 674(@200wpm)___ 539(@250wpm)___ 449(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 134725 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 674(@200wpm)___ 539(@250wpm)___ 449(@300wpm)
There was a loud clatter behind him and then Zane was hauling the guy off me, rage in his eyes. I stared, horrified, wide-eyed as Zane hunched over in the area with a ceiling height that wasn’t as tall as him. Zane pointed what looked like a staple gun under the man’s chin. The man gulped, eyes on me.
“She’s mine. I’ve already married her,” the man’s voice rasped and then he coughed while simultaneously laughing maniacally. He tried to swing for Zane with a meaty fist, but Zane’s forearm blocked him, and the clunk of it sounded like the man’s fist had hit steel.
I cowered, grasping my halter ties at my chest.
What a lunatic that guy was!
Zane’s eyes pivoted from my hands to my face and then they moved down to where my torn panties were around one ankle, an already swelling / already turning purple ankle with blood dribbling out of three long lines from that man’s fingernails. I felt the sting from a scratch at my hip, too, from that man’s nails as he’d dragged my underwear down.
Zane’s expression went even more enraged and he wrenched the guys face so their eyes were locked, making the guy cry out.
The guy reached toward his hip where he, too, had one of those weapons.
Zane stared into the man’s eyes, nostrils flaring and jaw muscles bulging. A strange sound came from the weapon that made my ears ache and the room shake. The life drained from the guy’s eyes before he could finish reaching for his hip. Zane’s gaze moved back to me while he dropped the man on the floor with a look of disgust, as if he’d been touching filth. And then he reached for me.
Zane’s perfect bow lips were contorted into a scowl and his eyes were practically shooting angry lasers from them. And I was barely breathing; I was in such a state of shock. And then the hyperventilating started. I couldn’t seem to catch my breath; I was gasping and gasping.
Zane gathered me tight into his arms. My halter tie fell, revealing my bra. I reached, in modesty to cover myself and let out a huge sob. He pulled me closer.
“I’ve got you, Tanya. I’ve got you. You’re safe. You’re fucking safe.” He cradled me in his arms and ducked through the space, moving to take us back to the bed area. He gently set me down but didn’t let go.
His body was trembling, his expression radiating anger. “I’m not certain they’ve caught them all, so we’ll stay here a minute while the authorities do their sweep.” He reached for his hip, his other arm still around me as he put his phone to his ear. “Patch me over to the senior officer on scene quick, please, Spar. I’ve got her. I’ll update you after.” He waited a beat, stroking my hair, then he clipped, “Nova? Three down. One unconscious on the landing pad. Permanently down, yes. Third door from the elevator on the middle floor. Two outside the door. I’m still armed. I have my… bride. She’s injured. I need a minute with her before you enter to retrieve the one in here.” He ended his call and both hands came to my jaw. His eyes were filled with fury.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
I sort of nodded while also shaking my head and shrugging. I coughed out a sob. He pulled me tight to him and I bawled into his chest, clutching the soft fabric of his shirt. I was in a stranger’s arms, on a strange planet, and a man had just nearly sexually assaulted me.
Zane brushed my hair behind my ear with the tips of his fingers and I felt his body tighten. He hauled me back a few inches, his hands on my shoulders. He gazed deep into my eyes and his jaw muscles were bulging.
I swallowed down a hard lump in my throat, feeling my bottom lip tremble as I got lost in that angry gaze.
“I failed you. I’m – fucking sorry.” His eyes were sorrowful as he grazed the shell of my ear.
“What’s happening?” I asked. “Why? What…”
“Rebels. They evidently knew I’d come from the event today. Maybe they watched and saw me leave. They’re stealing women. That one… the one that touched you? He’s dead.”
I suspected as much.
“He won’t hurt you again. He won’t be able to take you from us, despite…” He trailed off and said nothing. A swallow worked its way down his throat in a way that appeared painful.
“I’m okay. He ---" I heard noise in the hallway. I jerked in fear.
“Zenith!” A voice shouted from outside. “Tithe Nova here.”
“In here, but we need a minute,” Zane’s deep voice boomed.
“I’ll be in the hall when you’re ready,” the voice answered.
Zane looked into my eyes again and whispered, “Your ankle. Hurt badly?”