Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 72284 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 361(@200wpm)___ 289(@250wpm)___ 241(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72284 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 361(@200wpm)___ 289(@250wpm)___ 241(@300wpm)
I go to climb in after her, but the EMT puts his hand on my chest to stop me. “Who are you?”
I know he’s doing his job, but he’s making a big mistake trying to get between me and my girl. And right now, I’m not opposed to breaking a few bones to ensure that never happens again. “I’m the man who’s going to blow your life up if you don’t let me in the back of that ambulance.”
“That’s all very well and good, but I need to know who you are to this woman. How do I know you didn’t do this?”
The mere suggestion makes me see red. For a moment, my vision turns black, and my brain rocks on its axis. When I come right, my face is so tight with rage that I can barely get the words out. “This woman is everything to me.”
That’s enough for the EMT. He lets me climb aboard.
“Meet me at the hospital,” I tell Feliks.
The ambulance takes off into the afternoon with all lights and sirens. On the gurney, Brooke begins to come to and starts to panic, and the more she awakens, the more she panics.
I grab her hand. “I’m here, zayka. You’re safe.”
She can barely see me through her swollen eyes, but when she does, she softens and relaxes. “It hurts,” she moans, and the sound is pure fucking agony to my ears.
The EMT gives her something for the pain. “This will take the edge off until we can get you to the hospital.”
A lone tear rolls down her bloody cheek, and it turns my stomach inside out. I drag her hand to my lips and press a kiss to her skin. “I’m so sorry he hurt you because of me.”
She tightens her fingers around mine, but then the pain medication takes over, and her grip on me loosens, and she slips into a medicated sleep.
We arrive at the hospital fifteen minutes later.
“I’m not leaving her,” I growl in a voice I’ve never heard before.
“You need to get out,” the doctor says, not giving a damn about who I am or the violent storm on my face. Just like the need to protect her is entrenched in me, the well-being of his patient far outweighs anything he may think the man standing before him with a gun in his suit jacket is capable of. “Out,” he demands again.
“Come on, Pakhan,” Feliks says. “Let them help her.”
Knowing it’s in Brooke’s best interests, I oblige and let Feliks pull me out of the room.
“You’ve always kept your emotions in check, Lev. Now is not the time to let them run havoc on everything around you. You need to remain calm.”
I pace the floor. I’ve never let myself feel this level of emotion before, and I don’t know what to fucking do with it. Fury vibrates through my body with immeasurable ferociousness. But it is nothing compared to the astonishing fear I feel when I think I could lose her. Just thinking about Brooke losing her life sends a new surge of panic and fear through me. Christ, why are they taking so long?
Sensing the turmoil unleashing inside me, Feliks places his hands on my shoulders. “She’s strong and she’s determined. She is going to pull through, and when she does, you are going to be here to protect her and give her anything she needs.”
“If she dies—”
“It’s not an option.”
I hate that I sound so weak. I’ve always been fearless. But Brooke has brought something so enticing and pure into my world of darkness and blood and sin, and the thought of losing it fucking terrifies me. I’m not afraid of falling in love with her. I’ve already done that, I’m sure. But I’m afraid of living in a world where she no longer exists.
I start to pace again, because if I don’t, my emotions will find another way to escape, and that usually doesn’t bode well for anyone who gets in my way.
It feels like a lifetime before the doors open, and the doctor appears.
“You’re the husband?” he says.
I don’t correct him. Because short of storming in there with all guns blazing, lying about who I am will be the quickest way for me to see her.
“Yes,” I say. “How is she?”
“She’s going to be okay. Apart from some deep bruising, her injuries are superficial and will heal quickly. But I’d like to keep her in overnight for observation.”
The relief is like a rush of warm water through my body. Muscles soften, my shoulders relax, and my pounding heartbeat begins to ease.
“She’s still unconscious, but when she awakens, I will discuss doing a rape kit.”
My eyes fly to his.
A rape kit.
My breath catches in my chest. My world stops. My pulse rings in my ears.
I make a quiet vow to myself. If Vlad has raped her, then he will die tonight. Slowly. And when they find him, his tongue will be missing, and his severed cock will be shoved so deep into his throat they’ll need to cut his neck open to get it out.