Series: The Rossi Crime Family Series by J.L. Beck
Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 80475 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 402(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80475 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 402(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
“Are you okay? Did he hurt you?” I whisper into her hair. If he hurt her, I’m not sure I’ll be able to hold myself back from killing him.
“No, I’m just scared.” Her voice is trembling just like the rest of her body and all I want to do is wrap her up in a cocoon and protect her from the world.
I hate that she is scared. I don’t want her to have to be afraid anymore. I want her to feel safe and to be happy, she deserves happiness, a normal life. I remember how she kept telling me that she felt safe with me…only with me and even though I don’t understand why, I decide that she won’t be going anywhere at least right now. I don’t care what Ivan says, she’s safer here with me…and I won’t let her go.
“I’m here, you don’t have to be scared. I’ll always be here. I’m not letting you go...no one is going to take you from me.”
I can’t possibly mean that. Eventually, she will have to go. I’m not good enough for her, but for now, I’ll protect her. I’ll ensure she’s safe at all times.
When Ivan and Violet show up, I’m still holding onto Sophie, while keeping an eye on the two passed out guys on the floor.
“Are you okay?” Ivan asks, and I’m not sure which of us he is asking.
“I'm fine. Sophie is shaken up.” Feeling her body vibrate against mine kills me.
“Good. I mean not good, but you understand…” I can tell my brother is frustrated. Leading the compound while expecting a baby, it's all weighing on him. My eyes collide with Violets. She looks like she might be sick at any second and I feel bad for having Ivan drag her out to deal with this. I can't imagine if Sophie was pregnant and my brother called me to help with a situation.
“I've got to help Ivan baby…” I whisper into Sophie's ear, and she nods acknowledging my words but says nothing. I release my hold on her and move from the bed.
“You two wait in the guest bedroom across the hall. Devin and Mac should be here any minute now.” Violet takes Sophie’s hand and tugs her off the bed. I can see the apprehension in her blue eyes, and I know she's afraid but I need to do this. Her safety is the important thing right now. I watch them leave the room,
“Let's take them to the compound, and interrogate them,” I tell Ivan.
“Yeah, let’s tie them up just in case they wake up on the way,” he says as he pulls out some cable ties from his back pocket and hands them to me.
“Thanks, boy scout.” I smirk and press my knee between Andi’s shoulder blades while pulling his arms back roughly and securing his wrists together. He grunts in pain in response to my actions and all I can think is good, I hope it hurts. I tighten the cable tie so they dig into his skin and I enjoy another pained cry that slips from his lips.
As I finish tying the piece of shit up, I hear the front door opening. I push off the floor, ready to defend, to kill, when Mac and Devin’s familiar chatter fills the hallway.
“Bedroom,” I yell down the hall and a moment later the guys appear in the doorway.
“What the fuck happened?” Mac questions.
“Don’t worry about it,” I snarl. “I need you to stay here with Sophie and Violet. You’ll protect them with your lives.”
“Of course.” They both nod and I pull Andi up off the floor by his arms. Ivan finishes tying up the other asshole and we drag them down the hall and out to Ivan’s SUV. I toss Andi into the backseat and slam the door closed as he lands at an odd angle against the seat. I don’t care, though. I have no remorse for this fucker.
You can't call yourself a friend, and then do what he did. An image of him hurting Sophie appears in my mind, of him bruising her soft skin, selling her body to one of those sick fucks and I see red. I can’t stop myself from punching the dashboard and even as my fist makes contact with it, I still don’t feel better. The fact that I let the son of a bitch inside my house only makes matters worse.
Ivan slides into the driver’s seat, he’s cool as a cucumber where I’m seconds away from snapping necks. That’s probably why this job isn’t suited for me. All I want to do is kill…
“Are you okay?” Ivan asks, as he drives us to the compounded. The two fuck faces are still passed out in the backseat, most likely wishing for death already.
“Sophie isn’t going to that stupid fucking house you bought.” I ignore his question and instead make my own statement. “I’m not letting her out of my sights, not after tonight.”