Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 84901 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 425(@200wpm)___ 340(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84901 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 425(@200wpm)___ 340(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
The fight got closer as Jamie’s eldest brother cracked a bottle against a Russian’s skull. A punch smashed my nose. I bit my eyes closed from the rain of glass that crashed over Lachlan’s head and into my face. As Lachlan shook his head from the shards, my opening appeared. I rolled sideways, landing next to Natasha.
Her eyes fluttered open. She murmured, “Enzo?”
My heart twisted—proof she needed me. Proof she wanted … me.
Lachlan charged again, reaching for my foot. I kicked back the opposite tennis shoe, and his jaw cracked beneath the hit. His knees buckle for half a second.
That second belonged to me.
I didn’t hesitate.
I bolted.
Shouts rose as I sprinted across the rooftop. My hands found the latch, the rig already hidden beneath the neon sign’s steel frame. I tugged it free, the parachute straps tight against my chest underneath the tactical jacket. Then I jumped.
The city spread below me like a promise, glittering lights and shadows. The wind howled, whipping hair into my eyes. For a fleeting instant, I turned back. Couldn’t sight Natasha from this vantage point.
“You’ll see,” I whispered to her through the darkness. “You’re mine.”
I detached the parachute a few yards above the ground, did a tuck and roll, and disappeared into the night.
36
LACHLAN
Before I could process why my woman stumbled, she collapsed into her bodyguard’s arms. My body locked, rigid.
The elevator doors started to slide shut, and instinct snapped me back online.
Borya was touching her. Friggen touching her.
“Hey!” I took off in a sprint. The exhaustion from handing the Angels their arses got burned away by fury.
I tore through my family, vaulted over a low burning hearth, and drove my shoulder into Borya’s ribs. The impact rattled my bones, but I’d done enough—Natasha tumbled free, hitting the floor.
Unresponsive. She didn’t stir. My heart seized. What had the bastard given her?
Borya snarled and swung. I had to get closer to Natasha to find out what was wrong.
Behind me, chaos erupted. Mam slammed a bottle over a Russian’s head. Leith and Camdyn pinned another man, while Little Brody drove punches into the bastard’s gut. I kept at Borya, fighting him, though inside I knew I needed to detain him. Arrested or given to his boss for retribution.
But he flew over the side of the building.
I stumbled to the edge of the building, panting, and blinked at the rope swinging against the neon sign. He’d clipped in and launched himself like a bloody phantom.
“Crivvens!” I muttered in Scots. “Didnae expect that.”
I dropped back to Natasha, gathering her in my arms. Tears burned hot and blurred my sight. “Tash, babe, please,” my voice cracked. “Wake up.”
Her head lolled, lifeless. I sank to my knees and clutched her tight.
Everything slowed around me.
The Russians. My clan—all my brothers in a fight, except for Jamie, who was nowhere around. The battle froze mid-blow.
“What did he give her!” The growl tore from me, grave and raw.
Eyes wide, a Russian pointed to Rory, who swiped his bloody nose, fist raw and pink. My own brother?
“Natasha …” Rory gasped. “She was fine when I walked away.”
“You gave her that shot,” another Russian thug accused.
“But—”
“Not my brother,” I snarled, rising with Natasha limp in my arms. I was getting her out of here. Now.
The Russians shifted, flanking together to block my exit.
“Are you a Resnov?” I snapped at the one with his chin up, my voice dark with the command.
“Nyet. I work for Mr. Resnov. He will not be happy about this.” His hand twitched toward his blazer.
My da’s steak knife snaked toward his neck.
“Phone,” the Russian said quickly.
It was tense. One wrong twitch and they’d shoot us all. I didn’t care. I had no time. Natasha was slipping away. “I’m taking her to the hospital.” I started forward.
“Nyet!” His hand flew up with the phone, his glare locking with mine. “You will be dead man.”
Dad’s forearms bulged as he fisted the steak knife icepick style at the Russian’s throat. “Call Vassili Resnov. Tell him Lachlan is taking his daughter to the hospital. He can meet them there.”
Chevelle’s voice cut sharp through the silent chaos. “Why did that man try to take the girl? Why did he jump over the side of the building?”
Silence.
The Russian dialed. Mam and Little Brody shoved into the elevator with me.
“We can’t take her to the hospital, Lach,” Mam hissed when the doors closed.
“What?” My throat was raw.
Even my eldest brother raised a brow.
She muttered, “Tell you more once we get out. Alive.”
That was the key. The elevator pinged open. More Russians. Blocking us.
“Move,” Little Brody growled.
“Aye, ye best move!” Mam snapped, pulling a blade from the pocket of her muumuu. Her voice wavered with steel. “I love this girl with all of me, and I’ll not leave her with the likes of you.”
Surrounded, I held Natasha closer, pushing through, my clan circling me. Somehow, the four of us made it to valet. The boy’s hand shook as he passed the keys to my McLaren.